De Bello Civili 1.65

BC 1.65.1Quōs ubi Afrānius procul vīsōs cum Petrēiō cōnspexit, novā rē perterritus locīs superiōribus cōnsistit aciemque īnstruit.

When Afranius, together with Petreius, saw them in the distance, he was terrified by this new development, halted on higher ground and drew up his line.

Note. Quōs … vīsōs … cōnspexit: 'caught sight of them, seen in the distance'. novā rē: 'by this new development'.

BC 1.65.2Caesar in campīs exercitum reficit, nē dēfessum proeliō obiciat;

Caesar rested his army on the plain, so as not to expose it tired to battle;

Note. nē … obiciat: purpose clause. dēfessum: 'tired', of the army.

BC 1.65.2rūrsus cōnantīs prōgredī īnsequitur et morātur.

when they tried to move forward again, he followed and held them up.

Note. cōnantīs: accusative plural, 'them as they tried'. īnsequitur et morātur: 'follows and delays (them)'.

BC 1.65.3illī necessāriō mātūrius quam cōnstituerant, castra pōnunt.

They were forced to pitch camp earlier than they had planned.

Note. mātūrius quam cōnstituerant: 'earlier than they had planned'.

BC 1.65.3suberant enim montēs atque ā mīlibus passuum v itinera difficilia atque angusta excipiēbant.

For mountains lay close by, and five miles further on difficult and narrow roads began.

Note. ā mīlibus passuum v: 'five miles off'. excipiēbant: 'came next, followed'.

BC 1.65.4hōs montēs intrāre cupiēbant, ut equitātum effugerent Caesaris praesidiīsque in angustiīs collocātīs exercitum itinere prohibērent, ipsī sine perīculō ac timōre Hibērum cōpiās trādūcerent.

They wanted to get into these mountains, so as to escape Caesar's cavalry, block the army's way by placing garrisons in the passes, and take their own forces across the Ebro without danger or fear.

Note. ut … effugerent … prohibērent … trādūcerent: three purpose clauses. Hibērum: an accusative of the river crossed, with trādūcerent.

BC 1.65.5quod fuit illīs cōnandum atque omnī ratiōne efficiendum;

This they had to attempt and achieve by every means;

Note. quod fuit illīs cōnandum: gerundive of obligation with the dative of the agent, 'this they had to attempt'.

BC 1.65.5sed tōtīus diēī pugnā atque itineris labōre dēfessī rem in posterum diem distulērunt.

but worn out by a whole day's fighting and the labour of the march, they put the matter off to the next day.

Note. in posterum diem distulērunt: 'put off to the next day'; distulērunt from differō.

BC 1.65.5Caesar quoque in proximō colle castra pōnit.

Caesar too pitched camp on the nearest hill.

Note. in proximō colle: 'on the nearest hill'.