Bellum Alexandrinum 15

B. Alex. 15.1Rhodiīs nāvibus praeerat Euphranōr, animī magnitūdine ac virtūte magis cum nostrīs hominibus quam cum Graecīs comparandus.

In command of the Rhodian ships was Euphranor, a man who in greatness of spirit and courage was to be compared with our men rather than with the Greeks.

Note. Euphranor: the Rhodian commander, whose death is told later in this work. comparandus: gerundive, 'to be compared'.

B. Alex. 15.2Hic ob nōtissimam scientiam atque animī magnitūdinem dēlēctus est ab Rhodiīs, quī imperium classis obtinēret.

Because of his well-known skill and greatness of spirit he had been chosen by the Rhodians to hold command of the fleet.

Note. quī imperium classis obtinēret: relative clause of purpose, 'to hold command of the fleet'.

B. Alex. 15.3Quī ubi Caesaris dubitātiōnem animum advertit, "Vidēris mihi", inquit, "Caesar, verērī, sī haec vada prīmīs nāvibus intrāris, nē prius dīmicāre cōgāris, quam reliquam classem potuerīs explicāre.

When he noticed Caesar's hesitation, he said: "You seem to me, Caesar, to fear that if you enter these shallows with the first ships, you will be forced to fight before you can deploy the rest of the fleet.

Note. animum advertit: = animadvertit, 'noticed'. Vidēris mihi: 'you seem to me'. intrāris: syncopated future perfect intrāveris. nē prius … quam: after verbs of fearing nē means 'that'; prius … quam, 'before'.

B. Alex. 15.4Nōbīs rem committe: nōs proelium sustinēbimus— neque tuum iūdicium fallēmus—, dum reliquī subsequantur.

Leave the matter to us: we will hold up the battle — and we will not disappoint your judgement — until the rest follow.

Note. committe: imperative, 'entrust'. dum reliquī subsequantur: 'until the rest come up', dum with the subjunctive of expectation.

B. Alex. 15.4Hōs quidem diūtius in nostrō cōnspectū glōriārī magnō nōbīs et dēdecorī et dolōrī est."

For these men to boast any longer in our sight is a great disgrace and grief to us."

Note. Hōs … glōriārī: the infinitive phrase is the subject of est. magnō nōbīs et dēdecorī et dolōrī: double dative, 'a great disgrace and grief to us'.

B. Alex. 15.5Caesar illum adhortātus atque omnibus laudibus prōsecūtus dat signum pugnae.

Caesar encouraged him, praised him in every way, and gave the signal for battle.

Note. adhortātus, prōsecūtus: deponent participles with active meaning.

B. Alex. 15.5Prōgressās ultrā vadum IV Rhodiās nāvēs circumsistunt Alexandrīnī atque in eās impetum faciunt.

Four Rhodian ships advanced beyond the shallows; the Alexandrians surrounded them and attacked them.

Note. Prōgressās: from the deponent prōgredior, active in meaning.

B. Alex. 15.6Sustinent illī atque arte sollertiāque sē explicant;

They held out and, by skill and cleverness, deployed themselves;

Note. sē explicant: 'they deployed themselves', manoeuvred into open order.

B. Alex. 15.6ac tantum doctrīna potuit, ut in disparī numerō nūlla trānsversa hostī obicerētur, nūllīus rēmī dētergērentur, sed semper venientibus adversae occurrerent.

and their training was so effective that, though unequal in numbers, not one of them was turned broadside to the enemy, none had her oars swept away, but they always met the attackers head-on.

Note. tantum doctrīna potuit, ut: 'their training was so effective that'. trānsversa: 'side-on', exposing her flank to the enemy's ram. nūllīus rēmī dētergērentur: 'no ship's oars were swept off'. venientibus adversae: 'bow-on to the attackers'.

B. Alex. 15.6Interim sunt reliquae subsecūtae.

Meanwhile the rest came up behind.

Note. subsecūtae: deponent perfect participle with sunt.

B. Alex. 15.7Tum necessāriō discessum ab arte est propter angustiās locī, atque omne certāmen in virtūte cōnstitit.

Then, because of the narrow space, they had to abandon skill, and the whole contest turned on courage.

Note. discessum … est: impersonal passive, 'there was a departure from skill'.

B. Alex. 15.8Neque vērō Alexandrīae fuit quisquam aut nostrōrum aut oppidānōrum, quī aut in opere aut in pugnā occupātum animum habērent, quīn altissima tēcta peteret atque ex omnī prōspectū locum spectāculō caperet precibusque et vōtīs victōriam suīs ab dīs inmortālibus exposceret.

Nor was there anyone at Alexandria, either of our men or of the townspeople, who had his mind taken up by work or fighting, who did not make for the highest roofs, find a place to view the spectacle from any vantage point, and with prayers and vows beg the immortal gods for victory for their side.

Note. Alexandrīae: locative, 'at Alexandria'. quī … habērent: plural by sense, since quisquam … aut nostrōrum aut oppidānōrum covers many people. quīn … peteret: after a negative, 'who did not make for'. suīs: 'for their own side'. dīs: the usual ablative plural of deus.