De Bello Civili 2.20

BC 2.20.1Hōc vērō magis properāre Varrō, ut cum legiōnibus quam prīmum Gādīs contenderet, nē itinere aut trāiectū interclūderētur;

This made Varro hurry all the more to reach Gades with his legions as quickly as possible, so as not to be cut off on the march or in the crossing;

Note. Hōc … magis: 'all the more because of this'. properāre: historical infinitive, used for a vivid main verb ('Varro hurried'). quam prīmum: 'as soon as possible'. nē … interclūderētur: negative purpose clause.

BC 2.20.1tanta ac tam secunda in Caesarem voluntās prōvinciae reperiēbātur.

so great and so favourable was the feeling of the province found to be towards Caesar.

Note. A short explanatory sentence: the province's feeling is the reason for Varro's hurry.

BC 2.20.2prōgressō eī paulō longius litterae Gādibus redduntur, simulatque sit cognitum dē ēdictō Caesaris, cōnsēnsisse Gāditānōs prīncipēs cum tribūnīs cohortium quae essent ibi in praesidiō, ut Gallōnium ex oppidō expellerent, urbem īnsulamque Caesarī servārent.

When he had gone a little further, a letter from Gades was delivered to him: as soon as Caesar's edict became known, the leading men of Gades had agreed with the tribunes of the cohorts that were there as a garrison to drive Gallonius out of the town and keep the city and the island for Caesar.

Note. simulatque: 'as soon as' (printed here as one word). From cōnsēnsisse onward the letter's contents are given in indirect speech. Gāditānōs prīncipēs: the leading men of Gades. tribūnīs cohortium: the officers of the garrison cohorts Varro had installed.

BC 2.20.3hōc initō cōnsiliō dēnūntiāvisse Gallōniō, ut suā sponte, dum sine perīculō licēret, excēderet Gādibus;

Having formed this plan, they had warned Gallonius to leave Gades of his own accord while he could do so without danger;

Note. Still indirect speech: dēnūntiāvisse, 'that they had warned'. suā sponte: 'of his own accord'. dum … licēret: 'while it was possible'.

BC 2.20.3sī id nōn fēcisset, sibi cōnsilium captūrōs.

if he did not, they would take measures for themselves.

Note. In direct form: sī id nōn fēceris, nōbīs cōnsilium capiēmus, 'we will take measures for ourselves'. captūrōs [esse]: future infinitive.

BC 2.20.3hōc timōre adductum Gallōnium Gādibus excessisse.

Gallonius, moved by this fear, had left Gades.

Note. excessisse: perfect infinitive, still part of the letter's report.

BC 2.20.4hīs cognitīs rēbus altera ex duābus legiōnibus, quae vernācula appellābātur, ex castrīs Varrōnis adstante et īnspectante ipsō signa sustulit sēsēque Hispalim recēpit atque in forō et porticibus sine maleficiō cōnsēdit.

When this became known, one of the two legions, the one called the 'native' legion, took up its standards from Varro's camp while he himself stood by and watched, went off to Hispalis, and settled in the forum and the colonnades without doing any harm.

Note. vernācula: 'native', the name of a legion raised in Spain itself. adstante et īnspectante ipsō: ablative absolute, 'while he himself stood by and watched', a humiliating detail. signa sustulit: 'took up its standards', i.e. marched off.

BC 2.20.5quod factum adeō eius conventūs cīvēs Rōmānī comprobāvērunt, ut domum ad sē quisque hospitiō cupidissimē reciperet.

The Roman citizens of that district approved this action so strongly that each of them eagerly took a soldier into his own home as a guest.

Note. eius conventūs: the citizens of the Hispalis district. hospitiō reciperet: 'took in as a guest'.

BC 2.20.6quibus rēbus perterritus Varrō, cum itinere conversō sēsē Italicam ventūrum praemīsisset, certior ab suīs factus est praeclūsās esse portās.

Varro was thoroughly alarmed by this, and when he had changed his route and sent word ahead that he would come to Italica, he was told by his men that the gates had been shut.

Note. cum … praemīsisset: 'when he had sent word ahead'. sēsē Italicam ventūrum [esse]: indirect statement. certior factus est: 'he was informed'.

BC 2.20.7tum vērō omnī interclūsus itinere ad Caesarem mittit parātum sē esse legiōnem, cui iusserit, trādere.

Then, with every road cut off, he sent word to Caesar that he was ready to hand over the legion to whomever he ordered.

Note. omnī interclūsus itinere: 'cut off from every route'. parātum sē esse … trādere: 'that he was ready to hand over'. cui iusserit: perfect subjunctive in indirect speech, 'to whomever he ordered'.

BC 2.20.7ille ad eum Sex. Caesarem mittit atque huic trādī iubet.

Caesar sent Sextus Caesar to him and ordered the legion to be handed over to him.

Note. Sex. = Sextus; Sextus Julius Caesar, a young relative of Caesar.

BC 2.20.8trāditā legiōne Varrō Cordubam ad Caesarem vēnit;

When the legion had been handed over, Varro came to Caesar at Corduba;

Note. Cordubam ad Caesarem: two accusatives of motion, the town and the person.

BC 2.20.8relātīs ad eum pūblicīs cum fidē ratiōnibus, quod penes eum est pecūniae, trādit, et, quid ubīque habeat frūmentī ac nāvium, ostendit.

after faithfully handing over the public accounts, he gave him the money that was in his keeping and showed him what grain and ships he had everywhere.

Note. relātīs … ratiōnibus: ablative absolute, 'after handing over the accounts'. quod penes eum est pecūniae: 'what money was in his keeping'; pecūniae is a partitive genitive. quid ubique habeat frūmentī: indirect question, 'what grain he had everywhere'.