Bellum Africum 29

B. Afr. 29.1Turmae interim equitum, quae prō vallō in statiōnibus esse solēbant, cōtīdiē minūtīs proeliīs inter sē dēpugnāre nōn intermittunt;

Meanwhile the squadrons of cavalry that used to be on guard in front of the rampart never stopped fighting it out every day with each other in small skirmishes;

Note. inter sē dēpugnāre: 'to fight it out with each other'. nōn intermittunt + infinitive: 'kept on'.

B. Afr. 29.1nōnnumquam etiam Germānī Gallīque Labiēniānī cum Caesaris equitibus fidē datā inter sē colloquēbantur.

sometimes, too, Labienus' Germans and Gauls, after pledges had been given, would talk with Caesar's cavalry.

Note. Germānī Gallīque Labiēniānī: Labienus' Germans and Gauls, many of whom had served under Caesar before. fide datā: 'after pledges had been given'.

B. Afr. 29.2Labiēnus interim cum parte equitātūs Leptim oppidum, cui praeerat Saserna cum cohortibus VI, oppugnāre ac vī inrumpere cōnābātur;

Meanwhile Labienus with part of his cavalry was trying to attack the town of Leptis, which Saserna held with six cohorts, and to break in by force;

Note. Leptim: accusative of Leptis. vī inrumpere: 'to break in by force'.

B. Afr. 29.2quod ab dēfēnsōribus propter ēgregiam mūnītiōnem oppidī et multitūdinem tormentōrum facile et sine perīculō dēfendēbātur.

the defenders held it easily and without danger, thanks to the excellent fortification of the town and its great number of artillery pieces.

Note. quod is a connecting relative referring to the town.

B. Afr. 29.3Quod ubi saepius eius equitātus facere nōn intermittēbat, cum forte ante portam turma dēnsa adstitisset, scorpiōne accūrātius missō atque eōrum decuriōne percussō et ad equum dēfīxō, reliquī perterritī fugā sē in castra recipiunt.

When his cavalry kept doing this time and again, and a squadron happened to have halted in a dense mass in front of the gate, a bolt from a scorpion was aimed with special care, their decurion was struck and pinned to his horse, and the rest, terrified, fled back into their camp.

Note. scorpiōne: the scorpio was a light bolt-shooting catapult. decuriōne percussō et ad equum dēfīxō: the bolt pinned the officer to his horse. reliquī perterritī: 'the rest, terrified'.

B. Afr. 29.3Quō factō posteā sunt dēterritī oppidum temptāre.

After this they were deterred from attempting the town any more.

Note. dēterritī … temptāre: dēterreō with an infinitive, 'deterred from attempting'.