Bellum Africum 48

B. Afr. 48.1Rēx interim Iuba dē equestrī proeliō Scīpiōnis certior factus ēvocātusque ab eōdem litterīs praefectō Saburrā cum parte exercitūs contrā Sittium relictō, ut sēcum ipse aliquid auctōritātis adderet exercituī Scīpiōnis ac terrōrem Caesaris, cum tribus legiōnibus equitibusque frēnātīs DCCC, Numidīs sine frēnīs peditibusque levis armātūrae grandī numerō, elephantīs XXX ēgressus ē regnō ad Scīpiōnem est profectus.

Meanwhile King Juba, informed of Scipio's cavalry battle and summoned by him by letter, left his commander Saburra with part of his army to face Sittius, and to add some weight to Scipio's army by his own presence, and terror to Caesar's, he left his kingdom and set out to join Scipio with three legions, 800 bridled cavalry, a great number of Numidians riding without bridles and of light-armed foot soldiers, and thirty elephants.

Note. ut … adderet: purpose clause; the author means Juba would add authority to Scipio's army and terror to Caesar's. equitibus frēnātīs … Numidīs sine frēnīs: the Numidians famously rode without bridles. secum: 'with him', the reflexive with cum attached.

B. Afr. 48.2Postquam ad eum pervēnit, castrīs rēgiīs sēorsum positīs cum eīs cōpiīs, quās commemorāvī, haud ita longē ab Scīpiōne cōnsēdit.

When he reached him, he pitched a royal camp apart with the forces I have mentioned and settled not very far from Scipio.

Note. castrīs rēgiīs seorsum positīs: 'pitching a royal camp apart'. quās commemorāvī: the author again speaks in the first person.

B. Afr. 48.2—Erat in castrīs Caesaris superiōre tempore magnus terror, et exspectātiōne cōpiārum rēgiārum exercitus eius magis suspēnsiōre animō ante adventum Iubae commovēbātur;

There had been great alarm in Caesar's camp in the earlier period, and before Juba's arrival his army had been rather anxious and disturbed while it waited for the royal forces;

Note. magis suspēnsiōre animō: a doubled comparative, 'in a more anxious state of mind'.

B. Afr. 48.3postquam vērō castra castrīs contulit, dēspectīs eius cōpiīs omnem timōrem dēpōnit.

but once Juba brought his camp near theirs, they looked down on his forces and lost all their fear.

Note. castra castrīs contulit: 'brought camp near camp'. dēspectīs eius cōpiīs: once they saw Juba's forces, Caesar's men despised them.

B. Afr. 48.3Ita quam anteā absēns habuerat auctōritātem, eam omnem praesēns dīmīserat.

So all the authority he had had while absent, he lost once present.

Note. quam … auctōritātem, eam omnem: the relative clause comes first and incorporates its noun. absēns … praesēns: a neat antithesis.

B. Afr. 48.3—Quō factō cuivīs facile fuit intellēctū Scīpiōnī additum animum fīdūciamque rēgis adventū.

After this anyone could easily see that the king's arrival had given Scipio new spirit and confidence.

Note. facile fuit intellēctū: supine in -ū, 'it was easy to see'.

B. Afr. 48.5Nam posterō diē ūniversās suās rēgisque cōpiās cum elephantīs LX prōductās in aciem, quam speciōsissimē potuit, īnstrūxit ac paulō longius prōgressus ab suīs mūnītiōnibus haud ita diū commorātus sē recēpit in castra.

For on the next day he brought out all his own and the king's forces with sixty elephants, drew them up in line as showily as he could, advanced a little further than usual from his fortifications, and after waiting there not very long withdrew into camp.

Note. quam speciōsissimē potuit: quam with a superlative, 'as showily as he could'.