Bellum Africum 32

B. Afr. 32.1Scīpiō interim paulisper, ut anteā dīxī, in eō locō commorātus, ut quasi dēspexisse Caesarem vidērētur, paulātim redūcit suās cōpiās in castra et cōntiōne advocātā dē terrōre suō dēspērātiōneque exercitūs Caesaris facit verba et cohortātus suōs victōriam propriam sē eīs brevī datūrum pollicētur.

Meanwhile Scipio, after lingering for a short while in that position, as I said before, so as to appear to have shown his contempt for Caesar, gradually withdrew his forces into camp; and calling an assembly, he spoke of the terror he inspired and the despair of Caesar's army, and encouraging his men he promised that he would soon give them a decisive victory.

Note. ut anteā dīxī: the author speaks in his own voice. dē terrōre suō: 'about the terror he caused'. brevī (tempore): 'soon'. victōriam propriam: 'a lasting/decisive victory'. datūrum (esse): future infinitive after pollicētur.

B. Afr. 32.2Caesar iubet mīlitēs rūrsus ad opus redīre et per causam mūnītiōnum tīrōnēs in labōre dēfatīgāre nōn intermittit.

Caesar ordered the soldiers to go back to work, and under the pretext of the fortifications never stopped wearing out the recruits with labour.

Note. per causam mūnītiōnum: 'on the pretext of the fortifications'. dēfatīgāre: hardening the recruits by work.

B. Afr. 32.3Interim Numidae Gaetūlīque diffugere cōtīdiē ex castrīs Scīpiōnis et partim in regnum sē cōnferre, partim, quod ipsī maiōrēsque eōrum beneficiō C. Mariī ūsī fuissent Caesaremque eius adfīnem esse audiēbant, in eius castra perfugere catervātim nōn intermittunt.

Meanwhile Numidians and Gaetulians kept slipping away every day from Scipio's camp, and some took themselves off to their own kingdom, while others, because they themselves and their ancestors had enjoyed the favour of Gaius Marius and they heard that Caesar was his relative by marriage, kept deserting in crowds to his camp.

Note. Gaius Marius had settled veterans among the Gaetulians after the Jugurthine War, and Caesar's aunt Julia was Marius' wife, so Caesar was his adfīnis, 'relative by marriage'. beneficiō … ūsī fuissent: ūtor with the ablative, 'had enjoyed the benefit'; subjunctive as their own reason. catervātim: 'in crowds'.

B. Afr. 32.4Quōrum ex numerō ēlēctīs hominibus inlūstriōribus et litterīs ad suōs cīvēs datīs cohortātus, utī manū factā sē suōsque dēfenderent, nē suīs inimīcīs adversāriīsque dictō audientēs essent, mittit.

From their number he chose the more distinguished men, gave them letters to their fellow-citizens, and sent them off, urging them to raise a force and defend themselves and their people, and not to be obedient to their enemies and opponents.

Note. Quōrum ex numerō: connecting relative. utī (= ut) … dēfenderent, nē … essent: indirect commands. manū factā: 'having raised a force'. dictō audientēs esse: an idiom, 'to obey' (+ dative).