Bellum Alexandrinum 7

B. Alex. 7.1Quō factō dubitātiōne sublātā tantus incessit timor, ut ad extrēmum cāsum perīculī omnēs dēductī vidērentur atque aliī morārī Caesarem dīcerent, quīn nāvēs cōnscendere iubēret, aliī multō gravius extimēscerent, quod neque cēlārī Alexandrīnī possent in apparandā fugā, cum tam parvō spatiō distārent ab ipsīs, neque illīs imminentibus atque īnsequentibus ūllus in nāvēs receptus darētur.

When this happened and all doubt was removed, such fear came over them that all seemed brought to the extreme of danger, and some said Caesar was delaying in not ordering them to board the ships, while others feared something much worse, because the Alexandrians could not be kept unaware of their preparations for flight, since they were so short a distance away, nor could there be any retreat to the ships with the enemy pressing and pursuing.

Note. Quō factō dubitātiōne sublātā: two ablatives absolute. tantus … ut: result. alii … aliī: 'some … others'. morārī Caesarem … quīn nāvēs cōnscendere iubēret: 'that Caesar was delaying in not ordering them to board' — quīn after a negative idea of hindering. illīs imminentibus atque īnsequentibus: ablative absolute with present participles.

B. Alex. 7.2Erat autem magna multitūdō oppidānōrum in parte Caesaris, quam domiciliīs ipsōrum nōn mōverat, quod ea sē fidēlem palam nostrīs esse simulābat et dēscīvisse ā suīs vidēbātur: at mihi sī dēfendendī essent Alexandrīnī neque fallācēs esse neque temerāriī, multa ōrātiō frūstrā absūmerētur;

There was, however, a great number of townspeople in Caesar's part, whom he had not moved from their homes, because they openly pretended to be loyal to our side and seemed to have deserted their own: but if I had to prove that the Alexandrians were neither deceitful nor reckless, much talk would be wasted in vain;

Note. quam domiciliīs ipsōrum nōn mōverat: 'whom he had not moved from their own homes'. ea: the multitude, feminine. at mihi sī dēfendendī essent Alexandrīnī: the writer steps forward in the first person: 'but if I had to defend the Alexandrians (as being) neither deceitful nor reckless'. absūmerētur: present unreal condition.

B. Alex. 7.3cum vērō ūnō tempore et nātiō eōrum et nātūra cognōscātur, aptissimum esse hoc genus ad prōditiōnem dubitāre nēmō potest.

indeed, when their race and their character are known together, no one can doubt that this sort of people is very well suited to treachery.

Note. cum … cognōscātur: 'when … is known'. aptissimum esse hoc genus ad prōditiōnem: indirect statement after dubitāre; nēmō potest dubitāre is followed by the accusative and infinitive here rather than quīn.