edience, now
carried beams fifty feet long and more on their shoulders, and gave the
greatest aid to the labours of the architect.

7. And while all this was being done with diligence and speed,
Hariobaudes, having learnt all he wanted, returned and related what he
had ascertained. And after his arrival the army marched with all speed,
and soon reached Mayence, where, though Florentius and Lupicinus, who
succeeded Severus, insisted vehemently that they might cross by the
bridge laid down at that town, the Caesar strenuously objected,
maintaining that it was not well to trample on the lands of those who
were brought into a state of tranquillity and friendship; lest the
treaty made with them should be brought to an abrupt end, as had often
happened through the discourtesy of the soldiers ravaging everything
that came in their way.

8. But all the Allemanni who were the objects of our attack, seeing the
danger now on their borders, with many threats urged Surmarius their
king, who by a previous treaty was on friendly terms with us, to prevent
the Romans from crossing the river. For their villages were on the
eastern bank of the Rhine. But when Surmarius affirmed that he by
himself was unable to offer effectual resistance, the barbarian host
assembled in a body, and came up to Mayence, intending by main force to
prevent our army from crossing the river.

9. So that Caesar's advice now seemed best in two points, both not to
ravage the lands of our friends; and also, not in the teeth of the
opposition of a most warlike people, to risk the loss of many lives in
order to make a bridge, even in a spot the most favourable for such a
work.

10. And the enemy, watching his movements with great skill, marched
slowly along the opposite bank, and when they saw our men pitching their
tents at a distance, they still watched all night, exerting the most
sleepless vigilance to prevent the passage of the river from being
attempted.

11. But when our men reached the spot intended, they surrounded their
camp with a rampart and ditch, and took their rest; and the Caesar,
having taken counsel with Lupicinus, ordered some of the tribunes to get
ready three hundred light-armed soldiers with stakes, without letting
them know what was to be done, or whither they were going.

12. They being collected, when the night was well advanced, and being
all embarked on board of forty light boats, which were all that were at
hand, were ordered to go