Bellum Africum 66

B. Afr. 66.1Caesar interim dē īnsidiīs Labiēnī ex perfugīs certior factus paucōs diēs ibi commorātus, dum hostēs ex cōtīdiānō īnstitūtō saepe idem faciendō in neglegentiam addūcerentur, subitō māne imperat portā decumānā legiōnēs sē III veterānās cum parte equitātūs sequī atque equitibus praemissīs neque opīnantēs īnsidiātōrēs subitō adortus in convallibus latentēs levis armātūrae concīdit circiter D, reliquōs in fugam turpissimam coniēcit.

Caesar meanwhile, informed by deserters of Labienus' ambush, stayed there a few days, until the enemy, by doing the same thing often as their daily routine, should be led into carelessness; then suddenly one morning he ordered three veteran legions with part of the cavalry to follow him out by the rear gate, and, sending the cavalry ahead, he suddenly attacked the ambushers when they were not expecting it, cut down about five hundred of the light-armed troops lying hidden in the valleys, and drove the rest into a most disgraceful flight.

Note. Notice the long sentence built from participles: certior factus … commorātus … adortus. dum … addūcerentur: dum with the subjunctive, 'until they should be brought', expressing purpose. idem faciendō: ablative of the gerund with an object. neque opīnantēs = 'not expecting it', i.e. off guard. turpissimam: superlative of turpis.

B. Afr. 66.2Interim Labiēnus cum ūniversō equitātū fugientibus suīs suppetiās occurrit.

Meanwhile Labienus with all his cavalry came to the help of his fleeing men.

Note. suppetiās occurrit: suppetiae is used almost only in the accusative after verbs of motion, 'came to the help'. fugientibus suīs: dative, 'to his fleeing men'.

B. Afr. 66.3Cuius vim multitūdinis cum equitēs paucī Caesariānī iam sustinēre nōn possent, Caesar īnstrūctās legiōnēs hostium cōpiīs ostendit.

When the few Caesarian horsemen could no longer withstand the force of his numbers, Caesar showed his legions, drawn up in battle order, to the enemy forces.

Note. Cuius vim multitūdinis: 'the force of his (Labienus') numbers'; the relative connects to the previous sentence. Caesariānī: the writer's name for Caesar's men; elsewhere he says Iūliānī.

B. Afr. 66.3Quō factō perterritō Labiēnō ac retardātō suōs equitēs recēpit incolumēs.

When this was done, Labienus was terrified and checked, and Caesar took his cavalry back unharmed.

Note. Quō factō: 'when this was done'. perterritō Labiēnō ac retardātō: a second ablative absolute.

B. Afr. 66.4Posterō diē Iuba Numidās eōs, quī locō āmissō fugā sē recēperant in castra, in cruce omnēs suffīxit.

The next day Juba had all those Numidians who had lost their position and fled back into camp crucified.

Note. in cruce … suffīxit: 'fastened to a cross', i.e. crucified, Juba's punishment for those who had abandoned their position. Note the vivid touch: the king's discipline is contrasted with Caesar's.