22.
While Caesar remains in these parts for the purpose of
procuring ships, embassadors come to him from a great portion of the
Morini, to plead their excuse respecting their conduct on the
late occasion; alleging that it was as men uncivilized, and as those who were
unacquainted with our custom, that they had made war upon the Roman people, and promising to perform what he should
command. Caesar, thinking that this had happened
fortunately enough for him, because he neither wished to leave an enemy behind
him, nor had an opportunity for carrying on a war, by reason of the time of
year, nor considered that employment in such trifling matters was to be
preferred to his enterprise on Britain, imposes
a large number of hostages; and when these were brought, he received them to his
protection. Having collected together, and provided about eighty transport
ships, as many as he thought necessary for conveying over two legions, he
assigned such [ships] of war as he had besides to the quaestor, his lieutenants,
and officers of cavalry. There were in addition to these eighteen ships of
burden which were prevented, eight miles from that place, by winds, from being
able to reach the same port. These he distributed among the horse; the rest of
the army, he delivered to Q. Titurius Sabinus and L. Aurunculeius Cotta, his lieutenants, to lead into the
territories of the Menapii and those cantons of the
Morini from which embassadors had not come to him. He ordered
P. Sulpicius Rufus, his lieutenant, to hold
possession of the harbor, with such a garrison as he thought sufficient.
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