De Bello Civili 1.9

BC 1.9.1Quae rēs etsī nihil ad levandās iniūriās pertinēre vidēbantur, tamen idōneōs nactus hominēs, per quōs ea quae vellet ad eum perferrentur, petit ab utrōque, quoniam Pompēī mandāta ad sē dētulerint, nē graventur sua quoque ad eum postulāta dēferre, sī parvō labōre magnās contrōversiās tollere atque omnem Ītaliam metū līberāre possint.

Although these things seemed to have no bearing on relieving his wrongs, yet, having found suitable men through whom what he wished could be carried to Pompey, he asks them both, since they had brought him Pompey's message, not to object to carrying his demands to Pompey as well, if with little effort they could settle great disputes and free all Italy from fear.

Note. Quae rēs … vidēbantur: plural verb with rēs. utrōque: L. Caesar and Roscius. nē graventur: 'not to be reluctant'.

BC 1.9.2sibi semper prīmam fuisse dignitātem vītāque potiōrem.

His standing, he said, had always come first with him and been dearer than life.

Note. Caesar's famous claim that his dignitās (rank, honour) mattered more than his life.

BC 1.9.2doluisse sē, quod populī Rōmānī beneficium sibi per contumēliam ab inimīcīs extorquērētur ēreptōque sēmēnstrī imperiō in urbem retraherētur, cuius absentis ratiōnem habērī proximīs comitiīs populus iussisset.

He had been pained that a privilege granted by the Roman people was being wrested from him through insult by his enemies, and that, robbed of six months of his command, he was being dragged back to the city, though the people had ordered that his candidacy be accepted in his absence at the next elections.

Note. populī Rōmānī beneficium: the law of 52 BC allowing Caesar to stand for the consulship in his absence (ratiōnem habērī absentis). ēreptō sēmēnstrī imperiō: his enemies wanted to cut his command short by six months.

BC 1.9.3tamen hanc iactūram honōris suī reī pūblicae causā aequō animō tulisse;

Yet he had borne this loss of his rights calmly for the sake of the republic;

Note. iactūram: 'loss, sacrifice'.

BC 1.9.3cum litterās ad senātum mīserit, ut omnēs ab exercitibus discēderent, nē id quidem impetrāvisse.

when he had sent a letter to the senate proposing that everyone should give up their armies, he had not obtained even that.

Note. Caesar had offered that all commanders should give up their armies.

BC 1.9.4tōtā Ītaliā dīlēctūs habērī, retinērī legiōnēs ii, quae ab sē simulātiōne Parthicī bellī sint abductae, cīvitātem esse in armīs.

Levies were being held throughout Italy, two legions were being kept back that had been taken from him on the pretext of a Parthian war, the state was in arms.

Note. legiōnēs II … simulātiōne Parthicī bellī: the legions taken from him on the pretext of a Parthian war (see sentence 11).

BC 1.9.4quōnam haec omnia nisi ad suam perniciem pertinēre?

What was the purpose of all this, if not his destruction?

Note. quōnam … pertinēre: a rhetorical question in indirect speech (accusative + infinitive): 'to what end did all this tend?'

BC 1.9.5sed tamen ad omnia sē dēscendere parātum atque omnia patī reī pūblicae causā.

But still he was ready to stoop to anything and to endure everything for the sake of the republic.

Note. ad omnia dēscendere: 'to stoop to anything'.

BC 1.9.5proficīscātur Pompēius in suās prōvinciās, ipsī exercitūs dīmittant, discēdant in Ītaliā omnēs ab armīs, metus ē cīvitāte tollātur, lībera comitia atque omnis rēs pūblica senātuī populōque Rōmānō permittātur.

Let Pompey go to his provinces, let them both disband their armies, let everyone in Italy lay down arms, let fear be removed from the state, and let free elections and the whole republic be handed back to the senate and the Roman people.

Note. Caesar's terms in a string of jussive subjunctives: proficīscātur, dīmittant, discēdant, tollātur, permittātur.

BC 1.9.6haec quō facilius certīsque condiciōnibus fīant et iūreiūrandō sanciantur, aut ipse propius accēdat aut sē patiātur accēdere;

So that this might be done more easily and on fixed terms and be ratified by oath, either Pompey should come nearer himself or allow Caesar to approach;

Note. quō facilius: quō with a comparative introduces a purpose clause. iūreiūrandō: 'by oath'.

BC 1.9.6fore utī per colloquia omnēs contrōversiae compōnantur.

in this way, through talks, all disputes would be settled.

Note. fore utī … compōnantur: 'it would come about that … be settled'.