De Bello Civili 2.22

BC 2.22.1Massiliēnsēs omnibus dēfessī malīs, reī frūmentāriae ad summam inopiam adductī, bis proeliō nāvālī superātī, crēbrīs ēruptiōnibus fūsī, gravī etiam pestilentiā cōnflīctātī ex diūtinā conclūsiōne et mūtātiōne vīctūs— pānicō enim vetere atque hordeō corruptō omnēs alēbantur, quod ad huiusmodī cāsūs antīquitus parātum in pūblicum contulerant— dēiectā turrī, labefactā magnā parte mūrī, auxiliīs prōvinciārum et exercituum dēspērātīs, quōs in Caesaris potestātem vēnisse cognōverant, sēsē dēdere sine fraude cōnstituunt.

The Massilians, worn out by every kind of misery, reduced to the utmost shortage of grain, twice beaten in a sea battle, routed in frequent sallies, struck also by a serious epidemic as a result of the long blockade and the change of diet — for they were all living on old millet and spoiled barley, which they had long ago stored in the public granary for emergencies of this kind — with a tower thrown down, a large part of the wall shaken, and all hope gone of help from the provinces and armies, which they had learned had come into Caesar's power, decided to surrender without deceit.

Note. A long list of ablatives and participles describing the Massilians before the main verb at the end: sēsē dēdere … cōnstituunt. ex diūtīnā conclūsiōne et mūtātiōne vīctūs: 'from the long blockade and the change of diet'. The parenthesis explains the diet. dēiectā turrī, labefactā … parte: ablatives absolute. sine fraude: 'without deceit'.

BC 2.22.2sed paucīs ante diēbus L. Domitius cognitā Massiliēnsium voluntāte nāvibus iii comparātīs, ex quibus duās familiāribus suīs adtribuerat, ūnam ipse cōnscenderat, nactus turbidam tempestātem profectus est.

But a few days before, Lucius Domitius, learning the Massilians' intention, got three ships ready, of which he assigned two to his friends and boarded one himself, and set out in stormy weather.

Note. L. Domitius Ahenobarbus, who had surrendered to Caesar at Corfinium and been released, had gone on to defend Massilia. iii: three. nactus: from nancīscor, 'having met with'.

BC 2.22.3hunc cōnspicātae nāvēs quae iussū Brūtī cōnsuētūdine cōtīdiānā ad portum excubābant, sublātīs ancorīs sequī coepērunt.

The ships that kept watch at the harbour every day by Brutus' order caught sight of him, weighed anchor and began to pursue.

Note. Brūtī: Decimus Brutus, Caesar's admiral, who had beaten the Massilian fleet. sublātīs ancorīs: 'weighing anchor'.

BC 2.22.4ex hīs ūnum ipsīus nāvigium contendit et fugere persevērāvit auxiliōque tempestātis ex cōnspectū abiit, duo perterrita concursū nostrārum nāvium sēsē in portum recēpērunt.

Of these, Domitius' own vessel pressed on, kept up its flight, and with the help of the storm got out of sight; the other two, frightened by our ships closing in, went back into the harbour.

Note. ex hīs: refers to Domitius' three ships. ipsīus nāvigium: 'his own vessel'. duo perterrita: the other two vessels (nāvigia, neuter). sēsē … recēpērunt: 'went back'.

BC 2.22.5Massiliēnsēs arma tormentaque ex oppidō, ut est imperātum, prōferunt, nāvīs ex portū nāvālibusque ēdūcunt, pecūniam ex pūblicō trādunt.

The Massilians, as ordered, brought out their weapons and artillery from the town, brought their ships out of the harbour and the dockyards, and handed over the money from the public treasury.

Note. ut est imperātum: 'as had been ordered'. nāvālibus: the dockyards (nāvālia, -ium n. pl.). ex pūblicō: 'from the public treasury'.

BC 2.22.6quibus rēbus cōnfectīs Caesar magis eōs prō nōmine et vetustāte quam prō meritīs in sē cīvitātis cōnservāns, duās ibi legiōnēs praesidiō relinquit, cēterās in Ītaliam mittit;

When this had been done, Caesar, sparing them more for the city's name and antiquity than for what it deserved of him, left two legions there as a garrison and sent the rest to Italy;

Note. prō nōmine et vetustāte: Massilia was an ancient Greek city and an old ally of Rome. prō meritīs in sē: 'for its services towards himself'. cōnservāns: present participle, 'sparing'.

BC 2.22.6ipse ad urbem proficīscitur.

he himself set out for Rome.

Note. ad urbem: 'to the city', i.e. Rome.