De Bello Civili 2.39

BC 2.39.1Cūriō cum omnibus cōpiīs quārta vigiliā exierat cohortibus v castrīs praesidiō relictīs.

Curio had set out with all his forces at the fourth watch, leaving five cohorts to guard the camp.

Note. quartā vigiliā: the last watch before dawn. exierat: Curio had already left before the cavalry returned. castrīs praesidiō: double dative, 'as a guard for the camp'.

BC 2.39.1prōgressus mīlia passuum vi equitēs convēnit, rem gestam cognōvit;

After advancing six miles he met the cavalry and learned what had happened;

Note. equitēs convenit: here convenīre takes a direct object, 'he met the cavalry'.

BC 2.39.1ex captīvīs quaerit, quis castrīs ad Bagradam praesit;

he asked the prisoners who was in command of the camp by the Bagradas;

Note. quis … praesit: indirect question, 'who was in command'.

BC 2.39.1respondent Saburram.

they answered: Saburra.

Note. Saburram: accusative, because it stands for an indirect statement, '(they answer that it is) Saburra'.

BC 2.39.2reliqua studiō itineris cōnficiendī quaerere praetermittit proximaque respiciēns signa, "vidētisne," inquit "mīlitēs, captīvōrum ōrātiōnem cum perfugīs convenīre?

In his eagerness to finish the march he did not ask the rest, and looking round at the nearest standards he said: "Do you see, soldiers, that what the prisoners say agrees with the deserters?

Note. reliqua … quaerere praetermittit: 'he omits to ask the rest'. studiō itineris cōnficiendī: gerundive, 'in his eagerness to finish the march'. vidētisne: video with the question particle -ne.

BC 2.39.2abesse rēgem, exiguās esse cōpiās missās, quae paucīs equitibus parēs esse nōn potuerint?"

The king is away, and small forces have been sent, which could not match a few horsemen."

Note. Indirect statements continue after vidētis: abesse rēgem, exiguās esse cōpiās. quae … nōn potuerint: 'which could not be equal to a few horsemen'.

BC 2.39.3"proinde ad praedam, ad glōriam properāte, ut iam dē praemiīs vestrīs et dē referendā grātiā cōgitāre incipiāmus."

"So hurry on to plunder, to glory, so that we may begin to think about your rewards and about repaying your service."

Note. dē referendā grātiā: gerundive, 'about repaying your service'.

BC 2.39.4erant per sē magna quae gesserant equitēs, praesertim cum eōrum exiguus numerus cum tantā multitūdine Numidārum cōnferrētur.

What the cavalry had done was great in itself, especially when their small number was compared with so great a host of Numidians.

Note. per sē: 'in themselves'. cum … cōnferrētur: cum with the subjunctive, 'when compared'.

BC 2.39.4haec tamen ab ipsīs īnflātius commemorābantur, ut dē suīs hominēs laudibus libenter praedicant.

Still, they themselves told of it rather boastfully, as men like to proclaim their own exploits.

Note. īnflātius: comparative adverb, 'rather boastfully'. ut … praedicant: ut with the indicative, 'as men proclaim'.

BC 2.39.5multa praetereā spolia praeferēbantur, captī hominēs equitēsque prōdūcēbantur, ut quidquid intercēderet temporis, hoc omne victōriam morārī vidērētur.

Besides, much booty was carried before them, and captured men and horsemen were paraded, so that any time that passed seemed only to delay the victory.

Note. ut quidquid intercēderet temporis: 'so that whatever time passed'. hoc omne … vidērētur: 'all this seemed'.

BC 2.39.5ita speī Cūriōnis mīlitum studia nōn dēerant.

So the soldiers' eagerness did not fall short of Curio's hopes.

Note. spēī Cūriōnis: dative with dēerant, 'were not lacking to Curio's hopes'.

BC 2.39.6equitēs sequī iubet sēsē iterque accelerat, ut quam maximē ex fugā perterritōs adorīrī posset.

He ordered the cavalry to follow him and hurried the march, so as to attack the enemy while they were still as frightened as possible after their flight.

Note. quam maximē … perterritōs: quam with a superlative, 'as frightened as possible'.

BC 2.39.6at illī itinere tōtīus noctis cōnfectī subsequī nōn poterant atque aliī aliō locō resistēbant.

But the cavalry, worn out by the march of the whole night, could not keep up, and men halted in one place after another.

Note. illī: the cavalry. itinere tōtīus noctis cōnfectī: 'worn out by the march of the whole night'. aliī aliō locō: 'some in one place, some in another'.

BC 2.39.6nē haec quidem rēs Cūriōnem ad spem morābātur.

Not even this checked Curio's hopes.

Note. nē … quidem: 'not even'. ad spem: 'in his hopes'.