Bellum Alexandrinum 29

B. Alex. 29.1Inter castra et Caesaris iter flūmen intercēdēbat angustum altissimīs rīpīs, quod in Nīlum īnfluēbat, aberat autem ab rēgis castrīs mīlia passuum circiter VII. Rēx cum hōc itinere venīre Caesarem comperisset, equitātum omnem expedītōsque dēlēctōs peditēs ad id flūmen mīsit, quī trānsitū Caesarem prohibērent et ēminus ex rīpīs proelium impār inīrent: nūllum enim prōcessum virtūs habēbat aut perīculum ignāvia subībat.

Between the camp and Caesar's route there ran a narrow river with very high banks, which flowed into the Nile, and it was about seven miles from the king's camp. When the king found out that Caesar was coming by this route, he sent all his cavalry and picked light infantry to that river, to keep Caesar from crossing and to fight an unequal battle at long range from the banks: for courage could make no progress, and cowardice ran no risk.

Note. In Kübler's edition a new sentence begins at Rēx; the reader treats it as one with the preceding words. ut eminus … inīrent: they would fight from the banks without risk. nūllum enim prōcessum virtūs habēbat aut perīculum ignāvia subībat: an elegant chiasmus.

B. Alex. 29.3Quae rēs incendit dolōre mīlitēs equitēsque nostrōs, quod tam diū parī proeliō cum Alexandrīnīs certārent.

This fired our soldiers and cavalry with indignation, that they should be fighting on equal terms with the Alexandrians for so long.

Note. quae rēs: 'this situation'. quod … certārent: subjunctive giving the soldiers' own grievance.

B. Alex. 29.4Itaque eōdem tempore equitēs Germānī dispersī vada flūminis quaerentēs partim dēmissiōribus rīpīs flūmen trānārunt, et legiōnāriī magnīs arboribus excīsīs, quae longitūdine utramque rīpam contingerent, prōiectīs iīs repentīnōque aggere iniectō flūmen trānsiērunt.

So at the same moment the German cavalry, scattering to look for fords of the river, swam across in places where the banks were lower, and the legionaries cut down great trees long enough to reach from bank to bank, threw them in, heaped an improvised causeway on them and crossed the river.

Note. equitēs Germānī: Caesar's German cavalry. dēmissiōribus rīpīs: 'where the banks were lower'. quae … contingerent: relative of characteristic, 'long enough to reach'.

B. Alex. 29.5Quōrum impetum adeō pertimuērunt hostēs, ut in fugā spem salūtis collocārent;

The enemy were so terrified of their onslaught that they placed their hope of safety in flight;

Note. adeō … ut: 'so much … that'.

B. Alex. 29.5sed id frūstrā: namque ex eā fugā paucī ad rēgem refūgērunt paene omnī reliquā multitūdine interfectā.

but in vain: for few got back from that flight to the king, and almost all the rest of the host was killed.

Note. sed id frūstrā: verb understood, 'but this (was) in vain'.