De Bello Civili 1.64

BC 1.64.1Prīmā lūce ex superiōribus locīs, quae Caesaris castrīs erant coniūncta, cernēbātur equitātus nostrī proeliō novissimōs illōrum premī vehementer ac nōnnumquam sustinēre extrēmum agmen atque interrumpī, aliās ferrī signa et ūniversārum cohortium impetū nostrōs prōpellī, dein rūrsus conversōs īnsequī.

At first light it could be seen from the high ground joined to Caesar's camp that their rearguard was being hard pressed by the attack of our cavalry, and that sometimes the rear of the column halted and was broken up, at other times the standards were carried forward and our men were driven back by the charge of whole cohorts, then turned round again and pursued them.

Note. A long indirect statement after cernēbātur: novissimōs premī, sustinēre agmen, ferrī signa, nostrōs propellī. aliās: 'at other times'. conversōs īnsequī: our cavalry turn round and pursue in their turn.

BC 1.64.2tōtīs vērō castrīs mīlitēs circulārī et dolēre hostem ex manibus dīmittī, bellum necessāriō longius dūcī, centuriōnēsque tribūnōsque mīlitum adīre atque obsecrāre, ut per eōs Caesar certior fieret, nē labōrī suō neu perīculō parceret;

And throughout the whole camp the soldiers gathered in knots and complained that the enemy was being let slip out of their hands and the war was necessarily being drawn out longer, and they went to the centurions and the military tribunes and begged them to let Caesar know through them that he should not spare their labour or their danger;

Note. Historic infinitives (circulārī, dolēre, adīre, obsecrāre) for vivid description: 'the soldiers gathered … complained …'. certior fieret: 'be informed'. nē labōrī … parceret: parcō takes the dative.

BC 1.64.2parātōs esse sēsē, posse et audēre eā trānsīre flūmen, quā trāductus esset equitātus.

they were ready, they said, and able and willing to cross the river where the cavalry had been taken across.

Note. Reported speech of the soldiers. eā … quā: 'by that way … by which'.

BC 1.64.3quōrum studiō et vōcibus excitātus Caesar, etsī timēbat tantae magnitūdinī flūminis exercitum obicere, cōnandum tamen atque experiendum iūdicat.

Roused by their eagerness and their shouts, Caesar, although he was afraid to expose the army to so great a river, judged that he must nevertheless try and attempt it.

Note. excitātus: 'roused'. cōnandum … experiendum: supply esse, gerundives of obligation, 'that it must be tried and attempted'.

BC 1.64.4itaque īnfirmiōrēs mīlitēs ex omnibus centuriīs dēligī iubet, quōrum aut animus aut vīrēs vidēbantur sustinēre nōn posse.

So he ordered the weaker soldiers to be picked out of all the centuries, those whose courage or strength seemed unable to bear it.

Note. īnfirmiōrēs: 'the weaker'. quōrum … vidēbantur: 'whose courage or strength seemed unable to bear it'.

BC 1.64.5hōs cum legiōne ūnā praesidiō castrīs relinquit;

He left them with one legion as a garrison for the camp;

Note. praesidiō castrīs: double dative, 'as a guard for the camp'.

BC 1.64.5reliquās legiōnēs expedītās ēdūcit magnōque numerō iūmentōrum in flūmine suprā atque īnfrā cōnstitūtō trādūcit exercitum.

he led out the rest of the legions without their packs, and after placing a great number of pack animals in the river above and below, he took the army across.

Note. expedītās: 'unencumbered', without packs. The pack animals stand in the river as a breakwater above and to catch men below.

BC 1.64.6paucī ex hīs mīlitibus ablātī flūmine ab equitātū excipiuntur ac sublevantur;

A few of these soldiers were carried off by the current, but were caught and lifted up by the cavalry;

Note. ablātī flūmine: 'carried off by the river'. excipiuntur ac sublevantur: 'are caught and lifted up'.

BC 1.64.6interit tamen nēmō.

no one, however, was lost.

Note. interit … nēmō: 'nobody died', a short sentence for effect.

BC 1.64.6trāductō incolumī exercitū cōpiās īnstruit triplicemque aciem dūcere incipit.

With the army taken across unharmed, he drew up his forces and began to lead them in a triple line.

Note. triplicem aciem: Caesar's usual battle order of three lines.

BC 1.64.7ac tantum fuit in mīlitibus studiī, ut mīlium vi ad iter additō ad vadum circuitū magnāque flūminis morā interpositā eōs, quī dē tertiā vigiliā exīssent, ante hōram diēī viiii cōnsequerentur.

And there was so much eagerness in the soldiers that, though six miles were added to the march by the detour to the ford and a long delay was caused by the river, they caught up by the ninth hour of the day with those who had set out in the third watch.

Note. tantum … studiī: 'so much eagerness' (partitive genitive). additō … circuitū, interpositā morā: ablatives absolute. ante hōram diēī viiii: 'before the ninth hour', mid-afternoon.