De Bello Civili 1.36

BC 1.36.1Haec dum inter eōs aguntur, Domitius nāvibus Massiliam pervēnit atque ab iīs receptus urbī praeficitur;

While these talks are going on between them, Domitius arrives at Massilia with his ships, is admitted by them and put in charge of the city;

Note. Haec dum … aguntur: dum with the present indicative, 'while these things are being done'. urbī praeficitur: praeficiō takes the dative of what someone is put in charge of.

BC 1.36.1summa eī bellī administrandī permittitur.

the supreme command of the war is entrusted to him.

Note. summa bellī administrandī: 'the supreme direction of conducting the war'; summa is a noun here.

BC 1.36.2eius imperiō classem quōquōversus dīmittunt;

On his orders they send the fleet out in every direction;

Note. quōqueversus: 'in every direction'.

BC 1.36.2onerāriās nāvēs, quās ubīque possunt, dēprehendunt atque in portum dēdūcunt, parum clāvīs aut māteriā atque armāmentīs īnstrūctīs ad reliquās armandās reficiendāsque ūtuntur;

they seize merchant ships wherever they can and bring them into harbour, and they use those poorly equipped with nails, timber and rigging to arm and refit the rest;

Note. parum clāvīs aut māteriā atque armāmentīs īnstrūctīs: an ablative with ūtuntur, 'they use (the ships) poorly furnished with nails or timber and tackle'. ad reliquās armandās reficiendāsque: gerundives of purpose.

BC 1.36.3frūmentī quod inventum est, in pūblicum cōnferunt;

whatever grain was found they put into the public stores;

Note. frūmentī quod inventum est: 'what was found of grain', a partitive genitive. in pūblicum cōnferunt: 'they bring into the public stores'.

BC 1.36.3reliquās mercēs commeātūsque ad obsidiōnem urbis, sī accidat, reservant.

the rest of their goods and supplies they keep back for a siege of the city, if one should come.

Note. sī accidat: 'if it should happen', a subjunctive of a possible future.

BC 1.36.4quibus iniūriīs permōtus Caesar legiōnēs trēs Massiliam addūcit;

Provoked by these wrongs, Caesar leads three legions to Massilia;

Note. quibus iniūriīs permōtus: 'roused by these wrongs'; quibus is a connecting relative.

BC 1.36.4turrēs vīneāsque ad oppugnātiōnem urbis agere, nāvēs longās Arelāte numerō xii facere īnstituit.

he begins to move up towers and mantlets for an assault on the city, and to build twelve warships at Arelate.

Note. turrēs vīneāsque … agere: 'to move up towers and mantlets', the siege engines; both infinitives depend on īnstituit. Arelāte: 'at Arelate', on the Rhône. numerō xii: 'twelve in number'.

BC 1.36.5quibus effectīs armātīsque diēbus xxx, ā quā diē māteria caesa est, adductīsque Massiliam hīs D. Brūtum praeficit, C. Trebōnium lēgātum ad oppugnātiōnem Massiliae relinquit.

These were built and fitted out within thirty days of the day the timber was cut, and when they had been brought to Massilia he puts Decimus Brutus in command of them and leaves Gaius Trebonius, his legate, to besiege Massilia.

Note. diēbus xxx, ā quā diē: 'within thirty days from the day on which'. hīs: dative with praeficit, 'puts Brutus in command of these (ships)'. Decimus Brutus had commanded Caesar's fleet against the Veneti in Gaul.