De Bello Civili 1.26

BC 1.26.1Contrā haec Pompēius nāvēs magnās onerāriās, quās in portū Brundisīnō dēprehenderat, adōrnābat.

Against this Pompey was fitting out large merchant ships that he had seized in the harbour of Brundisium.

Note. Contrā haec: 'against these works'.

BC 1.26.1ibi turrēs cum ternīs tabulātīs ērigēbat eāsque multīs tormentīs et omnī genere tēlōrum complētās ad opera Caesaris adpellēbat, ut ratēs perrumperet atque opera disturbāret.

On them he set up towers with three storeys and, filled with much artillery and every kind of missile, drove them against Caesar's works, to break through the rafts and wreck the works.

Note. ternīs tabulātīs: 'with three storeys'. appellēbat: from appellō, appellere, 'drive towards' (not appellō, -āre, 'call').

BC 1.26.1sīc cōtīdiē utrimque ēminus fundīs, sagittīs reliquīsque tēlīs pugnābātur.

So every day there was fighting from both sides at long range with slings, arrows and other missiles.

Note. pugnābātur: impersonal passive, 'there was fighting'.

BC 1.26.2atque haec Caesar ita administrābat, ut condiciōnēs pācis dīmittendās nōn exīstimāret;

And Caesar carried on these operations in such a way that he did not think the terms of peace should be given up;

Note. ut … nōn exīstimāret: a result clause.

BC 1.26.2ac tametsī magnopere admīrābātur Magium, quem ad Pompēium cum mandātīs mīserat, ad sē nōn remittī, atque ea rēs saepe temptāta etsī impetūs eius cōnsiliaque tardābat, tamen omnibus rēbus in eō persevērandum putābat.

and although he was greatly surprised that Magius, whom he had sent to Pompey with his message, was not sent back to him, and although this attempt, often made, was slowing down his drive and his plans, he still thought he should persist in it by every means.

Note. tametsī … etsī … tamen: 'although … and although …, still'. in eō persevērandum: impersonal gerundive, 'that he must persist in it'.

BC 1.26.3itaque Canīnium Rebilum lēgātum, familiārem necessāriumque Scrībōnī Libōnis, mittit ad eum colloquiī causā;

So he sends Caninius Rebilus, his legate, a close friend and connection of Scribonius Libo, to him to talk;

Note. C. Caninius Rebilus had served Caesar in Gaul. L. Scribonius Libo commanded part of Pompey's fleet.

BC 1.26.3mandat ut Libōnem dē conciliandā pāce hortētur;

he instructs him to urge Libo to make peace;

Note. dē conciliandā pāce: gerundive, 'about making peace'.

BC 1.26.3in prīmīs, ut ipse cum Pompēiō colloquerētur, postulat;

above all he asks that he himself might talk with Pompey.

Note. in prīmīs: 'above all'.

BC 1.26.4magnopere sēsē cōnfīdere dēmōnstrat, sī eius reī sit potestās facta, fore ut aequīs condiciōnibus ab armīs discēdātur.

He declares that he is very confident that, if he were given the opportunity for this, they would lay down their arms on fair terms.

Note. fore ut … discēdātur: 'that it would come about that arms were laid down'; an impersonal passive.

BC 1.26.4cuius reī magnam partem laudis atque exīstimātiōnis ad Libōnem perventūram, sī illō auctōre atque agente ab armīs sit discessum.

A great part of the praise and credit for this would come to Libo, if the arms were laid down on his advice and with his help.

Note. cuius reī: linking relative. illō auctōre atque agente: ablative absolute, 'with him as adviser and agent'. sit discessum: impersonal passive.

BC 1.26.5Libō ā colloquiō Canīnī dīgressus ad Pompēium proficīscitur.

Libo, after leaving his talk with Caninius, goes to Pompey.

Note. dīgressus: a deponent participle, 'having left'.

BC 1.26.5paulō post renūntiat, quod cōnsulēs absint, sine illīs nōn posse agī dē compositiōne.

A little later he reports back that, because the consuls were absent, nothing could be done about a settlement without them.

Note. quod cōnsulēs absint: the reason given by Pompey's side, in reported speech.

BC 1.26.6ita saepius rem frūstrā temptātam Caesar aliquandō dīmittendam sibi iūdicat et dē bellō agendum.

So Caesar decides that the matter, so often tried in vain, must at last be dropped, and that the war must be dealt with.

Note. dīmittendam … et dē bellō agendum: two gerundives, 'that the matter must be dropped and the war must be dealt with'.