De Bello Civili 1.57

BC 1.57.1Erat multō īnferior numerō nāvium Brūtus.

Brutus was much inferior in the number of ships.

Note. multō inferior: 'much inferior'; multō is an ablative of degree of difference.

BC 1.57.1sed ēlēctōs ex omnibus legiōnibus fortissimōs virōs, antesignānōs, centuriōnēs, Caesar eī classī attribuerat, quī sibi id mūneris dēpoposcerant.

But Caesar had assigned to that fleet the bravest men picked from all the legions, front-line men and centurions, who had asked for that duty for themselves.

Note. ēlēctōs … fortissimōs virōs: 'the bravest men, picked'. antesignānōs: picked troops who fought in front of the standards. id mūneris: 'that duty' (partitive genitive).

BC 1.57.2hī manūs ferreās atque harpagōnēs parāverant, magnōque numerō pīlōrum, tragulārum reliquōrumque tēlōrum sē īnstrūxerant.

They had got ready iron grappling hands and hooks, and had equipped themselves with a great number of javelins, darts and other weapons.

Note. manūs ferreās: 'iron hands', grappling irons. pīlōrum, tragulārum: kinds of javelin. sē īnstrūxerant: 'had equipped themselves'.

BC 1.57.2ita cognitō hostium adventū suās nāvēs ex portū ēdūcunt, cum Massiliēnsibus cōnflīgunt.

So when they learned of the enemy's approach, they led their ships out of harbour and engaged the Massilians.

Note. cognitō … adventū: ablative absolute. The verbs ēdūcunt and cōnflīgunt are joined without a conjunction (asyndeton), giving speed.

BC 1.57.3pugnātum est utrimque fortissimē atque ācerrimē;

The fighting on both sides was very brave and very fierce;

Note. pugnātum est: impersonal passive, 'there was fighting'. fortissimē … ācerrimē: superlative adverbs.

BC 1.57.3neque multum Albicī nostrīs virtūte cēdēbant, hominēs asperī et montānī et exercitātī in armīs;

and the Albici, rough men from the mountains and trained in arms, were not much inferior to our men in courage.

Note. neque multum … cēdēbant: 'and were not much inferior'; cēdō with dative of the person and ablative of respect (virtūte).

BC 1.57.4atque hī modo dīgressī ā Massiliēnsibus recentem eōrum pollicitātiōnem animīs continēbant, pāstōrēsque Domitī spē lībertātis excitātī sub oculīs dominī suam probāre operam studēbant.

And having just left the Massilians, they had their recent promise fresh in their minds, and Domitius' herdsmen, roused by the hope of freedom, were eager to prove their effort under their master's eyes.

Note. modo dīgressī: 'having just parted'. sub oculīs dominī: 'under their master's eyes', i.e. Domitius, who might free them.