Bellum Africum 96

B. Afr. 96.1Scīpiō interim cum Damasippō et Torquātō et Plaetōriō Rustiānō nāvibus longīs diū multumque iactātī cum Hispāniam peterent, ad Hippōnem rēgium dēferuntur, ubi classis P. Sittiī id temporis erat.

Meanwhile Scipio, with Damasippus, Torquatus and Plaetorius Rustianus, was making for Spain in warships; after being tossed about for a long time, they were carried to Hippo Regius, where Publius Sittius's fleet was at that time.

Note. Scīpiō: Q. Metellus Scipio, Pompey's father-in-law and commander-in-chief in Africa. Torquātō: L. Manlius Torquatus. iactātī: plural because the men with Scipio are included. Hippōnem rēgium: Hippo Regius, a royal Numidian port. id temporis: 'at that time', an accusative of time with a partitive genitive.

B. Afr. 96.2Ā quā pauciōra ab ampliōribus circumventa nāvigia dēprimuntur, ibique Scīpiō cum illīs, quōs paulō ante nōmināvī, interiit.

By it their fewer ships were surrounded by the larger ones and sunk, and there Scipio died together with the men I named a little earlier.

Note. Ā quā: 'by which (fleet)'. pauciōra ab ampliōribus: 'the fewer (ships) by the larger'. quōs paulō ante nōmināvī: the author speaks in the first person, rare in this work. Later writers add Scipio's last words, 'the commander is well' (imperātor sē bene habet), as he stabbed himself; this author says only that he died.