De Bello Civili 1.43

BC 1.43.1Erat inter oppidum Ilerdam et proximum collem, ubi castra Petrēius atque Afrānius habēbant, plānitiēs circiter passuum ccc, atque in hōc ferē mediō spatiō tumulus erat paulō ēditior;

Between the town of Ilerda and the nearest hill, where Petreius and Afranius had their camp, there was a plain of about three hundred paces, and roughly in the middle of this space was a mound rather higher than the rest.

Note. Erat … plānitiēs: 'there was a plain'. passuum ccc: a genitive of measure, 'of three hundred paces'. paulō ēditior: 'a little higher', ablative of degree of difference with a comparative.

BC 1.43.2quem sī occupāvisset Caesar et commūnīvisset, ab oppidō et ponte et commeātū omnī, quem in oppidum contulerant, sē interclūsūrum adversāriōs cōnfīdēbat.

If Caesar could seize and fortify it, he was confident that he would cut the enemy off from the town and the bridge and from all the supplies they had brought into the town.

Note. quem sī occupāvisset … et commūnīvisset: a conditional in indirect statement after cōnfīdēbat, 'if he could seize and fortify it'. interclūsūrum (esse): future infinitive.

BC 1.43.3hoc spērāns legiōnēs iii ex castrīs ēdūcit aciēque in locīs idōneīs strūctā ūnīus legiōnis antesignānōs prōcurrere atque eum tumulum occupāre iubet.

In this hope he leads three legions out of the camp, draws up his line in a suitable position, and orders the front-line men of one legion to run forward and seize that mound.

Note. aciē … strūctā: ablative absolute. antesignānōs: picked men who fought in front of the standards.

BC 1.43.4quā rē cognitā celeriter, quae in statiōne prō castrīs erant Afrānī cohortēs, breviōre itinere ad eundem occupandum locum mittuntur.

When this was noticed, the cohorts of Afranius that were on guard in front of the camp are quickly sent by a shorter route to seize the same place.

Note. quae in statiōne … erant Afrānī cohortēs: the antecedent is drawn into the relative clause, 'the cohorts of Afranius which were on guard'. breviōre itinere: 'by a shorter route'.

BC 1.43.5contenditur proeliō, et, quod prius in tumulum Afrāniānī vēnerant, nostrī repelluntur atque aliīs submissīs subsidiīs terga vertere sēque ad signa legiōnum recipere cōguntur.

There is a fight, and because the Afranians had reached the mound first, our men are driven back and, as more reinforcements were sent up against them, are forced to turn and fall back to the standards of the legions.

Note. contenditur proeliō: impersonal passive, 'there is fighting'. aliīs submissīs subsidiīs: ablative absolute, 'other reserves being sent up (by the enemy)'.