Bellum Africum 55

B. Afr. 55.1Gaetūlī interim perfugae, quōs cum litterīs mandātīsque ā Caesare missōs suprā docuimus, ad suōs cīvēs perveniunt.

Meanwhile the Gaetulian deserters, who, as we said above, had been sent by Caesar with letters and instructions, reached their fellow countrymen.

Note. The writer refers back to chapters 32 and 35, where Caesar sent Gaetulian deserters home with letters. supra docuimus: 'we have shown above'.

B. Afr. 55.1Quōrum auctōritāte facile adductī Caesarisque nōmine persuāsī ā rēge Iubā dēscīscunt celeriterque cūnctī arma capiunt contrāque rēgem facere nōn dubitant.

Readily won over by their authority and persuaded by the name of Caesar, they revolted from King Juba, and all quickly took up arms and did not hesitate to act against the king.

Note. dēscīscunt ā rēge: 'revolt from the king'. facere contrā: 'act against, take sides against'. persuāsī: here a perfect passive participle, 'persuaded'.

B. Afr. 55.2Quibus rēbus cognitīs Iuba distentus triplicī bellō necessitāteque coāctus dē suīs cōpiīs, quās contrā Caesarem addūxerat, sex cohortēs in fīnēs regnī suī mittit, quae essent praesidiō contrā Gaetūlōs.

When he learned this, Juba, pulled in three directions by war and forced by necessity, sent six cohorts from the forces he had brought against Caesar into the territory of his kingdom, to serve as a garrison against the Gaetulians.

Note. distentus: from distineō, 'pulled in different directions'. triplicī bellō: war against Caesar, against the Gaetulians, and against Sittius and Bocchus in the west. quae essent praesidiō: relative clause of purpose with a dative of purpose, 'to serve as a garrison'.