Bellum Alexandrinum 11

B. Alex. 11.1Erat ūna nāvis Rhodia in dextrō Caesaris cornū longē ab reliquīs collocāta.

There was one Rhodian ship on Caesar's right wing, stationed far from the others.

Note. dextrō … cornū: 'the right wing'. longē ab reliquīs: far from the rest.

B. Alex. 11.1Hanc cōnspicātī hostēs nōn tenuērunt sēsē, magnōque impetū IV ad eam cōnstrātae nāvēs et complūrēs apertae contendērunt.

When the enemy caught sight of her they could not hold themselves back, and four decked ships and several open ones made for her in a great rush.

Note. cōnspicātī: deponent participle. nōn tenuērunt sēsē: 'could not restrain themselves'. cōnstrātae: 'decked' ships, the heavier warships, as opposed to apertae, 'open' ones.

B. Alex. 11.2Cui coāctus est Caesar ferre subsidium, nē turpem in cōnspectū hostium contumēliam acciperet, quamquam, sī quid gravius illīs accidisset, meritō cāsūrum iūdicābat.

Caesar was forced to bring her help, so as not to suffer a shameful insult in sight of the enemy, although he judged that, if anything serious happened to them, it would have happened deservedly.

Note. Cui: connecting relative, dative with ferre subsidium. quamquam … iūdicābat: the Rhodians had brought it on themselves by going too far out. merito cāsūrum: 'it would have happened deservedly'.

B. Alex. 11.3Proelium commissum est magnā contentiōne Rhodiōrum;

Battle was joined with great effort on the part of the Rhodians;

Note. contentiōne Rhodiōrum: 'with a great effort by the Rhodians'.

B. Alex. 11.3quī cum in omnibus dīmicātiōnibus et scientiā et virtūte praestitissent, tum maximē illō tempore tōtum onus sustinēre nōn recūsābant, nē quod suōrum culpā dētrīmentum acceptum vidērētur.

for although in every engagement they had excelled in both skill and courage, on that occasion above all they did not refuse to bear the whole burden, so that no loss should seem to have been suffered through the fault of their own men.

Note. cum … tum: 'while … so especially'. nē quod … dētrīmentum: quod is the indefinite adjective after nē.

B. Alex. 11.4Ita proelium secundissimum est factum.

So the battle turned out most successfully.

Note. secundissimum: 'most successful'.

B. Alex. 11.4Capta est ūna hostium quadrirēmis, dēpressa est altera, duae omnibus epibatīs nūdātae;

One of the enemy's quadriremes was captured, another was sunk, and two were stripped of all their marines;

Note. epibatīs: marines, the soldiers on a warship. nūdātae: understand sunt.

B. Alex. 11.4magna praetereā multitūdō in reliquīs nāvibus prōpugnātōrum est interfecta.

besides that, a great number of fighters on the rest of the ships was killed.

B. Alex. 11.5Quod nisi nox proelium dirēmisset, tōtā classe hostium Caesar potītus esset.

And if night had not broken off the battle, Caesar would have taken possession of the enemy's whole fleet.

Note. Quod nisi: 'but if … not'. potior takes the ablative: classe … potītus esset. A past unreal condition.

B. Alex. 11.6Hāc calamitāte perterritīs hostibus adversō ventō lēniter flante nāvēs onerāriās Caesar remulcō victrīcibus suīs nāvibus Alexandrīam dēdūcit.

With the enemy thoroughly frightened by this disaster, Caesar, against a gently blowing wind, towed the transports to Alexandria with his victorious ships.

Note. Hāc calamitāte perterritīs hostibus and adversō ventō lēniter flante: two ablatives absolute. remulcō: 'in tow', from remulcum.