Bellum Africum 15

B. Afr. 15.1Caesar novō genere pugnae oblātō cum animum adverteret ōrdinēs suōrum in prōcurrendō turbārī— peditēs enim, dum equitēs longius ab signīs prōsequuntur, latere nūdātō ā proximīs Numidīs iaculīs vulnerābantur;

Caesar, faced with a new kind of fighting, noticed that the ranks of his men were being thrown into disorder in running forward (for the infantry, while they pursued the cavalry too far from the standards, exposed their flank and were wounded with javelins by the nearest Numidians;

Note. animum adverteret = animadverteret, 'noticed', with an accusative and infinitive. The long parenthesis (pedites enim … vītābant) explains why the ranks were in disorder; the main verb is ēdīcit in the next sentence.

B. Afr. 15.1equitēs autem hostium pīlum mīlitis cursū facile vītābant— ēdīcit per ōrdinēs, nē quis mīles ab signīs IV pedēs longius prōcēderet.

while the enemy cavalry easily escaped the soldiers' javelins by their speed); he gave orders along the ranks that no soldier should advance more than four feet from the standards.

Note. pīlum: the Roman heavy javelin. ab signīs IV pedēs longius: 'more than four feet from the standards'; pedēs is accusative of extent, and longius 'further' is used without quam.

B. Afr. 15.2Equitātus interim Labiēnī suōrum multitūdine cōnfīsus Caesaris paucitātem circuīre cōnātur: equitēs Iūliānī paucī multitūdine hostium dēfessī equīs convulnerātīs paulātim cēdere;

Meanwhile Labienus' cavalry, trusting in its numbers, tried to surround Caesar's small force: the few Julian horsemen, worn out by the mass of the enemy, their horses badly wounded, gradually gave way;

Note. Equitātus … Labiēnī: Labienus' cavalry. circuīre = circumīre. equitēs Iūliānī: 'the Julian (i.e. Caesar's) cavalry'. dēfessī: participle of dēfetīscor, 'worn out'. cēdere: historical infinitive.

B. Afr. 15.2hostis magis magisque īnstāre.

the enemy pressed on more and more.

Note. magis magisque: 'more and more'. īnstāre: historical infinitive.

B. Afr. 15.3Ita punctō temporis omnibus legiōnāriīs ab hostium equitātū circumventīs Caesarisque cōpiīs in orbem compulsīs intrā cancellōs omnēs coniectī pugnāre cōgēbantur.

So in a moment all the legionaries were surrounded by the enemy's cavalry, and Caesar's forces were driven into a ring, and they were all forced to fight hemmed in as if behind bars.

Note. punctō temporis: 'in an instant'. in orbem compulsīs: 'forced into a circle'. intrā cancellōs … coniectī: 'thrown inside the railings', a metaphor from the barriers of the arena or circus.