De Bello Civili 1.82

BC 1.82.1In hīs operibus cōnsiliīsque bīduum cōnsūmitur.

Two days are spent on these works and plans.

BC 1.82.1tertiō diē magna iam pars operis Caesaris prōcesserat.

By the third day a large part of Caesar's work had been completed.

BC 1.82.1illī impediendae reliquae mūnītiōnis causā hōrā circiter viiii signō datō legiōnēs ēdūcunt aciemque sub castrīs īnstruunt.

To hinder the rest of the fortification, the Pompeians give the signal at about the ninth hour, lead out their legions and draw up a battle line below their camp.

Note. hōrā circiter viiii: about the ninth hour, mid-afternoon. impediendae reliquae mūnītiōnis causā: gerundive with causā.

BC 1.82.2Caesar ab opere legiōnēs revocat, equitātum omnem convenīre iubet, aciem īnstruit;

Caesar recalls his legions from the work, orders all the cavalry to assemble, and draws up his line;

BC 1.82.2contrā opīniōnem enim mīlitum fāmamque omnium vidērī proelium dēfūgisse magnum dētrīmentum adferēbat.

for to seem to have avoided battle against the expectation of the soldiers and the opinion of everyone was doing him great harm.

Note. vidērī proelium dēfūgisse: the infinitive phrase is the subject of adferēbat: 'to seem to have avoided battle brought great harm'.

BC 1.82.3sed eīsdem dē causīs, quae sunt cognitae, quōminus dīmicāre vellet, movēbātur, atque hōc etiam magis, quod spatiī brevitās etiam in fugam coniectīs adversāriīs nōn multum ad summam victōriae iuvāre poterat.

But he was moved not to want to fight by the same reasons already known, and all the more because the shortness of the distance could not do much towards a complete victory, even if the opponents were put to flight.

Note. quōminus dīmicāre vellet: after movēbātur, 'he was moved not to want to fight'. ad summam victōriae: 'towards a complete victory'.

BC 1.82.4nōn enim amplius pedum mīlibus duōbus ā castrīs castra distābant.

For the two camps were no more than two thousand feet apart.

Note. amplius … mīlibus duōbus: ablative of comparison, 'more than two thousand (feet)'; quam is left out after amplius.

BC 1.82.4hinc duās partēs aciēs occupābant duae;

On this side two parts of that space were taken up by the two battle lines;

Note. hinc: 'on this side'. duae (aciēs) occupābant duās partēs.

BC 1.82.4tertia vacābat ad incursum atque impetum mīlitum relicta.

the third was left empty for the soldiers to charge and attack.

BC 1.82.5sī proelium committerētur, propinquitās castrōrum celerem superātīs ex fugā receptum dabat.

If battle were joined, the nearness of the camp offered a quick retreat to the beaten side.

Note. superātīs: dative, 'to the defeated'.

BC 1.82.5hāc dē causā cōnstituerat signa īnferentibus resistere, prior proeliō nōn lacessere.

For this reason he had decided to resist if they advanced, but not to be the first to provoke a battle.

Note. signa īnferentibus: 'those who advanced', literally 'carried the standards forward'.