Bellum Alexandrinum 65

B. Alex. 65.1Cum in Syriam Caesar ex Aegyptō vēnisset atque ab iīs, quī Rōmā vēnerant ad eum, cognōsceret litterīsque urbānīs animadverteret multa Rōmae male et inūtiliter administrārī neque ūllam partem reīpūblicae satis commodē gerī, quod et contentiōnibus tribūniciīs perniciōsae sēditiōnēs orīrentur et ambitiōne atque indīligentiā tribūnōrum mīlitum et eōrum, quī legiōnibus praeerant, multa contrā mōrem cōnsuētūdinemque mīlitārem fierent, quae dissolvendae disciplīnae sevēritātisque essent, eaque omnia flāgitāre adventum suum vidēret, tamen praeferendum exīstimāvit, quās in prōvinciās regiōnēsque vēnisset, eās ita relinquere cōnstitūtās, ut domesticīs dissēnsiōnibus līberārentur, iūra lēgēsque acciperent, externōrum hostium metum dēpōnerent.

When Caesar had come from Egypt into Syria, he learned from those who had come to him from Rome, and saw from letters from the city, that many things at Rome were being managed badly and harmfully and that no part of public affairs was being conducted at all properly: ruinous riots were arising from the quarrels of the tribunes, and through the self-seeking and slackness of the military tribunes and of those who commanded the legions many things were being done against military custom and practice, things which tended to break down discipline and strictness; and he saw that all this demanded his arrival. Nevertheless he thought it more important to leave the provinces and regions he had come to so organised that they would be freed from internal strife, would receive rights and laws, and would lay aside their fear of foreign enemies.

Note. A long periodic sentence: a series of cum-clauses (vēnisset, cognōsceret, animadverteret, vidēret) leads to the main verb exīstimāvit. Rōmae: locative, 'at Rome'. quae dissolvendae disciplīnae … essent: a genitive of tendency with the gerundive, 'which tended to the breaking down of discipline'. praeferendum: supply esse, 'that it should be put first'.

B. Alex. 65.2Haec in Syriā, Ciliciā, Asiā celeriter sē cōnfectūrum spērābat, quod hae prōvinciae nūllō bellō premēbantur;

He hoped to achieve this quickly in Syria, Cilicia and Asia, because these provinces were not burdened by any war;

Note. sē cōnfectūrum: supply esse, future infinitive in indirect statement.

B. Alex. 65.2in Bīthȳniā ac Pontō plūs oneris vidēbat sibi impendēre.

in Bithynia and Pontus he saw a heavier load hanging over him.

Note. plūs oneris: partitive genitive, 'more of a burden'. impendēre: 'to hang over', with the dative sibi.

B. Alex. 65.3Nōn excessisse enim Pontō Pharnacem audiēbat neque excessūrum putābat, cum secundō proeliō vehementer esset īnflātus, quod contrā Domitium Calvīnum fēcerat.

For he heard that Pharnaces had not left Pontus, and he did not think that he would leave it, since he had been greatly puffed up by the successful battle he had fought against Domitius Calvinus.

Note. secundō proeliō: Pharnaces had defeated Caesar's legate Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus at Nicopolis in 48 BC. inflātus: 'puffed up'.

B. Alex. 65.4Commorātus ferē in omnibus cīvitātibus, quae maiōre sunt dignitāte, praemia bene meritīs et prīvātim et pūblicē tribuit, dē contrōversiīs veteribus cognōscit ac statuit;

He stayed in almost all the cities of greater importance, gave rewards, both privately and publicly, to those who had deserved well, and heard and settled old disputes;

Note. Commorātus: perfect participle of the deponent commoror, 'having stayed'. quae maiōre sunt dignitāte: ablative of quality. bene meritīs: dative, 'to those who had deserved well'. cognōscit ac statuit: 'heard and decided' (legal language).

B. Alex. 65.4rēgēs, tyrannōs, dynastās prōvinciae fīnitimōs, quī omnēs ad eum concurrerant, receptōs in fidem condiciōnibus impositīs prōvinciae tuendae ac dēfendendae dīmittit et sibi et populō Rōmānō amīcissimōs.

the kings, tyrants and princes bordering on the province, who had all hurried to him, he took under his protection and, after imposing terms for guarding and defending the province, dismissed them as close friends both to himself and to the Roman people.

Note. dynastās: Greek word for local princes. receptōs in fidem: 'taken under his protection'. prōvinciae tuendae ac dēfendendae: gerundives in the dative, 'for protecting and defending the province'.