De Bello Civili 1.80

BC 1.80.1Tālī dum pugnātur modō, lentē atque paulātim prōcēditur crēbrōque, ut sint auxiliō suīs, subsistunt;

While the fighting goes on in this way, they make progress slowly and gradually, and they frequently halt to help their men,

Note. Talī … modō: 'in this way'. pugnātur and prōcēditur are impersonal passives: 'the fighting goes on', 'progress is made'. ut sint auxiliō suīs: double dative, 'to be a help to their men'.

BC 1.80.1ut tum accidit.

as happened then.

BC 1.80.2mīlia enim prōgressī iiii vehementiusque peragitātī ab equitātū montem excelsum capiunt ibique ūnā fronte contrā hostem castra mūniunt neque iūmentīs onera dēpōnunt.

For after advancing four miles, and being harried rather fiercely by the cavalry, they occupy a high hill and fortify a camp there with a single front facing the enemy, without taking the loads off their pack animals.

Note. mīlia … iiii: accusative of extent, 'four miles'. ūnā fronte: a camp fortified only on the side facing the enemy.

BC 1.80.3ubi Caesaris castra posita tabernāculaque cōnstitūta et dīmissōs equitēs pābulandī causā animum advertērunt, sēsē subitō prōripiunt hōrā circiter sextā eiusdem diēī et spem nactī morae discessū nostrōrum equitum iter facere incipiunt.

When they noticed that Caesar's camp had been pitched and the tents set up, and that the cavalry had been sent off to forage, they suddenly burst out at about the sixth hour of the same day and, hoping for some delay from the departure of our cavalry, begin to march.

Note. animum advertērunt: 'noticed' (also written animadvertērunt), with the infinitives posita (esse), cōnstitūta (esse), dīmissōs (esse). hōrā circiter sextā: about noon.

BC 1.80.4quā rē animum adversā Caesar refectīs legiōnibus subsequitur, praesidiō impedīmentīs paucās cohortīs relinquit;

Noticing this, Caesar follows with his legions refreshed, and leaves a few cohorts to guard the baggage;

Note. quā rē animum adversā: 'this being noticed'. refectīs legiōnibus: 'with his legions refreshed'.

BC 1.80.4hōrā x subsequī, pābulātōrēs equitēsque revocārī iubet.

he orders them to follow at the tenth hour, and the foragers and cavalry to be recalled.

Note. hōrā x: the tenth hour, mid-afternoon.

BC 1.80.4celeriter equitātus ad cōtīdiānum itineris officium revertitur.

The cavalry quickly returns to its daily task on the march.

BC 1.80.5pugnātur ācriter ad novissimum agmen, adeō ut paene terga convertant, complūrēsque mīlitēs, etiam nōnnūllī centuriōnēs, interficiuntur.

The fighting at the rear is fierce, so that they almost turn and run, and a good many soldiers, and even some centurions, are killed.

Note. adeō ut …: 'so much that …'. terga convertant: 'turn their backs', i.e. flee.

BC 1.80.5īnstābat agmen Caesaris atque ūniversum inminēbat.

Caesar's column pressed on, and the whole of it was bearing down on them.

Note. īnstābat … imminēbat: the imperfects describe the pressure building up.