human
Now when the Roman folk would make a fleet hastily, and had no rowers, nor time to train them rightly, they built stages like to the oar benches of a ship in a certain lake, and so taught the men the swing and catch of the long oars.
gpt
Will not that plan serve us, Ranald?
human
Ay, lord, I answered, laughing.
gpt
In good truth, if a man can learn to keep time, and swing rightly, and back water, and the like, on such a staging, it is somewhat. But it will be hard work pulling against dead water from a stage that moves not. Nor will there be the roll and plunge of waves that must be met.
human
Nor the sore sickness whereof Odda speaks, Alfred said, with his eyes twinkling.
gpt
But I think that if the Romans found the plan good, it will be so for us.