De Bello Civili 2.25

BC 2.25.1Hōc explōrātō locō Cūriō castra Vārī cōnspicit mūrō oppidōque coniūncta ad portam, quae appellātur Bēlica, admodum mūnīta nātūrā locī, ūnā ex parte ipsō oppidō Uticā, alterā ā theātrō, quod est ante oppidum, substrūctiōnibus eius operis maximīs, aditū ad castra difficilī et angustō.

After reconnoitring this place Curio saw Varus' camp joined to the wall and the town at the gate called the Belican gate, very well protected by the nature of the ground: on one side by the town of Utica itself, on the other by the theatre that stands in front of the town, with very large substructures for that building, so that the approach to the camp was difficult and narrow.

Note. castra … coniūncta: 'the camp joined (to)', describing Varus' camp. ūnā ex parte … alterā: 'on one side … on the other'. substrūctiōnibus eius operis maximīs: ablative of description, 'with very great substructures for that building' (the theatre). aditū … difficilī et angustō: ablative absolute, 'the approach being difficult and narrow'.

BC 2.25.2simul animadvertit multa undique portārī atque agī plēnissimīs viīs, quae repentīnī tumultūs timōre ex agrīs in urbem cōnferēbantur.

At the same time he noticed that the roads were crowded with many things being carried and driven along from every side, which were being brought from the fields into the city in fear of a sudden attack.

Note. multa … portārī atque agī: things carried (portārī) and animals driven (agī). repentīnī tumultūs timōre: 'in fear of a sudden attack'.

BC 2.25.3hūc equitātum mittit, ut dīriperet atque habēret locō praedae;

He sent the cavalry there to plunder them and treat them as booty;

Note. ut dīriperet: purpose clause. locō praedae: 'as booty'.

BC 2.25.3eōdemque tempore hīs rēbus subsidiō dc equitēs Numidae ex oppidō peditēsque cccc mittuntur ā Varo, quōs auxiliī causā rēx Iuba paucīs diēbus ante Uticam mīserat.

and at the same time six hundred Numidian cavalry and four hundred infantry were sent out of the town by Varus to support them; King Juba had sent them to Utica as auxiliaries a few days before.

Note. hīs rēbus subsidiō: double dative, 'as help for these things'. dc … cccc: six hundred, four hundred. rēx Iuba: Juba I, king of Numidia, Pompey's ally.

BC 2.25.4huic et paternum hospitium cum Pompēiō et simultās cum Cūriōne intercēdēbat, quod tribūnus plēbis lēgem prōmulgāverat, quā lēge regnum Iubae pūblicāverat.

Juba had both a hereditary tie of hospitality with Pompey and a quarrel with Curio, because as tribune of the plebs Curio had proposed a law by which he had made Juba's kingdom public property.

Note. huic: Juba. paternum hospitium: a guest-friendship inherited from his father. tribūnus plēbis: Curio as tribune in 50 BC had proposed annexing Juba's kingdom. quā lēge: the antecedent is repeated, 'by which law'. pūblicāverat: 'had made public (Roman) property'.

BC 2.25.5concurrunt equitēs inter sē;

The cavalry clashed with each other;

Note. inter sē: 'with each other'.

BC 2.25.5neque vērō prīmum impetum nostrōrum Numidae ferre potuērunt, sed interfectīs circiter cxx reliquī sē in castra ad oppidum recēpērunt.

but the Numidians could not withstand our men's first charge, and after about a hundred and twenty had been killed the rest retreated into the camp by the town.

Note. interfectīs circiter cxx: ablative absolute, 'about one hundred and twenty having been killed'.

BC 2.25.6interim adventū longārum nāvium Cūriō prōnūntiārī onerāriīs nāvibus iubet, quae stābant ad Uticam numerō circiter cc, sē in hostium habitūrum locō, quī nōn ex vestīgiō ad Castra Cornēlia nāvēs trādūxisset.

Meanwhile, on the arrival of the warships, Curio had it proclaimed to the merchant ships, about two hundred in number, that were lying off Utica, that he would treat as an enemy any that did not immediately bring its ship over to the Cornelian Camp.

Note. prōnūntiārī … iubet: 'ordered it to be announced'. sē in hostium habitūrum [esse] locō: 'that he would treat as an enemy'. ex vestīgiō: 'immediately, on the spot'.

BC 2.25.7quā prōnūntiātiōne factā temporis punctō sublātīs ancorīs omnēs Uticam relinquunt et, quō imperātum est, trānseunt.

When this proclamation had been made, in an instant they all weighed anchor, left Utica, and crossed to where they had been ordered.

Note. temporis pūnctō: 'in an instant'. quō imperātum est: 'to where they had been ordered'.

BC 2.25.7quae rēs omnium rērum cōpiā complēvit exercitum.

This filled the army with plenty of everything.

Note. quae rēs: 'and this'. omnium rērum cōpiā: ablative of means with complēvit.