De Bello Civili 1.75

BC 1.75.1Quibus rēbus nūntiātīs Afrānius ab īnstitūtō opere discēdit sēque in castra recipit, sīc parātus, ut vidēbātur, ut, quīcumque accidisset cāsus, hunc quiētō et aequō animō ferret.

When this is reported, Afranius leaves the work he had begun and withdraws into the camp, prepared, as it seemed, to bear calmly and patiently whatever might happen.

Note. quīcumque accidisset cāsus: 'whatever event might happen'. aequō animō: 'calmly'.

BC 1.75.2Petrēius vērō nōn dēserit sēsē.

Petreius, however, does not give up.

Note. nōn dēserit sēsē: 'does not give up', literally 'does not abandon himself'.

BC 1.75.2armat familiam;

He arms his household slaves;

Note. familiam: his household of slaves.

BC 1.75.2cum hāc et praetōriā cohorte caetrātōrum barbarīsque equitibus paucīs, beneficiāriīs suīs, quōs suae custōdiae causā habēre cōnsuēverat, imprōvīsō ad vallum advolat, colloquia mīlitum interrumpit, nostrōs repellit ā castrīs, quōs dēprendit, interficit.

with them, his praetorian cohort of light-armed men and a few native horsemen, privileged men he used to keep as his bodyguard, he flies unexpectedly to the rampart, breaks off the soldiers' conversations, drives our men from the camp, and kills those he catches.

Note. praetōriā cohorte: the commander's bodyguard cohort. caetrātōrum: light troops with the caetra, a small Spanish shield. beneficiāriīs: soldiers excused from duties by the general's favour.

BC 1.75.3reliquī coeunt inter sē et repentīnō perīculō exterritī sinistrās sagīs involvunt gladiōsque dēstringunt atque ita sē ā caetrātīs equitibusque dēfendunt castrōrum propinquitāte cōnfīsī sēque in castra recipiunt et ab iīs cohortibus quae erant in statiōne ad portās, dēfenduntur.

The rest band together and, alarmed by the sudden danger, wrap their left arms in their cloaks, draw their swords, and so defend themselves against the light-armed men and the horsemen, trusting in the nearness of their camp; they withdraw into the camp and are protected by the cohorts on guard at the gates.

Note. sinistrās sagīs involvunt: they wrap their left arms in their cloaks as makeshift shields. castrōrum propinquitāte cōnfīsī: cōnfīdō takes the ablative, 'trusting in the nearness'.