De Bello Civili 2.31

BC 2.31.1Cūriō utrumque improbāns cōnsilium, quantum alterī sententiae dēesset animī, tantum alterī superesse dīcēbat;

Curio, disapproving of both plans, said that one opinion lacked as much spirit as the other had in excess;

Note. quantum … tantum: 'as much … so much'. alterī … alterī: 'to the one … to the other'. animī: partitive genitive, 'courage'.

BC 2.31.1hōs turpissimae fugae ratiōnem habēre, illōs etiam inīquō locō dīmicandum putāre.

the one group were planning a most shameful flight, the other thought they must fight even on unfavourable ground.

Note. hōs … illōs: 'the latter … the former', referring back to the two groups. etiam inīquō locō dīmicandum: 'that they must fight even on unfavourable ground'.

BC 2.31.2"quā enim," inquit, "fīdūciā et opere et nātūrā locī mūnītissima castra expugnārī posse cōnfīdimus?"

'For with what confidence,' he said, 'do we trust that a camp most strongly fortified both by works and by the nature of the ground can be stormed?'

Note. quā … fīdūciā: interrogative, 'with what confidence?'. inquit: 'he said', inserted into the direct speech.

BC 2.31.3"aut vērō quid prōficimus, sī acceptō magnō dētrīmentō ab oppugnātiōne castrōrum discēdimus?

'Or what do we gain if we withdraw from the assault on the camp after suffering heavy losses?

Note. quid prōficimus: 'what do we gain?'. acceptō magnō dētrīmentō: ablative absolute.

BC 2.31.3quasi nōn et fēlīcitās rērum gestārum exercitūs benevolentiam imperātōribus et rēs adversae odia concilient!"

As if success did not win generals the goodwill of their army, and failure its hatred!'

Note. quasi nōn …: an indignant exclamation, 'as if … did not …!'. concilient: subjunctive after quasi.

BC 2.31.4"castrōrum autem mūtātiō quid habet nisi turpem fugam et dēspērātiōnem omnium et aliēnātiōnem exercitūs?

'And what does moving camp mean but a shameful flight, the despair of everyone, and the estrangement of the army?

Note. mūtātiō castrōrum: 'a change of camp', i.e. retreat. quid habet nisi: 'what does it involve except'.

BC 2.31.4nam neque pudentīs suspicārī oportet sibi parum crēdī neque improbōs scīre sēsē timērī, quod illīs licentiam timor augeat noster, hīs studia dēminuat."

For decent men ought not to suspect that they are trusted too little, nor the wicked know that they are feared, because our fear increases the licence of the one and lessens the zeal of the other.'

Note. pudentīs = pudentēs, 'decent men'. sibi parum crēdī: impersonal passive, 'that they are trusted too little'. illīs … hīs: 'to the latter (the wicked) … to the former (the decent)'.

BC 2.31.5"quod sī iam," inquit, "haec explōrāta habeāmus, quae dē exercitūs aliēnātiōne dīcuntur, quae quidem ego aut omnīnō falsa aut certē minōra opīniōne esse cōnfīdō, quantō haec dissimulārī et occultārī, quam per nōs cōnfirmārī praestet?"

'But if,' he said, 'we already had these reports about the army's estrangement confirmed — reports which I am sure are either entirely false or at least smaller than people think — how much better would it be to conceal and hide them than to confirm them ourselves?'

Note. quod sī: 'but if'. explōrāta habeāmus: 'we had established'. minōra opīniōne: ablative of comparison, 'smaller than is thought'. quantō … praestet: 'how much better it would be'.

BC 2.31.6"an nōn, utī corporis vulnera, ita exercitūs incommoda sunt tegenda, nē spem adversāriīs augeāmus?"

'Must not an army's weaknesses, like the body's wounds, be covered up, so that we do not increase our opponents' hopes?'

Note. an nōn …?: 'is it not the case that …?'. tegenda: gerundive of obligation, 'must be covered'.

BC 2.31.7"at etiam, ut mediā nocte proficīscāmur, addunt, quō maiōrem, crēdō, licentiam habeant, quī peccāre cōnentur.

'And they even add that we should set out at midnight, to give, I suppose, greater licence to those who are trying to do wrong.

Note. addunt: the other group adds the proposal to leave at midnight. quō … habeant: quō introduces a purpose clause containing a comparative. crēdō: ironic, 'I suppose'.

BC 2.31.7namque huiusmodī rēs aut pudōre aut metū tenentur, quibus rēbus nox maximē adversāria est."

For things of this kind are held in check either by shame or by fear, and night is most hostile to these.'

Note. pudōre aut metū: by shame or by fear, both of which work by being seen; at night neither has force.

BC 2.31.8"quārē neque tantī sum animī, ut sine spē castra obpugnanda cēnseam, neque tantī timōris, utī spē dēficiam, atque omnia prius experienda arbitror magnāque ex parte iam mē ūnā vōbīscum dē rē iūdicium factūrum cōnfīdō."

'So I am neither so bold as to think we should attack the camp without hope, nor so fearful as to give up hope; I think everything should be tried first, and I trust that I shall soon, to a large extent, make a judgement about the matter together with you.'

Note. tantī … animī … tantī timōris: genitives of quality, 'of such courage … of such fear'. dēficiam: 'I lose (hope)'. ūnā vōbīscum: 'together with you'. iūdicium factūrum: Curio's decision will be to fight, which leads to his destruction in the next chapters.