De Bello Civili 1.52

BC 1.52.1Hīs tamen omnibus annōna crēvit.

With all this, however, the price of grain rose.

Note. Hīs … omnibus: ablative, 'with all this', 'in spite of all this'. annōna: the grain supply and so its price; crēvit, from crēscō, 'rose'.

BC 1.52.1quae ferē rēs nōn sōlum inopiā praesentī, sed etiam futūrī temporis timōre ingravēscere cōnsuēvit.

This usually becomes worse not only through present shortage but also through fear of what is to come.

Note. quae … rēs: 'and this thing' (a connecting relative). nōn sōlum … sed etiam: 'not only … but also'. cōnsuēvit: perfect with present meaning, 'is accustomed'.

BC 1.52.2iamque ad dēnāriōs l in singulōs modiōs annōna pervēnerat, et mīlitum vīrēs inopiā frūmentī dēminuerat, atque incommoda in diēs augēbantur;

And by now the price of grain had reached fifty denarii a measure, and lack of grain had reduced the soldiers' strength, and the hardships grew from day to day;

Note. ad dēnāriōs l: 'to fifty denarii'; l is the numeral 50. in singulōs modiōs: 'for each modius', a measure of about nine litres. A soldier's pay was about a denarius every three days, so this is a famine price.

BC 1.52.3et tam paucīs diēbus magna erat rērum facta commūtātiō ac sē fortūna inclīnāverat, ut nostrī magnā inopiā necessāriārum rērum cōnflīctārentur, illī omnibus abundārent rēbus superiōrēsque habērentur.

and in so few days a great change of fortune had taken place and fortune had swung round, so that our men were struggling with a great lack of necessities, while they had plenty of everything and were thought to have the upper hand.

Note. tam paucīs diēbus: 'in so few days'. ut … cōnflīctārentur … abundārent … habērentur: result clauses. illī: Afranius' men. Notice the balance nostrī … illī.

BC 1.52.4Caesar iīs cīvitātibus, quae ad eius amīcitiam accesserant, quod minor erat frūmentī cōpia, pecus imperābat;

Caesar levied cattle on the states that had joined his friendship, because the supply of grain was smaller;

Note. pecus imperābat: 'he requisitioned cattle'; imperō with accusative of the thing and dative of the people (iīs cīvitātibus). minor: comparative of parvus.

BC 1.52.4cālōnēs ad longinquiōrēs cīvitātēs dīmittēbat;

he sent the camp servants off to more distant states;

Note. longinquiōrēs: comparative, 'more distant'. Sending the servants away means fewer mouths to feed.

BC 1.52.4ipse praesentem inopiam, quibus poterat subsidiīs, tūtābātur.

he himself met the present shortage with whatever help he could.

Note. quibus poterat subsidiīs: 'with what aids he could', i.e. by whatever means. tūtābātur: from the deponent tūtor, 'protect, guard against'.