Bellum Africum 93

B. Afr. 93.1Dum haec utrōbīque geruntur, Cōnsidius, quī Thysdrae cum familiā suā, gladiātōriā manū Gaetūlīsque praeerat, cognitā caede suōrum Domitiīque et legiōnum adventū perterritus dēspērātā salūte oppidum dēserit sēque clam cum paucīs barbarīs pecūniā onustus subdūcit atque in regnum fugere contendit.

While this was going on in both places, Considius, who was in command at Thysdra with his household, a troop of gladiators and some Gaetulians, learned of the slaughter of his side, and, terrified by the approach of Domitius and his legions, gave up hope of safety, abandoned the town, slipped away secretly with a few natives, loaded with money, and hurried to flee into the kingdom.

Note. utrōbīque: 'in both places'. Considius: C. Considius Longus, the Pompeian commander of Thysdra. Thysdrae: locative. Gaetūlīs: a people of the interior, serving as auxiliaries. cognitā caede suōrum: 'having learned of the slaughter of his side'. Domitiīque et legiōnum adventū: 'by the arrival of Domitius and the legions'. pecūniā onustus: 'loaded with money', the cause of his death in the next sentence.

B. Afr. 93.2Quem Gaetūlī, suī comitēs, in itinere praedae cupidī concīdunt sēque, in quāscumque potuēre partēs, cōnferunt.

On the march the Gaetulians, his own companions, greedy for plunder, cut him down and made off in every direction they could.

Note. potuēre = potuērunt. in quāscumque … partēs: 'in whatever directions'.

B. Afr. 93.3C. interim Vergilius, postquam terrā marīque clausus sē nihil prōficere intellēxit suōsque interfectōs aut fugātōs, M. Catōnem Uticae sibi ipsum manūs attulisse, rēgem vagum ab suīsque dēsertum ab omnibus aspernārī, Saburram eiusque cōpiās ab Sittiō esse dēlētās, Uticae Caesarem sine morā receptum, dē tantō exercitū reliquiās esse nūllās, ipse sibi suīsque līberīs ā Canīniō prōcōnsule, quī eum obsidēbat, fidē acceptā sēque et sua omnia et oppidum prōcōnsulī trādit.

Meanwhile Gaius Vergilius, shut in by land and sea, realised that he was getting nowhere: his men were killed or put to flight, Marcus Cato had taken his own life at Utica, the king was wandering, abandoned by his own people and spurned by everyone, Saburra and his forces had been destroyed by Sittius, Caesar had been received at Utica without delay, and of so great an army nothing remained; so he accepted a pledge of safety for himself and his children from the proconsul Caninius, who was besieging him, and surrendered himself, all his property and the town to the proconsul.

Note. A long string of accusatives and infinitives after intellēxit, listing everything Vergilius learned: suōs interfectōs, Catōnem … manūs attulisse, rēgem … aspernārī, Saburram … dēlētās, Caesarem … receptum, reliquiās esse nūllās. sibi … manūs attulisse: 'had laid hands on himself'. Sittius: P. Sittius, an adventurer with his own army in Mauretania, fighting for Caesar. fidē acceptā: 'having received a pledge (of safety)'.