Bellum Alexandrinum 51

B. Alex. 51.1Interim litterās accēpit ā Caesare, ut in Āfricam exercitum trāiceret perque Mauretāniam ad fīnēs Numidiae pervenīret, quod magna Cn. Pompēiō Iuba mīserat auxilia maiōraque missūrus exīstimābātur.

Meanwhile he received a letter from Caesar telling him to take his army across to Africa and to reach the borders of Numidia by way of Mauretania, because Juba had sent large forces to Gnaeus Pompeius and was thought likely to send larger ones.

Note. litterās … ut … trāiceret … pervenīret: an indirect command depending on the idea of instruction in litterās. Mauretania lay west of Numidia, so Cassius was to strike at King Juba from behind. Iuba: king of Numidia, ally of the Pompeians, who had destroyed Curio's army in 49. missūrus: future participle, 'likely to send'.

B. Alex. 51.2Quibus litterīs acceptīs īnsolentī voluptāte efferēbātur, quod sibi novārum prōvinciārum et fertilissimī regnī tanta oblāta esset facultās.

When he received this letter, he was carried away by an extravagant delight, because so great an opportunity had been offered him of new provinces and a very fertile kingdom.

Note. Quibus litterīs acceptīs: connecting relative in an ablative absolute. īnsolentī voluptāte efferēbātur: 'he was carried away by an extravagant delight'. quod … oblāta esset: the subjunctive gives Cassius' own reason. novārum prōvinciārum et fertilissimī regnī: objective genitives with facultās.

B. Alex. 51.3Itaque ipse in Lūsītāniam proficīscitur ad legiōnēs arcessendās auxiliaque addūcenda;

So he himself set out into Lusitania to fetch the legions and bring up the auxiliaries;

Note. ad legiōnēs arcessendās auxiliaque addūcenda: gerundives of purpose with ad.

B. Alex. 51.3certīs hominibus dat negōtium, ut frūmentum nāvēsque C praeparārentur pecūniaeque discrīberentur atque imperārentur, nē qua rēs, cum redīsset, morārētur.

he gave chosen men the task of having grain and a hundred ships made ready and of assessing and levying sums of money, so that nothing should cause delay when he returned.

Note. dat negōtium ut …: 'gave the task of …'. nāvēsque c: a hundred ships. discrīberentur: 'be apportioned' among the communities. nē qua rēs … morārētur: purpose clause; qua is the indefinite quis after nē. redīsset = rediisset.

B. Alex. 51.4Reditus eius fuit celerior omnium opīniōne: nōn enim labor aut vigilantia cupientī praesertim aliquid Cassiō dēerat.

His return was quicker than anyone had expected: for neither toil nor watchfulness was lacking in Cassius, especially when he wanted something.

Note. celerior omnium opīniōne: 'quicker than anyone expected'; opīniōne is an ablative of comparison. cupientī praesertim aliquid Cassiō: 'in Cassius, especially when he wanted something'; dative with deerat.