De Bello Civili 1.70

BC 1.70.1Erat in celeritāte omne positum certāmen, utrī prius angustiās montēsque occupārent.

The whole contest lay in speed, which side would seize the passes and mountains first.

Note. utrī: 'which of the two sides'. prius: 'first'.

BC 1.70.1sed exercitum Caesaris viārum difficultātēs tardābant, Afrānī cōpiās equitātus Caesaris īnsequēns morābātur.

But the difficulties of the roads slowed Caesar's army, while Caesar's cavalry, following closely, delayed Afranius' forces.

Note. Afrānī cōpiās … morābātur: the subject is equitātus; īnsequēns, 'following'.

BC 1.70.2rēs tamen ab Afrāniānīs hūc erat necessāriō dēducta, ut, sī priōrēs montīs quōs petēbant attigissent, ipsī perīculum vītārent, impedīmenta tōtīus exercitūs cohortīsque in castrīs relictās servāre nōn possent;

Yet things had come to such a point for the Afranians that, if they reached the mountains they were making for first, they themselves would escape danger, but could not save the baggage of the whole army and the cohorts left in camp;

Note. huc erat … dēducta, ut …: 'had come to such a point that …'. sī … attigissent: 'if they reached'. The Afranians risk losing their baggage and the cohorts left in camp.

BC 1.70.2quibus interclūsīs exercitū Caesaris auxilium ferrī nūllā ratiōne poterat.

once these were cut off, no help could be brought them by any means by Caesar's army.

Note. quibus interclūsīs: 'once these were cut off'. auxilium ferrī … poterat: 'help could be brought' (impersonal).

BC 1.70.3cōnfēcit prior iter Caesar atque ex magnīs rūpibus nactus plānitiem in hāc contrā hostem aciem īnstruit.

Caesar finished the march first, and finding a plain beyond great rocks, drew up his line on it facing the enemy.

Note. cōnfēcit prior iter Caesar: Caesar wins the race. ex magnīs rūpibus: 'beyond, out from among great rocks'.

BC 1.70.3Afrānius, cum ab equitātū novissimum agmen premerētur et ante sē hostem vidēret, collem quendam nactus ibi cōnstitit.

Afranius, since his rear was pressed by the cavalry and he saw the enemy ahead of him, found a hill and halted there.

Note. cum … premerētur et … vidēret: causal cum. collem quendam nactus: 'finding a hill'.

BC 1.70.4ex eō locō iiii caetrātōrum cohortīs in montem quī erat in cōnspectū omnium excelsissimus mittit.

From that place he sent four cohorts of light-armed troops to the mountain that was the highest of all in sight.

Note. iiii: 4. excelsissimus: superlative of excelsus, 'highest'.

BC 1.70.4hunc magnō cursū concitātōs iubet occupāre, eō cōnsiliō, utī ipse eōdem omnibus cōpiīs contenderet et mūtātō itinere iugīs Otogesam pervenīret.

He ordered them to occupy it at full speed, with the plan of hurrying there himself with all his forces, changing his route and reaching Otogesa along the ridges.

Note. hunc … iubet occupāre: 'ordered them to seize it'. eō cōnsiliō, utī …: 'with this plan, that …'. iugīs: 'along the ridges'.

BC 1.70.5hunc cum oblīquō itinere caetrātī peterent, cōnspicātus equitātus Caesaris in cohortīs impetum facit;

When the light-armed troops were making for it on a slanting route, Caesar's cavalry caught sight of them and charged the cohorts;

Note. oblīquō itinere: 'on a slanting route', across the slope. cōnspicātus: deponent participle, 'catching sight of them'.

BC 1.70.5nec minimam partem temporis equitum vim caetrātī sustinēre potuērunt omnēsque ab eīs circumventī in cōnspectū utrīusque exercitūs interficiuntur.

the light-armed troops could not withstand the horsemen's attack for the least moment of time, and they were all surrounded by them and killed in sight of both armies.

Note. nec minimam partem temporis: 'not even the smallest moment'. in cōnspectū utrīusque exercitūs: the defeat is watched by both armies.