Bellum Alexandrinum 76

B. Alex. 76.1Magnō atque ācrī proeliō comminus factō dextrō cornū, quō veterāna legiō sexta erat collocāta, initium victōriae nātum est.

After a great and fierce battle had been fought at close quarters, the beginning of victory arose on the right wing, where the veteran Sixth legion was posted.

Note. Magnō atque ācrī proeliō … factō: ablative absolute. quō: 'where'. legiō sexta: the veteran Sixth legion that had come with Caesar from Alexandria.

B. Alex. 76.1Ab eā parte cum in prōclīvī dētrūderentur hostēs, multō tardius, sed tamen eīsdem diīs adiuvantibus sinistrō cornū mediāque aciē tōtae prōflīgantur cōpiae rēgis.

When the enemy were being thrust down the slope on that side, much more slowly, but still with the help of the same gods, the king's forces were completely routed on the left wing and in the centre.

Note. in prōclīvī: 'down the slope'. eīsdem dīs adiuvantibus: ablative absolute. multō tardius: 'much more slowly'.

B. Alex. 76.2Quae quam facile subierant inīquum locum, tam celeriter gradū pulsae premēbantur locī inīquitāte.

As easily as they had climbed the unfavourable ground, so quickly, once pushed back from their footing, were they overwhelmed by the unevenness of the place.

Note. quam facile … tam celeriter: 'as easily as … so quickly'. gradū pulsae: 'driven from their footing'.

B. Alex. 76.2Itaque multīs mīlitibus partim interfectīs partim suōrum ruīnā oppressīs, quī vēlōcitāte effugere poterant, armīs tamen prōiectīs vallem trānsgressī nihil ex locō superiōre inermī prōficere poterant.

And so, when many soldiers had been either killed or crushed by the fall of their own men, those who could escape by their speed threw away their arms, crossed the valley, and, unarmed, could achieve nothing from the higher ground.

Note. suōrum ruīnā: 'by the fall of their own men'. inermī: 'unarmed', nominative plural agreeing with the subject of poterant.

B. Alex. 76.3At nostrī victōriā ēlātī subīre inīquum locum mūnītiōnēsque adgredī nōn dubitārunt.

But our men, carried away by victory, did not hesitate to climb the unfavourable ground and attack the fortifications.

Note. victōriā ēlātī: 'carried away by victory'; ēlātus is the participle of efferō. dubitārunt = dubitāvērunt.

B. Alex. 76.3Dēfendentibus autem iīs cohortibus castra, quās Pharnacēs praesidiō relīquerat, celeriter castrīs hostium sunt potītī.

And although the camp was defended by those cohorts which Pharnaces had left as a guard, they quickly took possession of the enemy camp.

Note. Dēfendentibus … cohortibus: ablative absolute, concessive in sense. potītī sunt takes the ablative castrīs.

B. Alex. 76.4Interfectā multitūdine omnī suōrum aut captā Pharnacēs cum paucīs equitibus profūgit;

With the whole multitude of his men killed or captured, Pharnaces fled with a few horsemen;

Note. Interfectā … aut captā: the participles go with multitūdine. profūgit: perfect.

B. Alex. 76.4cui nisi castrōrum oppugnātiō facultātem attulisset līberius profugiendī, vīvus in Caesaris potestātem adductus esset.

and if the storming of the camp had not given him the chance to flee more freely, he would have been brought alive into Caesar's power.

Note. liberius profugiendī: gerund with an adverb, 'of fleeing more freely'. A past unreal condition: nisi … attulisset, … adductus esset.