De Bello Civili 1.20

BC 1.20.1Dīvulgātō Domitī cōnsiliō mīlitēs, quī erant Corfīniī, prīmō vesperī sēcessiōnem faciunt atque ita inter sē per tribūnōs mīlitum centuriōnēsque atque honestissimōs suī generis colloquuntur: obsidērī sē ā Caesare;

When Domitius' plan became known, the soldiers who were in Corfinium withdraw together early in the evening, and talk among themselves through their military tribunes and centurions and the most respected men of their own rank, as follows: they were being besieged by Caesar;

Note. Dīvulgātō … cōnsiliō: ablative absolute. Corfīniī: locative, 'at Corfinium'. prīmō vesperī: 'early in the evening'. honestissimōs suī generis: 'the most respected men of their own rank'. obsidērī sē: indirect speech begins, reporting what the soldiers said.

BC 1.20.2opera mūnītiōnēsque prope esse perfectās;

his works and fortifications were almost complete;

Note. Still the soldiers' reported speech: esse perfectās, 'were almost complete'.

BC 1.20.2ducem suum Domitium, cuius spē atque fīdūciā permānserint, prōiectīs omnibus fugae cōnsilium capere;

their leader Domitius, in reliance on whose hope and confidence they had stayed, was abandoning everything and planning to run away;

Note. cuius spē atque fīdūciā: 'in whose hope and confidence', i.e. relying on whom. prōiectīs omnibus: 'abandoning everything'.

BC 1.20.2dēbēre sē suae salūtis ratiōnem habēre.

they ought to look to their own safety.

Note. dēbēre sē: 'that they ought'. suae salūtis ratiōnem habēre: 'to take account of their own safety'.

BC 1.20.3ab hīs prīmō Marsī dissentīre incipiunt eamque oppidī partem quae mūnītissima vidērētur occupant, tantaque inter eōs dissēnsiō exsistit, ut manum cōnserere atque armīs dīmicāre cōnentur;

At first the Marsi begin to disagree with these men and seize the part of the town that seemed best fortified, and so great a quarrel arises between them that they try to come to blows and fight with weapons;

Note. The Marsi, a tough people of central Italy, first take Domitius' side. quae mūnītissima vidērētur: subjunctive in a clause of characteristic, 'which seemed the strongest'. manum cōnserere: 'to come to blows'.

BC 1.20.4post paulō tamen internūntiīs ultrō citrōque missīs, quae ignōrābant, dē L. Domitī fugā cognōscunt.

but a little later, when go-betweens had been sent back and forth, they learn what they had not known about Lucius Domitius' flight.

Note. post paulō: 'a little later'. ultrō citrōque: 'back and forth'. quae ignōrābant: the relative clause comes before its reference: 'what they had not known'.

BC 1.20.5itaque omnēs ūnō cōnsiliō Domitium prōductum in pūblicum circumsistunt et custōdiunt, lēgātōsque ex suō numerō ad Caesarem mittunt: sēsē parātōs esse portās aperīre, quaeque imperāverit facere, et L. Domitium vīvum in eius potestātem trādere.

And so all of them with one accord bring Domitius out into the open, surround him and guard him, and send envoys from their number to Caesar: they were ready to open the gates, to do whatever he ordered, and to hand Lucius Domitius over alive into his power.

Note. ūnō cōnsiliō: 'with one accord'. prōductum in pūblicum: 'brought out into the open'. sēsē parātōs esse: the envoys' message in indirect speech.