C. Julius Caesar, Gallic War

Labienus at first attempted to raise Vineae, fill up the marsh with hurdles and clay, and secure a road. After he perceived that this was too difficult to accomplish, he issued in silence from his camp at the third watch, and reached Melodunum by the same route by which he came. This is a town of the Senones , situated on an island in the Seine , as we have just before observed of Lutetia . Having seized upon about fifty ships and quickly joined them together, and having placed soldiers in them, he intimidated by his unexpected arrival the inhabitants, of whom a great number had been called out to the war, and obtains possession of the town without a contest. Having repaired the bridge, which the enemy had broken down during the preceding days, he led over his army, and began to march along the banks of the river to Lutetia . The enemy, on learning the circumstance from those who had escaped from Melodunum , set fire to Lutetia , and order the bridges of that town to be broken down: they themselves set out from the marsh, and take their position on the banks of the Seine , over against Lutetia and opposite the camp of Labienus.