De Bello Civili 2.11

BC 2.11.1Quō malō perterritī subitō oppidānī saxa, quam maxima possunt, vectibus prōmovent, praecipitātaque mūrō in mūsculum dēvolvunt.

Terrified by this sudden misfortune, the townspeople push forward with levers the largest stones they can, and send them tumbling down from the wall onto the musculus.

Note. Quō malō: linking relative, 'by this misfortune'. quam maxima possunt: 'the largest they can'; quam with a superlative and possum. vectibus: 'with levers, crowbars'. praecipitāta mūrō: 'tipped over the wall'.

BC 2.11.1ictum firmitās māteriae sustinet, et quidquid incidit, fastīgiō mūsculī ēlābitur.

The strength of the timber withstands the blow, and whatever falls on it slides off the sloping roof of the musculus.

Note. ictum: 'the blow'. fastīgiō mūsculī ēlābitur: 'slides off the sloping roof of the musculus', which is why it was built with a gentle slope.

BC 2.11.2id ubi vident, mūtant cōnsilium;

When they see this, they change their plan;

Note. id ubi vident: 'when they see this'; ubi often comes second in its clause.

BC 2.11.2cūpās taedā ac pice refertās incendunt eāsque dē mūrō in mūsculum dēvolvunt.

they set fire to barrels filled with pine and pitch and roll them down from the wall onto the musculus.

Note. cūpās taedā ac pice refertās: 'barrels filled with pine-wood and pitch', fire-barrels.

BC 2.11.2involūtae lābuntur, dēlāpsae ab lateribus longuriīs furcīsque ab opere removentur.

They roll along, slip off its sides, and are pushed away from the work with long poles and forks.

Note. involūtae: 'rolling down'. longuriīs furcīsque: 'with long poles and forks', handled by the men inside the musculus.

BC 2.11.3interim sub mūsculō mīlitēs vectibus īnfima saxa turris hostium, quibus fundāmenta continēbantur, convellunt.

Meanwhile under the musculus the soldiers use crowbars to tear out the lowest stones of the enemy's tower, on which its foundations rested.

Note. īnfima saxa: 'the lowest stones'. quibus fundāmenta continēbantur: 'by which the foundations were held together'.

BC 2.11.3mūsculus ex turrī laterīciā ā nostrīs tēlīs tormentīsque dēfenditur;

The musculus is defended from the brick tower by our missiles and artillery;

Note. turrī latericiā: the brick tower of chapter 9, now giving covering fire.

BC 2.11.3hostēs ex mūrō ac turribus submoventur;

the enemy are driven back from the wall and the towers;

Note. submoventur: 'are driven back' from the battlements.

BC 2.11.3nōn datur lībera mūrī dēfendendī facultās.

they are given no free chance to defend the wall.

Note. lībera … facultās: 'a free opportunity'. mūrī dēfendendī: gerundive, 'of defending the wall'.

BC 2.11.4complūribus iam lapidibus ex illā quae suberat turrī subductīs repentīnā ruīnā pars eius turris concidit, pars reliqua cōnsequēns prōcumbēbat, cum hostēs urbis dīreptiōne perterritī inermēs cum īnfulīs sē portā forās ūniversī prōripiunt, ad lēgātōs atque exercitum supplicēs manūs tendunt.

When a good many stones had now been pulled out from under the tower that stood above them, part of that tower suddenly collapsed, and the rest was giving way after it; then the enemy, terrified at the thought of the city being sacked, rush out through the gate, all together, unarmed and wearing the headbands of suppliants, and stretch out their hands as suppliants to the legates and the army.

Note. compluribus … lapidibus … subductīs: ablative absolute. ex illā quae suberat turrī: 'from that tower which stood above (them)'. concidit: from concidō, 'fall, collapse' (not concīdō, 'cut down'). cum … prōripiunt: 'when (suddenly)', cum inversum with the indicative. cum īnfulīs: suppliants wore woollen headbands. supplicēs: 'as suppliants'.