De Bello Civili 2.34

BC 2.34.1Erat vallis inter duās aciēs, ut suprā dēmōnstrātum est, nōn ita magna, at difficilī et arduō ascēnsū.

Between the two lines, as described above, there was a valley, not very large, but with a difficult and steep climb.

Note. ut suprā dēmōnstrātum est: Caesar's usual cross-reference, 'as was shown above'. difficilī et arduō ascēnsū: ablative of description, 'with a difficult and steep ascent'.

BC 2.34.1hanc uterque sī adversāriōrum cōpiae trānsīre cōnārentur, expectābat, quō aequiōre locō proelium committeret.

Each commander was waiting to see whether the other side's forces would try to cross it, so that he could fight on more favourable ground.

Note. hanc: the valley. uterque: each commander. sī … cōnārentur: 'to see whether … would try', a conditional used like an indirect question. quō aequiōre locō: quō introduces a purpose clause containing a comparative.

BC 2.34.2simul ab sinistrō cornū P. Attī equitātus omnis et ūnā levis armātūrae interiectī conplūrēs, cum sē in vallem dēmitterent, cernēbantur.

At the same time, from the left wing, all Publius Attius' cavalry, and with them many light-armed troops placed among them, could be seen coming down into the valley.

Note. levis armātūrae: genitive of description, 'of light equipment', i.e. light-armed troops. interiectī: posted among the cavalry, a common tactic. cernēbantur: 'were seen'.

BC 2.34.3ad eōs Cūriō equitātum et duās Marrūcīnōrum cohortīs mittit;

Against them Curio sent his cavalry and two cohorts of the Marrucini;

Note. cohortīs: accusative plural in -īs, a common older form in Caesar.

BC 2.34.3quōrum prīmum impetum equitēs hostium nōn tulērunt, sed admissīs equīs ad suōs refūgērunt;

the enemy cavalry did not withstand their first charge, but fled back to their own men at full gallop;

Note. admissīs equīs: 'with their horses let go', i.e. at full gallop.

BC 2.34.3relictī ab hīs, quī ūnā prōcurrerant levis armātūrae, circumveniēbantur atque interficiēbantur ab nostrīs.

the light-armed troops who had run forward with them were left behind, and were surrounded and killed by our men.

Note. relictī ab hīs: the light-armed troops were left behind by the fleeing cavalry. ūnā: adverb, 'together, with them'.

BC 2.34.3hūc tōta Vārī conversa aciēs suōs fugere et concīdī vidēbat.

Varus' whole line, turned towards this, saw its men running away and being cut down.

Note. suōs fugere et concīdī: indirect statement after vidēbat. concīdī: present passive infinitive of concīdō, 'cut down'.

BC 2.34.4tum Rebilus, lēgātus Caesaris, quem Cūriō sēcum ex Siciliā dūxerat, quod magnum habēre ūsum in rē mīlitārī sciēbat, "perterritum," inquit "hostem vidēs, Cūriō;

Then Rebilus, Caesar's legate, whom Curio had brought with him from Sicily because he knew him to have great military experience, said: "You see the enemy is terrified, Curio;

Note. Rebilus: C. Caninius Rebilus, who had served under Caesar in Gaul. quod … sciēbat: Curio knew Rebilus had great military experience. perterritum … hostem vidēs: the participle is predicative, 'you see the enemy (is) terrified'.

BC 2.34.4quid dubitās utī temporis opportūnitāte?"

why do you hesitate to use the opportunity of the moment?"

Note. quid dubitās?: 'why do you hesitate?'; quid is an accusative of respect used as 'why'. ūtī: present infinitive of the deponent ūtor, with the ablative opportūnitāte.

BC 2.34.5ille ūnum ēlocūtus, ut memoriā tenērent mīlitēs ea quae prīdiē sibi cōnfirmāssent, sequī sē iubet et praecurrit ante omnēs.

Curio said only this, that the soldiers should remember what they had promised him the day before, ordered them to follow him, and ran on ahead of them all.

Note. ille ūnum ēlocūtus: 'he, saying only this'. ut … tenērent: an indirect command that explains ūnum. sibi … cōnfirmāssent: 'had pledged to him'; cōnfirmāssent is a contracted pluperfect subjunctive.

BC 2.34.5adeōque erat impedīta vallis, ut in ascēnsū nisi sublevātī ā suīs prīmī nōn facile ēnīterentur.

The valley was so difficult that the first men could hardly struggle up the slope unless they were helped up by their comrades.

Note. adeō … ut: 'so … that'. nisi sublevātī ā suīs: 'unless helped up by their comrades'. ēnīterentur: deponent, 'struggle up'.

BC 2.34.6sed praeoccupātus animus Attiānōrum mīlitum timōre et fugā et caede suōrum nihil dē resistendō cōgitābat, omnēsque iam sē ab equitātū circumvenīrī arbitrābantur.

But the minds of Attius' soldiers were already filled with fear and with the flight and slaughter of their comrades; they had no thought of resisting, and all of them already believed that they were being surrounded by the cavalry.

Note. praeoccupātus animus … timōre et fugā et caede: 'their spirit, already gripped by fear and by the flight and slaughter'. Attiānōrum: of Attius' men. dē resistendō: gerund, 'about resisting'.

BC 2.34.6itaque priusquam tēlum adigī possit aut nostrī propius accēderent, omnis Vārī aciēs terga vertit sēque in castra recēpit.

So before a weapon could be thrown or our men came closer, Varus' whole line turned its back and retreated into the camp.

Note. priusquam … possit aut … accēderent: priusquam with the subjunctive, 'before a weapon could be thrown'. terga vertit: the usual phrase for turning to flee.