Bellum Alexandrinum 44

B. Alex. 44.1Vatīnius Brundisiī cum esset, cognitīs rēbus, quae gestae erant in Illyricō, cum crēbrīs litterīs Cornificiī ad auxilium prōvinciae ferendum ēvocārētur et M. Octāvium audīret cum barbarīs foedera percussisse complūribusque locīs nostrōrum mīlitum oppugnāre praesidia partim classe per sē partim pedestribus cōpiīs per barbarōs, etsī gravī valītūdine adfectus vix corporis vīribus animum sequēbātur, tamen virtūte vīcit incommodum nātūrae difficultātēsque et hiemis et subitae praeparātiōnis.

Vatinius was at Brundisium; he learned what had happened in Illyricum, was being called on by frequent letters from Cornificius to bring help to the province, and heard that Marcus Octavius had made treaties with the natives and was attacking our soldiers' garrisons in many places, partly with his fleet by his own efforts and partly with land forces through the natives. Although he was afflicted with serious illness and his bodily strength could barely keep up with his spirit, he nevertheless overcame by courage both his physical weakness and the difficulties of winter and of hasty preparation.

Note. Brundisiī: locative, 'at Brundisium'. ad auxilium prōvinciae ferendum: gerundive of purpose. partim … partim: 'partly … partly'. per sē: 'by himself, on his own'. vix corporis vīribus animum sequēbātur: 'his bodily strength barely kept up with his spirit'. virtūte vīcit: a striking play of sound.

B. Alex. 44.2Nam cum ipse paucās in portū nāvēs longās habēret, litterās in Achāiam ad Q. Calēnum mīsit, utī sibi classem mitteret.

Since he himself had only a few warships in harbour, he sent a letter to Quintus Calenus in Achaea asking him to send him a fleet.

Note. nāvēs longās: warships. utī … mitteret: indirect command. Q. Calenus: Quintus Fufius Calenus, Caesar's legate in Greece.

B. Alex. 44.3Quod cum tardius fieret, quam perīculum nostrōrum flāgitābat, quī sustinēre impetum Octāviī nōn poterant, nāvibus āctuāriīs, quārum numerus erat satis magnus, magnitūdō nēquāquam satis iūsta ad proeliandum, rōstra imposuit.

When this happened more slowly than the danger of our men demanded, since they could not withstand Octavius' attack, he fitted rams to the fast light vessels; these were numerous enough, but their size was by no means adequate for battle.

Note. Quod cum tardius fieret: 'when this happened too slowly'. nāvibus āctuāriīs: fast light ships; fitting them with rams turned them into warships. ad proeliandum: gerund of purpose.

B. Alex. 44.4Hīs adiūnctīs nāvibus longīs et numerō classis auctō mīlitibus veterānīs impositīs, quōrum magnam cōpiam habēbat ex omnibus legiōnibus, quī numerō aegrōrum relictī erant Brundisiī, cum exercitus in Graeciam trānsportārētur, profectus est in Illyricum maritumāsque nōnnūllās cīvitātēs, quae dēfēcerant Octāviōque sē trādiderant, partim recipiēbat, partim remanentēs in suō cōnsiliō praetervehēbātur nec sibi ūllīus reī moram necessitātemque iniungēbat, quīn, quam celerrimē posset, ipsum Octāvium persequerētur.

Adding these to his warships and so increasing the size of his fleet, he put on board veteran soldiers, of whom he had a great number from all the legions, men who had been left at Brundisium on the sick list when the army was ferried over to Greece, and set out for Illyricum. Some coastal communities, which had revolted and gone over to Octavius, he recovered; others, which held to their decision, he sailed past, and he allowed no business or obligation to delay him from pursuing Octavius himself as fast as he could.

Note. Hīs adiūnctīs … numerō … auctō … mīlitibus … impositīs: three ablative absolutes. quī numerō aegrōrum relictī erant: 'who had been left behind as sick'. partim … partim: some states he recovered, others he passed by. remanentēs in suō cōnsiliō: 'holding to their decision'. quīn … persequerētur: after a negative, 'from pursuing'. quam celerrimē: 'as fast as possible'.

B. Alex. 44.5Hunc oppugnantem Epidaurum terrā marīque, ubi nostrum erat praesidium, adventū suō discēdere ab oppugnātiōne coēgit praesidiumque nostrum recēpit.

Octavius was besieging Epidaurum by land and sea, where we had a garrison; Vatinius' arrival forced him to abandon the siege, and he relieved our garrison.

Note. Hunc: Octavius. terrā marīque: 'by land and sea'. adventū suō: 'by his arrival'.