De Bello Civili 2.28

BC 2.28.1Erat in exercitū Vārī Sex. Quīntilius Vārus quem fuisse Corfīniī suprā dēmōnstrātum est.

In Varus' army was Sextus Quintilius Varus, who, as has been shown above, had been at Corfinium.

Note. Sex. Quīntilius Vārus: a different man from Attius Varus, the commander; he had been Domitius' quaestor at Corfinium (1.23). Corfīniī: locative.

BC 2.28.1hic dīmissus ā Caesare in Āfricam vēnerat, legiōnēsque eās trādūxerat Cūriō, quās superiōribus temporibus Corfīniō recēperat Caesar, adeō ut paucīs mūtātīs centuriōnibus īdem ōrdinēs manipulīque cōnstārent.

Released by Caesar, he had come to Africa; and the legions Curio had brought over were the ones Caesar had taken over at Corfinium some time before, so much so that, with only a few centurions changed, the same ranks and maniples remained.

Note. dīmissus: Caesar released the officers he captured at Corfinium. adeō ut …: 'so much so that …'. The point: these legions had once sworn their oath to Domitius.

BC 2.28.2hanc nānctus appellātiōnis causam Quīntilius circumīre aciem Cūriōnis atque obsecrāre mīlitēs coepit, nē prīmī sacrāmentī, quod apud Domitium atque apud sē quaestōrem dīxissent, memoriam dēpōnerent, neu contrā eōs arma ferrent, quī eādem essent ūsī fortūnā eademque in obsidiōne perpessī, neu prō iīs pugnārent, ā quibus perfugae appellārentur.

Seizing on this pretext for an appeal, Quintilius began to go round Curio's line and to beg the soldiers not to lay aside the memory of their first oath, which they had sworn before Domitius and before himself as quaestor, not to bear arms against men who had shared the same fortune and endured the same things in the siege, and not to fight for those by whom they were called deserters.

Note. appellātiōnis causam: 'a pretext for an appeal'. nē … dēpōnerent, neu … ferrent, neu … pugnārent: indirect commands after obsecrāre. sacrāmentī: the soldier's oath. eādem … fortūnā: ūtor takes the ablative. perfugae: 'deserters'.

BC 2.28.3hūc pauca ad spem largītiōnis addidit, quae ab suā līberālitāte, sī sē atque Attium secūtī essent, expectāre dēbērent.

To this he added a few words to raise their hopes of a reward, which they ought to expect from his generosity if they followed himself and Attius.

Note. pauca … ad spem largītiōnis: 'a few words to raise their hopes of a reward'. ab suā līberālitāte: 'from his generosity'.

BC 2.28.4hāc habitā ōrātiōne nūllam in partem ab exercitū Cūriōnis fit significātiō, atque ita suās uterque cōpiās redūcit.

After this speech no sign was given either way by Curio's army, and so each side led its forces back.

Note. nūllam in partem: 'in neither direction', no sign of support for either side.