Bellum Alexandrinum 35

B. Alex. 35.1Interim lēgātī ā Pharnace respōnsa referunt: Cappadociā sē dēcessisse, Armeniam minōrem recēpisse, quam paternō nōmine iūre obtinēre dēbēret.

Meanwhile the envoys brought back answers from Pharnaces: he had withdrawn from Cappadocia, but had taken back Lesser Armenia, which he ought to hold by right as his father's kingdom.

Note. The envoys' answer is in indirect speech: Cappadociā sē dēcessisse … recēpisse. quam … obtinēre dēbēret: the subjunctive is used because the relative clause is part of the reported speech. paternō nōmine iūre: 'by right as his father's possession'; Mithridates had held it.

B. Alex. 35.1Dēnique eius regnī causa integra Caesarī servārētur: parātum enim sē facere, quod is statuisset.

In short, the whole question of that kingdom should be kept open for Caesar: he was ready to do whatever Caesar decided.

Note. servārētur: jussive subjunctive in indirect speech, 'let the matter be kept'. causa integra: a case 'untouched', still open. parātum … sē facere: 'that he was ready to do'.

B. Alex. 35.2Cn. Domitius cum animadverteret eum Cappadociā dēcessisse nōn voluntāte adductum, sed necessitāte, quod facilius Armeniam dēfendere posset subiectam suō regnō quam Cappadociam longius remōtam, quodque omnēs trēs legiōnēs adductūrum Domitium putāsset, ex quibus cum duās ad Caesarem missās audīsset, audācius in Armeniā substitisset, persevērāre coepit, ut eō quoque regnō dēcēderet;

Gnaeus Domitius saw that he had withdrawn from Cappadocia not of his own will but under necessity, because he could more easily defend Armenia, which lay next to his own kingdom, than Cappadocia, which was farther away, and because he had expected Domitius to bring all three legions; when he heard that two of them had been sent to Caesar, he had stood his ground in Armenia more boldly. So Domitius persisted in demanding that he withdraw from that kingdom as well;

Note. A long sentence: the causal clauses (quod … posset, quodque … putāsset) explain why Pharnaces had given way, and the main verb comes at the end, persevērāre coepit. quodque: = et quod. adductūrum: future infinitive (esse omitted). putāsset, audīsset: contracted pluperfects. ut eō quoque regnō dēcēderet: indirect command after persevērāre.

B. Alex. 35.2neque enim aliud iūs esse Cappadociae atque Armeniae, nec iūstē eum postulāre, ut in Caesaris adventum rēs integra differrētur;

for Cappadocia and Armenia had no different standing, nor was it right for him to ask that the matter be left open until Caesar arrived;

Note. Domitius' argument in indirect speech. nec iūstē eum postulāre: 'nor was his demand just'. in Caesaris adventum: 'until Caesar's arrival'.

B. Alex. 35.2id enim esse integrum, quod ita esset, ut fuisset.

for 'left open' meant a thing remaining as it had been.

Note. A neat definition: integrum is 'that which is as it was'; Pharnaces had already changed the situation by seizing Armenia.

B. Alex. 35.3Hīs respōnsīs datīs cum iīs cōpiīs, quās suprā scrīpsī, profectus est in Armeniam locīsque superiōribus iter facere īnstituit: nam ex Pontō ā Comānīs iugum ēditum silvestre est, pertinēns in Armeniam minōrem, quō Cappadocia fīnītur ab Armeniā;

With these answers given, he set out for Armenia with the forces I have listed above, and chose to march along the high ground: for from Comana in Pontus there runs a high wooded ridge stretching into Lesser Armenia, which forms the border between Cappadocia and Armenia;

Note. quās suprā scrīpsī: the author speaks in his own person. locīs superiōribus: ablative of the route, 'by the high ground'. ā Comānīs: Comana in Pontus, the temple-city. quō: 'by which', ablative of means.

B. Alex. 35.3cuius itineris hās esse certās oportūnitātēs vīdit, quod in locīs superiōribus nūllus impetus repentīnus accidere hostium poterat, et quod Cappadocia hīs iugīs subiecta magnam commeātūs cōpiam erat subministrātūra.

he saw that this route had clear advantages: on the high ground no sudden attack by the enemy could fall on him, and Cappadocia, lying below these ridges, would supply him with plenty of provisions.

Note. cuius itineris: connecting relative. has … opportūnitātēs: Kübler's text spells it oportūnitās. erat subministrātūra: future active periphrastic, 'was going to supply'.