Bellum Africum 70

B. Afr. 70.1Cum iam ad sōlis occāsum esset, et nōn tōtōs C passūs in hōrīs IV esset prōgressus, equitātū suō propter equōrum interitum extrēmō agmine remōtō legiōnēs in vicem ad extrēmum agmen ēvocābat.

When it was already near sunset, and he had not advanced a full hundred paces in four hours, he removed his cavalry from the rear because of the loss of horses and called up the legions to the rear in turn.

Note. Cum iam ad sōlis occāsum esset: impersonal, 'when it was already near sunset'. nōn tōtōs C passūs: 'not a full hundred paces'. in vicem: 'in turn', the legions taking turns at the rear.

B. Afr. 70.2Ita vim hostium placidē lēniterque prōcēdēns per legiōnārium mīlitem commodius sustinēbat.

In this way, advancing calmly and gently, he withstood the enemy's force more easily by means of the legionary soldiers.

Note. per legiōnārium mīlitem: collective singular, 'by means of the legionary soldiers'. commodius: comparative adverb.

B. Afr. 70.3Interim equitum Numidārum cōpiae dextrā sinistrāque per collēs praecurrere corōnaeque in modum cingere multitūdine suā Caesaris cōpiās, pars agmen extrēmum īnsequī.

Meanwhile the forces of Numidian cavalry ran ahead along the hills to right and left and with their numbers surrounded Caesar's forces like a ring, while some followed the rearguard.

Note. Historic infinitives: praecurrere, cingere, īnsequī stand for imperfect indicatives and describe continuous action. dextrā sinistrāque: 'on right and left' (sc. parte). corōnae in modum: 'in the manner of a ring'.

B. Afr. 70.4Caesaris interim nōn amplius III aut IV mīlitēs veterānī sī sē convertissent et pīla vīribus contorta in Numidās īnfestōs coniēcissent, amplius duum mīlium numerō ad ūnum terga vertēbant ac rūrsus ad aciem passim conversīs equīs sē colligēbant atque in spatiō cōnsequēbantur et iacula in legiōnāriōs coiciēbant.

Meanwhile if no more than three or four of Caesar's veterans turned round and hurled their javelins with all their strength at the threatening Numidians, more than two thousand of them turned their backs to a man, then wheeling their horses here and there they rallied again to the battle, followed at a distance and threw javelins at the legionaries.

Note. sī … convertissent … coniēcissent: in a general condition the pluperfect subjunctive marks repeated action, 'whenever'. ad ūnum: 'to a man'. duum: an old genitive of duo, = duōrum. sē colligēbant: 'rallied'.

B. Afr. 70.5Ita Caesar modo prōcēdendō modo resistendō tardius itinere cōnfectō noctis hōrā prīmā omnēs suōs ad ūnum in castra incolumēs sauciīs X factīs redūxit.

So, now advancing, now standing his ground, Caesar completed the march rather slowly and at the first hour of the night brought all his men back into camp, safe to a man, with ten wounded.

Note. modo prōcēdendō modo resistendō: ablative of the gerund, 'now by advancing, now by halting'. sauciīs X factīs: ablative absolute, 'with ten men wounded'.

B. Afr. 70.6Labiēnus circiter CCC āmissīs, multīs vulnerātīs, dēfessīs īnstandō omnibus ad suōs sē recēpit.

Labienus withdrew to his own lines with about three hundred lost, many wounded, and all exhausted from pressing the attack.

Note. dēfessīs īnstandō omnibus: 'all being exhausted by pressing on'. ad suōs: 'to his own men'.

B. Afr. 70.7Scīpiō interim legiōnēs prōductās cum elephantīs, quōs ante castra in aciē terrōris grātiā in cōnspectū Caesaris conlocāverat, redūcit in castra.

Meanwhile Scipio led back into camp his legions, which he had brought out with the elephants, whom he had stationed in battle line before the camp in full view of Caesar to cause terror.

Note. terrōris grātiā: 'for the sake of causing fear'. The elephants will be a theme of the next chapters.