Bellum Alexandrinum 43

B. Alex. 43.1Gabīnius ut in Illyricum vēnit hībernō tempore annī ac difficilī sīve cōpiōsiōrem prōvinciam exīstimāns sīve multum fortūnae victōris Caesaris tribuēns sīve virtūte et scientiā suā cōnfīsus, quā saepe in bellīs perīclitātus magnās rēs et secundās ductū auspiciōque suō gesserat, neque prōvinciae facultātibus sublevābātur, quae partim erat exinanīta partim īnfidēlis, neque nāvibus interclūsō marī tempestātibus commeātūs subportāre poterat magnīsque difficultātibus coāctus, nōn ut volēbat, sed ut necesse erat, bellum gerēbat.

When Gabinius came to Illyricum in the winter season, a difficult time of year, whether because he thought the province better supplied, or because he counted much on the fortune of Caesar the victor, or because he trusted in his own courage and skill, with which he had often run risks in war and won great successes under his own leadership and auspices, he received no support from the resources of the province, which was partly drained and partly disloyal, nor could he bring in supplies by ship, since storms had closed the sea; and, hard pressed by great difficulties, he waged war not as he wished but as he was forced to.

Note. sīve … sīve … sīve: three possible reasons for Gabinius' rashness. multum fortūnae … tribuēns: 'attributing much to the fortune'. ductū auspiciōque suō: the formal phrase for a general's own command. neque … neque: the two failures, no help from the province and no supplies by sea. nōn ut volēbat, sed ut necesse erat: 'not as he wished but as he had to'.

B. Alex. 43.2Ita cum dūrissimīs tempestātibus propter inopiam castella aut oppida expugnāre cōgerētur, crēbrō incommoda accipiēbat adeōque est ā barbarīs contemptus, ut Salōnam sē recipiēns in oppidum maritumum, quod cīvēs Rōmānī fortissimī fidēlissimīque incolēbant, in agmine dīmicāre sit coāctus.

So, since lack of supplies forced him to storm forts or towns in the harshest weather, he often suffered setbacks, and he was so despised by the natives that, while withdrawing to Salona, a town on the coast inhabited by very brave and loyal Roman citizens, he was forced to fight on the march.

Note. dūrissimīs tempestātibus: ablative of time, 'in the harshest weather'. crēbrō: adverb, 'often'. Salōnam: Salona, near modern Split. maritumum: older spelling of maritimum. in agmine: 'on the march'.

B. Alex. 43.3Quō proeliō duōbus mīlibus mīlitum amplius āmissīs, centuriōnibus XXXVIII, tribūnīs IV, cum reliquīs cōpiīs Salōnam sē recēpit summāque ibi difficultāte rērum omnium pressus paucīs mēnsibus morbō periit.

In that battle he lost more than two thousand soldiers, thirty-eight centurions and four tribunes, and withdrew to Salona with the rest of his forces; there, under the greatest shortage of everything, he died of illness a few months later.

Note. duōbus mīlibus … āmissīs: ablative absolute; amplius without quam. centuriōnibus XXXVIII: thirty-eight centurions. summā … difficultāte … pressus: 'hard pressed by the greatest shortage'. Gabinius died early in 47 BC.

B. Alex. 43.4Cuius et īnfēlīcitās vīvī et subita mors in magnam spem Octāvium addūxit prōvinciae potiundae;

His misfortune while alive and his sudden death led Octavius to hope strongly that he could gain the province;

Note. Cuius: connecting relative, Gabinius'. vīvī: genitive of vīvus, 'while living'. provinciae potiundae: older gerundive form (= potiendae), genitive with spem.

B. Alex. 43.4quem tamen diūtius in rēbus secundīs et Fortūna, quae plūrimum in bellīs potest, dīligentiaque Cornificiī et virtūs Vatīniī versārī passa nōn est.

but Fortune, which has the greatest power in war, together with the diligence of Cornificius and the courage of Vatinius, did not allow him to prosper for long.

Note. quem … versārī passa nōn est: 'did not allow him to prosper'. Fortūna … diligentia … virtūs: three subjects with a singular verb agreeing with the nearest. Vatinius: Publius Vatinius, Caesar's legate.