Bellum Alexandrinum 52

B. Alex. 52.1Exercitū coāctō in ūnum locum castrīs ad Cordubam positīs prō cōntiōne mīlitibus expōnit, quās rēs Caesaris iussū gerere dēbēret, pollicēturque iīs, cum in Mauretāniam trāiēcisset, sēstertiōs centēnōs sē datūrum;

After bringing the army together in one place and pitching camp near Corduba, he set out before an assembly to the soldiers what he had to do on Caesar's orders, and promised them that when he had crossed into Mauretania he would give them a hundred sesterces each;

Note. prō cōntiōne: 'before an assembly' of the troops. quās rēs … gerere dēbēret: indirect question. Caesaris iussū: 'on Caesar's orders'; iussū occurs only in the ablative. sē datūrum (esse): future infinitive in indirect speech after pollicētur.

B. Alex. 52.2quīntam fore in Hispāniā legiōnem.

and that there would be a Fifth legion in Spain.

Note. Still indirect speech after pollicētur: fore = futūram esse. With the Fifth newly raised, a legion would stay behind in Spain.

B. Alex. 52.2Ex cōntiōne sē Cordubam recēpit, eōque ipsō diē tempore postmerīdiānō cum in basilicam īret, quīdam Minucius Silō, cliēns L. Raciliī, libellum, quasi aliquid ab eō postulāret, ut mīles eī trādit, deinde post Racilium— nam is latus Cassiī tegēbat—, quasi respōnsum peteret, celeriter datō locō cum sē īnsinuāsset, sinistrā corripit āversum dextrāque bis ferit pugiōne.

From the assembly he went back to Corduba, and on that very day, in the afternoon, as he was going into the basilica, a certain Minucius Silo, a client of Lucius Racilius, handed him a petition in the manner of a soldier, as if he were asking him for something; then, slipping in behind Racilius, who was guarding Cassius' side, as if he were seeking an answer, when a gap opened for him quickly, he seized Cassius from behind with his left hand and stabbed him twice with a dagger in his right.

Note. eōque ipsō diē: 'and on that very day'. basilicam: a public hall used for courts and business. Minucius Silo: a client (cliēns) of L. Racilius, one of Cassius' officers. libellum: a written petition. ut mīles: 'as a soldier (would)'. post Racilium … sē īnsinuāsset: 'slipped in behind Racilius'. nam is latus Cassiī tegēbat is a parenthesis. sinistrā … dextrā: supply manū. āversum: 'from behind, with his back turned'.

B. Alex. 52.3Clāmōre sublātō fit ā coniūrātīs impetus ūniversīs.

A shout went up, and the conspirators all attacked together.

Note. Clāmōre sublātō: ablative absolute. ā coniūrātīs … ūniversīs: 'by the conspirators all together'.

B. Alex. 52.3Munātius Flaccus proximum gladiō trāicit līctōrem;

Munatius Flaccus ran the nearest lictor through with his sword;

Note. Munatius Flaccus: a man of Italica, like the others named in the next sentence. līctōrem: a governor's attendant carrying the fasces.

B. Alex. 52.3hōc interfectō Q. Cassium lēgātum vulnerat.

when he was dead, he wounded the legate Quintus Cassius.

Note. hōc interfectō: ablative absolute. Q. Cassium lēgātum: a different man from the governor, one of his legates.

B. Alex. 52.4Ibi T. Vāsius et L. Mercellō similī cōnfīdentiā Flaccum, mūnicipem suum, adiuvant: erant enim omnēs Italicēnsēs.

Then Titus Vasius and Lucius Mercello backed up Flaccus, their fellow-townsman, with equal daring: for they were all men of Italica.

Note. simili cōnfidentiā: 'with equal daring'. mūnicipem suum: 'their fellow-townsman'. Italicēnsēs: from Italica near Hispalis, founded by Scipio for his veterans in 206 BC; its people counted as Romans of long standing.

B. Alex. 52.4At ipsum Longīnum L. Licinius Squillus involat iacentemque levibus sauciat plāgīs.

Lucius Licinius Squillus flew at Longinus himself and, as he lay on the ground, dealt him light wounds.

Note. Longīnum: the governor, Q. Cassius Longinus. involat: 'flew at', a strong image. iacentem: 'as he lay on the ground'. levibus … plāgīs: 'with light wounds'.