De Bello Civili 1.27

BC 1.27.1Prope dīmidiā parte operis ā Caesare effectā diēbusque in eā rē cōnsūmptīs ix, nāvēs ā cōnsulibus Dyrrachiō remissae, quae priōrem partem exercitūs eō dēportāverant, Brundisium revertuntur.

When almost half the work had been finished by Caesar and nine days had been spent on it, the ships sent back by the consuls from Dyrrachium, which had carried the first part of the army there, return to Brundisium.

Note. diēbus … cōnsūmptīs ix: ablative absolute. eō dēportāverant: 'had carried there'.

BC 1.27.2Pompēius sīve operibus Caesaris permōtus sīve etiam, quod ab initiō Ītaliā excēdere cōnstituerat, adventū nāvium profectiōnem parāre incipit et, quō facilius impetum Caesaris tardāret, nē sub ipsā profectiōne mīlitēs oppidum inrumperent, portās obstruit, vīcōs platēāsque inaedificat, fossās trānsversās viīs praedūcit atque ibi sudēs stīpitēsque praeacūtōs dēfīgit.

Pompey, either alarmed by Caesar's works or because he had decided from the beginning to leave Italy, begins to prepare his departure on the arrival of the ships; and, to slow Caesar's attack more easily and to keep the soldiers from bursting into the town at the very moment of departure, he blocks the gates, builds walls across the streets and squares, runs trenches across the roads, and fixes stakes and sharpened posts in them.

Note. sīve … sīve: 'either … or'. ab initiō: 'from the beginning'. A string of measures to block the town: portās obstruit, vīcōs plateāsque inaedificat, fossās … praedūcit, sudēs … dēfīgit.

BC 1.27.4haec levibus crātibus terrāque inaequat;

He levels these over with light hurdles and earth;

Note. inaequat: 'levels off', hiding the traps.

BC 1.27.4aditus autem atque itinera duo, quae extrā mūrum ad portum ferēbant, maximīs dēfīxīs trabibus atque eīs praeacūtīs praesēpit.

and the approaches and the two roads that led outside the wall to the harbour he blocks with huge beams driven in and sharpened.

Note. praesaepit: 'blocks off', from praesaepiō.

BC 1.27.5hīs parātīs rēbus mīlitēs silentiō nāvēs cōnscendere iubet, expedītōs autem ex ēvocātīs, sagittāriīs funditōribusque rārōs in mūrō turribusque dispōnit.

With these preparations made, he orders the soldiers to board the ships in silence, but stations light-armed men from the recalled veterans, archers and slingers, thinly spread on the wall and towers.

Note. expedītōs: light-armed men. rārōs: 'thinly spread'.

BC 1.27.6hōs certō signō revocāre cōnstituit, cum omnēs mīlitēs nāvēs cōnscendissent, atque iīs expedītō locō āctuāria nāvigia relinquit.

He decided to call these back at a fixed signal when all the soldiers had boarded the ships, and leaves them fast ships at a convenient place.

Note. āctuāria nāvigia: light, fast ships.