Bellum Africum 35

B. Afr. 35.1Quibus rēbus Scīpiō, quīque cum eō essent comitēs, mīrārī et requīrere: C. Caesarem, quī ultrō cōnsuēsset bellum īnferre ac lacessere proeliō, subitō commūtātum nōn sine magnō cōnsiliō suspicābantur.

At this, Scipio and those who were with him as companions were astonished and kept asking why; they suspected that Gaius Caesar, who had been in the habit of taking the war to the enemy and challenging him to battle, had suddenly changed, and not without some great plan.

Note. mīrārī et requīrere: historical infinitives, used in lively narrative instead of imperfect indicatives. quīque = et (eī) quī. ultrō: 'of his own accord', i.e. taking the initiative.

B. Afr. 35.2Itaque ex eius patientiā in magnum timōrem coniectī ex Gaetūlīs duōs, quōs arbitrābantur suīs rēbus amīcissimōs, magnīs praemiīs pollicitātiōnibusque prōpositīs prō perfugīs speculandī grātiā in castra Caesaris mittunt.

So, thrown into great fear by his patience, they chose two Gaetulians whom they thought most friendly to their cause, offered them great rewards and promises, and sent them into Caesar's camp posing as deserters, to spy.

Note. ex eius patientiā: 'as a result of his patience' — Caesar's refusal to fight alarmed them. prō perfugīs: 'as (pretended) deserters'. speculandī grātiā: gerund in the genitive with grātiā, 'for the purpose of spying'.

B. Afr. 35.3Quī simul ad eum sunt dēductī, petiērunt, ut sibi licēret verba sine perīculō prōloquī.

As soon as they had been brought to him, they asked to be allowed to speak their words without danger.

Note. simul = simul atque, 'as soon as'.

B. Afr. 35.4Potestāte factā, "Saepenumerō", inquiunt, "imperātor, complūrēs Gaetūlī, quī sumus clientēs C. Mariī, et propemodum omnēs cīvēs Rōmānī, quī sunt in legiōne IV et VI, ad tē voluimus in tuaque praesidia cōnfugere;

When permission was given, they said: "Commander, many times a good number of us Gaetulians, who are clients of Gaius Marius, and almost all the Roman citizens who are in the Fourth and Sixth legions, have wanted to come over to you and take refuge in your protection;

Note. C. Marius had settled Gaetulians in Africa after the war against Jugurtha, so they were his hereditary clients. voluimus: from volō, velle, 'we have wanted'.

B. Afr. 35.4sed custōdiīs equitum Numidārum, quō id sine perīculō minus facerēmus, impediēbāmur.

but we were prevented by the guards of Numidian cavalry from doing it without danger.

Note. quō … minus: after verbs of hindering, quōminus (here split) means 'from doing'.

B. Afr. 35.4Nunc datā facultāte ad tē cupidissimē vēnimus prō speculātōribus missī ab Scīpiōne, ut perspicerēmus, num quae fossae aut īnsidiae elephantīs ante castra portāsque vallī factae essent, simulque cōnsilia vestra contrā eāsdem bēstiās comparātiōnemque pugnae cognōscerēmus atque eīs renūntiārēmus."

Now that we have the chance, we have come to you most eagerly, sent by Scipio as spies to see whether any trenches or traps for the elephants had been made in front of the camp and the gates of the rampart, and at the same time to learn your plans against these same beasts and your preparations for battle, and to report back to them."

Note. num quae: quae is the indefinite (= aliquae) after num. elephantīs: dative of purpose or disadvantage, 'traps for the elephants'.

B. Afr. 35.5Quī conlaudātī ā Caesare stīpendiōque dōnātī ad reliquōs perfugās dēdūcuntur.

They were warmly praised by Caesar, given pay, and taken to the other deserters.

Note. stīpendiō dōnātī: dōnō takes the ablative of the thing given, 'presented with pay'.

B. Afr. 35.6Quōrum ōrātiōnem celeriter vēritās comprobāvit: namque posterō diē ex legiōnibus hīs, quās Gaetūlī nōminārunt, mīlitēs legiōnāriī complūrēs ab Scīpiōne in castra Caesaris perfūgērunt.

The truth soon confirmed what they had said: for on the next day a good number of legionary soldiers from the legions the Gaetulians had named deserted from Scipio to Caesar's camp.

Note. Quōrum ōrātiōnem … vēritās comprobāvit: the truth proved their words — deserters followed the next day.