I The First Bridge over the Rhine
1 Salus sociorum erat semper cara Romanis. Olim Galli, amici Romanorum, multas inurias ab Germanis qui trans
2 flumen Rhenum vivebant acceperant. Ubi legati ab iis ad Caesarem imperatorem Romanorum venerunt et
3 auxilium postulaverunt, Romani magnas interibus ad hostium finis properaverunt. Mox ad ripas magni fluminis
4 venerunt. Imperator studebat copias suas trans fluvium ducere, sed nulla via poterat. Nullas navis habebat. Alta
5 erat aqua. Imperator autem, vir clara, numquam adversa fortuna commotus, novum consilium cepit. Iussit suos in
6 lato flumine facere pontem. Numquam antea pons in Rheno visus erat. Hostes ubi pontem quem Romani facerant
7 viderunt, summo terrore commotis, sine mora fugam parare inceperunt.
The safety of the allies was always a care of the Romans. In former times the Gauls, friends of the Romans, many injuries from the Germans, who across the river Rhine were living, received. When the ambassadors from them to Caesar general of the Romans came and aid requested, the Romans by a long road to the enemy border hastened. Soon to the banks of the great river they came. The general was eager his forces across the river to lead, but no way was possible. He had no boats. Deep was the water. The general at that time, a famous man, never by adverse fortune excited, a new plan made.
He ordered his men on the wide river to make a bridge. Never before a bridge on the Rhine had been seen. The enemy when the bridge which the Romans were making saw, by the greatest terror were excited, without delay their flight to prepare began
The saftey of (their) allies was always a concern for the Romans. In former times the Gauls, frineds of the Romans, received many injuries from the Germans who were living across the Rhine river. When the ambassadors from there came to Caesar, the general of the Romans, and requested aid the Romans hastened by a forced march to the enemy border. Soon they came to the banks of the great river. The general was eager to lead his forces across the river but there was no way possible. He had no boats. The water was deep. At that time the general, a famous man, never excited by adverse fortune made a new plan. He ordered his men to build a bridge over the wide river. Never before had a bridge been seen on the Rhine. When the enemy saw the bridge which the Romans were making they were excited with the greatest terror and without delay began to prepare their flight.
- Tim
.
Actually, this sentence seemed as if it had too may words. I expected a genitive (eorum) but that might be too much English and not enough Latin. Still it seemed to me that iis was not quite clear, or at least definite, as to which ambassadors Caesar received: Gaul or German? When I reworked the sentence it didn't seem to become any clearer. Nevertheless, it is people not a place.