Bellum Africum 40

B. Afr. 40.1Erat in eō campō, ubi ea rēs gerēbātur, vīlla permagna turribus IV īnstrūcta;

In the plain where this action was taking place there was a very large farmhouse fitted with four towers;

Note. turribus IV īnstrūcta: a large fortified farmhouse, of a kind common in the African countryside.

B. Afr. 40.1quae Labiēnī prōspectum impediēbat, nē posset animum advertere ab equitātū Caesaris sē interclūdī.

this blocked Labienus' view, so that he could not notice that he was being cut off by Caesar's cavalry.

Note. nē posset: the farmhouse blocked his view 'so that he could not' notice. animum advertere = animadvertere.

B. Afr. 40.2Itaque nōn prius vīdit turmās Iūliānās, quam suōs caedī ā tergō sentit.

And so he did not see the squadrons of Caesar's men before he felt his own men being cut down from behind.

Note. nōn prius … quam: 'not before … than', i.e. he did not see them until he felt his men being cut down.

B. Afr. 40.2Ex quā rē subitō in terrōrem conversō equitātū Numidārum rēctā in castra fugere contendit.

At this the cavalry of the Numidians was suddenly thrown into panic, and he hurried to flee straight back to the camp.

Note. rēctā: understand viā, 'straight'.

B. Afr. 40.3Gallī Germānīque, quī restiterant, ex superiōre locō et post tergum circumventī fortiterque resistentēs concīduntur ūniversī.

The Gauls and Germans who had stood their ground were surrounded from the higher ground and from behind, and though they resisted bravely they were cut down to a man.

Note. concīduntur ūniversī: 'they were cut down to a man'. concīdō (long ī) is 'cut to pieces'.

B. Afr. 40.4Quod ubi legiōnēs Scīpiōnis, quae prō castrīs erant īnstrūctae, animum advertērunt, metū ac terrōre obcaecātae omnibus portīs in sua castra fugere coepērunt.

When Scipio's legions, which were drawn up in front of the camp, noticed this, they were blinded by fear and terror and began to flee into their camp by every gate.

Note. animum advertērunt: again 'noticed'. omnibus portīs: 'by every gate', ablative of the route taken.

B. Afr. 40.5Postquam Scīpiōne eiusque cōpiīs campō collibusque exturbātīs atque in castra compulsīs cum receptuī Caesar canī iussisset equitātumque omnem intrā suās mūnītiōnēs recēpisset, campō pūrgātō animadvertit mīrifica corpora Gallōrum Germānōrumque;

When Scipio and his forces had been driven from the plain and the hills and pushed back into camp, Caesar had the retreat sounded and took all his cavalry back inside his fortifications; when the plain had been cleared, he noticed the wonderful bodies of the Gauls and Germans,

Note. receptuī canī: 'the retreat to be sounded', receptuī being a dative of purpose. mīrifica corpora: the Gauls and Germans were admired for their height and build.

B. Afr. 40.5quī partim eius auctōritātem erant ex Galliā secūtī, partim pretiō pollicitātiōnibusque adductī ad eum sē contulerant, nōnnūllī, quī ex Cūriōnis proeliō captī cōnservātīque parem grātiam in fidē praebendā praestāre voluerant.

who had partly followed Labienus out of Gaul because of his influence, partly been won over by money and promises and come over to him; some, captured in Curio's battle and spared, had wished to show equal gratitude by keeping faith.

Note. partim … partim … nōnnūllī: three groups. ex Cūriōnis proeliō: C. Scribonius Curio was defeated and killed by Juba in Africa in 49 BC; some of his Gallic and German cavalry were spared and joined the other side.

B. Afr. 40.6Hōrum corpora mīrificā speciē amplitūdineque caesa tōtō campō ac prōstrāta dīversē iacēbant.

Their bodies, wonderful in their beauty and size, lay slaughtered and strewn far and wide over the whole plain.

Note. mīrificā speciē amplitūdineque: ablatives of description. dīversē: 'here and there', 'all over'.