Bellum Africum 13

B. Afr. 13.1Hostēs interim, quōrum dux erat Labiēnus et duo Pacīdēī, aciem dērigunt mīrābilī longitūdine Nōn peditum, sed equitum cōnfertam, et inter eōs levis armātūrae Numidās et sagittāriōs peditēs interposuerant et ita condēnsāverant, ut procul Caesariānī pedestrēs cōpiās arbitrārentur;

Meanwhile the enemy, whose leaders were Labienus and the two Pacideii, drew up a line of wonderful length, packed not with infantry but with cavalry, and among them they had placed light-armed Numidians and archers on foot, and had massed them so closely that from a distance the Caesarians thought they were infantry forces;

Note. Labiēnus: Titus Labienus, Caesar's chief lieutenant in Gaul, who had gone over to Pompey in 49 BC. duo Pacīdēiī: two brothers who commanded Pompeian cavalry. dērigunt = dīrigunt. cōnfertam: 'packed', agreeing with aciem. Caesariānī: 'Caesar's men', a word the author uses often.

B. Afr. 13.1dextrum ac sinistrum cornū magnīs equitum cōpiīs firmāverant.

they had strengthened the right and left wings with large forces of cavalry.

Note. dextrum ac sinistrum cornū: neuter singular accusatives with cornū.

B. Afr. 13.2Interim Caesar aciem dērigit simplicem, ut poterat propter paucitātem;

Meanwhile Caesar drew up a single line, as he was able to because of his small numbers;

Note. ut poterat: 'as far as he could'.

B. Afr. 13.2sagittāriōs ante aciem cōnstituit, equitēs dextrō sinistrōque cornū oppōnit et ita praecipit, ut prōvidērent, nē multitūdine equitātūs hostium circumvenīrentur: exīstimābat enim sē aciē īnstrūctā cum pedestribus cōpiīs dīmicātūrum.

he placed the archers in front of the line, set the cavalry against the enemy on the right and left wings, and instructed them to take care not to be surrounded by the mass of the enemy's cavalry; for he thought he would be fighting with infantry forces in a drawn-up line.

Note. nē multitūdine … circumvenīrentur: purpose clause after prōvidērent. dīmicātūrum (sc. esse): future infinitive in indirect statement.