Bellum Alexandrinum 48

B. Alex. 48.1Iīs autem temporibus, quibus Caesar ad Dyrrachium Pompēium obsidēbat et Palaepharsālī rem fēlīciter gerēbat Alexandrīaeque cum perīculō magnō, tum etiam maiōre perīculī fāmā dīmicābat, Q. Cassius Longīnus, in Hispāniā prō praetōre prōvinciae ulteriōris obtinendae causā relictus, sīve cōnsuētūdine nātūrae suae sīve odiō, quod in illam prōvinciam suscēperat quaestor ex īnsidiīs ibi vulnerātus, magnās odiī suī fēcerat accessiōnēs, quod vel ex cōnscientiā suā, cum dē sē mūtuō sentīre prōvinciam crēderet, vel multīs signīs et testimōniīs eōrum, quī difficulter odia dissimulant, animum advertere poterat, et compēnsāre offēnsiōnem prōvinciae exercitūs amōre cupiēbat.

Now at the time when Caesar was besieging Pompey at Dyrrachium and winning his success at Old Pharsalus, and fighting at Alexandria amid great danger, and amid even greater rumours of danger, Quintus Cassius Longinus, who had been left in Spain as propraetor to hold the Further province, whether from a habit of his own nature or out of the hatred he had conceived for that province when, as quaestor, he had been wounded there in an ambush, had greatly added to the hatred against himself, as he could see both from his own conscience, since he believed the province felt about him as he felt about it, and from many signs and pieces of evidence given by those who find it hard to hide their hatreds; and he wanted to balance the province's dislike with the affection of the army.

Note. A very long period that moves the story to Spain. The time clause sets the scene: Caesar at Dyrrachium (spring–summer 48), at Pharsalus (August 48) and in Alexandria (winter 48–47). Palaepharsālī and Alexandrīae are locatives. cum perīculō magnō, tum etiam maiōre perīculī fāmā: 'amid great danger, and even greater rumours of danger'. Q. Cassius Longinus, the tribune who had stood by Caesar in 49, was left as governor (prō praetōre) of Hispania Ulterior. sīve cōnsuētūdine … sīve odiō: two possible causes. quaestor: in apposition, 'when quaestor' (he had served as quaestor in Spain some years before). quod … animum advertere poterat: a relative clause, 'which he could perceive'. dē sē mūtuō sentīre: 'felt the same way about him (as he did about it)'. compēnsāre: 'to balance'.

B. Alex. 48.2Itaque cum prīmum in ūnum locum exercitum condūxit, sēstertiōs centēnōs mīlitibus est pollicitus, nec multō post cum in Lūsītāniā Medobrigam oppidum montemque Herminium expugnāsset, quō Medobrigēnsēs cōnfūgerant, ibique imperātor esset appellātus sēstertiīs centēnīs mīlitēs dōnāvit.

So as soon as he had brought his army together in one place, he promised the soldiers a hundred sesterces each; and not long after, when he had stormed the town of Medobriga in Lusitania and Mount Herminius, where the people of Medobriga had fled, and had been hailed there as imperator, he presented the soldiers with a hundred sesterces each.

Note. cum prīmum: 'as soon as'. sēstertiōs centēnōs: the distributive numeral, 'a hundred sesterces each'. est pollicitus: deponent. Medobriga and Mons Herminius lie in Lusitania (modern Portugal). imperātor esset appellātus: troops hailed a victorious commander as imperator, the first step towards a triumph.

B. Alex. 48.3Multa praetereā et magna praemia singulīs concēdēbat;

Besides this he granted many large rewards to individuals;

Note. singulīs: 'to individuals'. concēdēbat: the imperfect of repeated action.

B. Alex. 48.3quae speciōsum reddēbant praesentem exercitūs amōrem, paulātim tamen et occultē mīlitārem disciplīnam sevēritātemque minuēbant.

these made the army's affection showy for the moment, but little by little and unseen they weakened military discipline and strictness.

Note. quae: connecting relative, 'these (rewards)'. speciōsum … amōrem: predicative, 'made the army's affection showy'. praesentem: 'for the moment', set against paulātim … et occultē.