De Bello Civili 2.10

BC 2.10.1Ubi ex eā turrī quae circum essent opera tuērī sē posse sunt cōnfīsī, mūsculum pedēs lx longum ex māteriā bipedālī, quem ā turrī laterīciā ad hostium turrim mūrumque perdūcerent, facere īnstituērunt.

When they were sure that from that tower they could protect the works around it, they decided to make a 'musculus' sixty feet long out of timber two feet thick, to bring it from the brick tower to the enemy's tower and wall.

Note. mūsculum: the 'little mouse', a low, very strong roofed shed that could be pushed right up against the enemy wall so that men inside could dig at its foundations. ex māteriā bipedālī: 'of timber two feet thick'. quem … perdūcerent: relative clause of purpose.

BC 2.10.2cuius mūsculī haec erat fōrma.

The shape of this musculus was as follows.

Note. cuius mūsculī: linking relative, 'of this musculus'.

BC 2.10.2duae prīmum trabēs in solō aequē longae distantēs inter sē pedēs iiii collocantur inque eīs columellae pedum in altitūdinem v dēfīguntur.

First two beams of equal length are laid on the ground four feet apart, and in them posts five feet high are fixed.

Note. The building instructions switch to the present tense. aequē longae: 'equally long'. distantēs inter sē pedēs iiii: 'four feet apart from each other'. columellae: short posts.

BC 2.10.3hās inter sē capreolīs mollī fastīgiō coniungunt, ubi tigna quae mūsculī tegendī causā pōnant collocentur.

They join these to each other with rafters at a gentle slope, on which the beams that they place to cover the musculus may be set.

Note. capreolīs: 'with rafters', slanting struts. mollī fastīgiō: 'at a gentle slope', so that anything dropped would slide off. ubi … collocentur: relative of purpose, 'on which … may be placed'.

BC 2.10.3eō super tigna bipedālia iniciunt eaque lāminīs clāvīsque religant.

On top of these they lay timbers two feet thick and fasten them with metal plates and nails.

Note. eō: 'there, on that', adverb. tigna bipedālia: 'beams two feet thick'. lāminīs: 'with metal plates'; the digital text misprints this word as aminis.

BC 2.10.4ad extrēmum mūsculī tēctum trabēsque extrēmās quadrātās rēgulās iiii patentīs digitōs dēfīgunt, quae laterēs, quī super mūsculō struantur, contineant.

At the edge of the roof of the musculus and at the ends of the beams they fix square strips four inches wide, to hold in the bricks that are to be built on top of the musculus.

Note. ad extrēmum mūsculī tēctum: 'at the edge of the roof'. rēgulās … patentīs digitōs iiii: 'strips four fingers (about three inches) wide', a lip to stop the bricks slipping. quae … contineant: relative of purpose.

BC 2.10.5ita fastīgātō atque ōrdinātim strūctō ut trabēs erant in capreolīs collocātae, lateribus lutōque mūsculus, ut ab ignī quī ex mūrō iacerētur tūtus esset, contegitur.

When it had been sloped in this way and built in order, as the beams were set on the rafters, the musculus is covered with bricks and clay, so that it would be safe from fire thrown from the wall.

Note. fastīgātō … strūctō: ablative absolute without a stated noun, 'when it had been sloped and built in order'. lateribus lutōque: bricks and clay again, as fireproofing. ut … tūtus esset: purpose.

BC 2.10.6super laterēs coria indūcuntur, nē canālibus aqua immissa laterēs dīluere posset.

Over the bricks hides are drawn, so that water let in through pipes could not wash the bricks away.

Note. coria: rawhides, which were also fireproof. canālibus: the defenders poured water through pipes or gutters to wash out the clay and bricks.

BC 2.10.6coria autem nē rūrsus ignī ac lapidibus corrumpantur, centōnibus conteguntur.

And so that the hides in turn are not destroyed by fire and stones, they are covered with quilts.

Note. nē … corrumpantur: purpose clause placed first for emphasis.

BC 2.10.7hoc opus omne tēctum vīneīs ad ipsam turrim perficiunt subitōque inopīnantibus hostibus māchinātiōne nāvālī phalangīs subiectīs ad turrim hostium admovent, ut aedificiō iungātur.

They complete this whole work under cover of mantlets right up to their own tower, and suddenly, when the enemy were not expecting it, by a naval device, with rollers placed underneath, they move it up to the enemy's tower so that it joins the building.

Note. vīneīs: under cover of the mantlets. inopīnantibus hostibus: ablative absolute. māchinātiōne nāvālī: 'by a naval device', the method shipwrights used to launch ships. phalangīs subiectīs: 'with rollers put underneath'. ut aedificiō iungātur: 'so that it is joined to the building' (the enemy tower).