De Bello Civili 1.66

BC 1.66.1Mediā circiter nocte iīs quī aquandī causā longius ā castrīs prōcesserant, ab equitibus correptīs, fit ab hīs certior Caesar ducēs adversāriōrum silentiō cōpiās castrīs ēdūcere.

At about midnight, some of their men who had gone rather far from the camp to fetch water were seized by our cavalry, and Caesar learned from them that the enemy's leaders were leading their forces out of camp in silence.

Note. iīs … correptīs: ablative absolute, 'these having been seized'. aquandī causā: 'to fetch water' (gerund with causā). fit … certior Caesar: 'Caesar is informed'.

BC 1.66.1quō cognitō signum darī iubet et vāsa mīlitārī mōre conclāmārī.

On learning this he ordered the signal to be given and the call to pack the baggage to be raised in the military way.

Note. vāsa conclāmārī: the call to pack the baggage (vāsa: kit), the signal for breaking camp.

BC 1.66.2illī exaudītō clāmōre veritī nē noctū impedītī sub onere cōnflīgere cōgerentur aut nē ab equitātū Caesaris in angustiīs tenērentur, iter supprimunt cōpiāsque in castrīs continent.

Hearing the shout, they were afraid that they might be forced to fight by night, hampered under their loads, or be held in the passes by Caesar's cavalry, so they stopped their march and kept their forces in camp.

Note. exaudītō clāmōre: 'hearing the shout'. veritī nē … cōgerentur … tenērentur: fear clauses, 'fearing that they would be forced … be held'.

BC 1.66.3posterō diē Petrēius cum paucīs equitibus occultē ad explōranda loca proficīscitur.

The next day Petreius set out secretly with a few horsemen to explore the ground.

Note. ad explōranda loca: gerundive of purpose.

BC 1.66.3hoc idem fit ex castrīs Caesaris.

The same was done from Caesar's camp.

Note. hoc idem fit: 'the same thing is done'.

BC 1.66.3mittitur L. Decidius Saxa cum paucīs quī locī nātūram perspiciat.

Lucius Decidius Saxa was sent with a few men to study the nature of the place.

Note. quī … perspiciat: relative purpose clause, 'to study'. Decidius Saxa was later a tribune of the people and a general of Antony.

BC 1.66.4uterque idem suīs renūntiat: v mīlia passuum proxima intercēdere itineris campestris, inde excipere loca aspera et montuōsa;

Each reported the same thing to his own side: for the next five miles the road ran over level ground, then rough and mountainous country began;

Note. uterque … renūntiat: 'each reports'; the report follows in indirect statement. itineris campestris: 'of level road'.

BC 1.66.4quī prior hās angustiās occupāverit, ab hōc hostem prohibērī nihil esse negōtiī.

whoever first seized these passes would have no trouble keeping the enemy away.

Note. quī prior … occupāverit: 'whoever first seizes'; the perfect subjunctive stands for the future perfect in reported speech. nihil esse negōtiī: 'it is no trouble'.