Rubro mari. The Red Sea of the Greeks and Romans embraced both the Arabian and the Persian Gulfs; and it was in the latter especially, that pearls were found, as they are to this day. Cf. Plin. N.H. 9, 54: praecipue laudantur (margaritae) in Persico sinu maris rubri. For an explanation of the name (Red Sea), see Anthon's Classical Dictionary.
Expulsa sint. Cast out, i.e. ashore, by the waves. Subj. in a subordinate clause of the oratio obliqua. H. 531; Z. 603.
Naturam—avaritiam. A very characteristic sentence, both for its antithesis and its satire.
XIII. Ipsi Britanni. Ipsi marks the transition from the country to the people, cf. ipsos Germanos, G. 2.
Obeunt properly applies only to munera, not to tributa and delectum, which would require tolerant or some kindred verb. Zeugma. H. 704, I. 2; Z. 775.
Igitur==now. In the first sentence of the section the author has indicated his purpose to speak of the people of Britain. And now in pursuance of that design, he goes back to the commencement of their history, as related to and known by the Romans. Cf. note, G. 28.
Divus. Cf. note, G. 28: D. Julius. For Julius Caesar's campaigns in Britain, see Caes. B.G. 4, 21. seq.; 5, 5. seq.; Strabo, Lib. 4, &c.
Consilium. His advice (to his successor). See Ann. 1, 11.— Praeceptum. A command (of Augustus, which Tib. affected to hold sacred). Ann. 1, 77; 4, 37.
C. Caesarem. Caligula, cf. 4, note.—Agitasse, etc. cf. 39. His. 4, 15; Suet. Calig. 44.
Ni—fuissent. Cf. Ni, 4, note. The ellipsis may be supplied thus: he meditated an invasion of Brit. and would have invaded it, had he not been velox ingenio, etc. But in idiomatic Eng. ni==but. Of course fuisset is to be supplied with velox ingenio and mobilis poenitentiae. Al. poenitentia. But contrary to the MSS. Mobilis agrees with poenitentiae (cf. Liv. 31, 32: celerem poenitentiam), which is a qualifying gen. Gr. 211. R. 6. Lit. of repentance easy to be moved. Render: fickle of purpose.