Bellum Alexandrinum 9

B. Alex. 9.1Hāc ōrātiōne apud suōs habitā atque omnium mentibus excitātīs dat centuriōnibus negōtium, ut reliquīs operibus intermissīs ad fodiendōs puteōs animum cōnferant nēve quam partem nocturnī temporis intermittant.

After this speech to his men, having roused everyone's spirits, he gave the centurions the task of putting aside their other works, turning their minds to digging wells and not stopping for any part of the night.

Note. dat centuriōnibus negōtium, ut: 'he gives the centurions the task of …', with ut and the subjunctive. nēve quam partem: quam is the indefinite quis, 'and not any part'.

B. Alex. 9.2Quō susceptō negōtiō atque omnium animīs ad labōrem incitātīs magna ūnā nocte vīs aquae dulcis inventa est.

When this work was undertaken, with everyone's spirits stirred to the task, a great quantity of fresh water was found in a single night.

Note. Quō susceptō negōtiō: connecting relative in an ablative absolute. ūnā nocte: ablative of time within which.

B. Alex. 9.2Ita operōsīs Alexandrīnōrum māchinātiōnibus maximīsque cōnātibus nōn longī temporis labōre occursum est.

So the laborious machinery and huge efforts of the Alexandrians were met by labour of no long time.

Note. occursum est: impersonal passive, 'the efforts were met'; occurrō takes the dative.

B. Alex. 9.3Eō bīduō legiō XXXVII ex dēditīciīs Pompēiānīs mīlitibus cum frūmentō, armīs, tēlīs, tormentīs imposita in nāvēs ā Domitiō Calvīnō ad lītora Āfricae paulō suprā Alexandrīam dēlāta est.

Within those two days the Thirty-seventh legion, formed from Pompeian soldiers who had surrendered, was put on board ship by Domitius Calvinus with grain, arms, missiles and artillery, and was carried to the coast of Africa a little beyond Alexandria.

Note. Eō bīduō: 'within those two days'. legiō xxxvii: the Thirty-seventh legion, made up of Pompey's soldiers who had surrendered. Cn. Domitius Calvinus was Caesar's commander in Asia. paulō suprā Alexandrīam: 'a little beyond (west of) Alexandria'.

B. Alex. 9.4Hae nāvēs Eurō, quī multōs diēs continenter flābat, portum capere prohibēbantur;

These ships were prevented from making harbour by an east wind which blew continuously for many days;

Note. Eurō: the east (or south-east) wind, blowing against ships coming from the west.

B. Alex. 9.4sed loca sunt ēgregia omnī illā regiōne ad tenendās ancorās.

but the whole of that region has excellent places for anchoring.

Note. ad tenendās ancorās: 'for holding anchors', i.e. good anchorage.

B. Alex. 9.4Hī cum diū retinērentur atque aquae inopiā premerentur, nāvigiō āctuāriō Caesarem faciunt certiōrem.

When they were held back for a long time and were hard pressed by lack of water, they informed Caesar by a fast dispatch-boat.

Note. Hī: the men on the ships. nāvigiō āctuāriō: a light, fast vessel. Caesarem faciunt certiōrem: 'they inform Caesar'.