De Bello Civili 2.4

BC 2.4.1Massiliēnsēs post superius incommodum veterēs ad eundem numerum ex nāvālibus prōductās nāvīs refēcerant summāque industriā armāverant— rēmigum, gubernātōrum magna cōpia subpetēbat— piscātōriāsque adiēcerant atque contēxerant, ut essent ab ictū tēlōrum rēmigēs tūtī;

After their earlier defeat the Massiliots had brought old ships out of the dockyards to make up the same number, had refitted them and armed them with the greatest care (there was a large supply of rowers and helmsmen), and had added fishing boats and covered them over so that the rowers would be safe from the blows of missiles;

Note. post superius incommodum: 'after their earlier defeat'. ad eundem numerum: 'to make up the same number' of ships as before. The parenthesis (rēmigum … suppetēbat) explains how they could man them. piscātōriās (nāvēs): 'fishing boats'; contēxerant (from contegō) 'they had covered them over' with decking.

BC 2.4.2hās sagittāriīs tormentīsque conplēvērunt.

these they filled with archers and artillery.

Note. hās: the fishing boats. sagittāriīs tormentīsque: ablatives with complēvērunt, 'filled with archers and artillery'.

BC 2.4.3tālī modō īnstrūctā classe omnium seniōrum, mātrum familiae, virginum precibus et flētū excitātī, extrēmō tempore cīvitātī subvenīrent, nōn minōre animō ac fīdūciā quam ante dīmicāverant, nāvēs cōnscendunt.

With the fleet equipped in this way, roused by the prayers and tears of all the old men, the mothers of families and the young girls to help the state in its extreme danger, they board the ships with no less courage and confidence than they had fought with before.

Note. tālī modō īnstrūctā classe: ablative absolute. mātrum familiae: familiae is an old genitive, as in māter familiās. excitātī … subvenīrent: the subjunctive depends on the idea of asking in precibus (as if ut subvenīrent). nōn minōre … quam: 'with no less … than'.

BC 2.4.4commūnī enim fit vitiō nātūrae, ut invīsitātīs atque incognitīs rēbus magis cōnfīdāmus vehementiusque exterreāmur;

For by a fault common to our nature we are more confident, and also more badly frightened, when things are unfamiliar and unknown;

Note. A general remark. commūnī … vitiō nātūrae: 'by a fault common to (human) nature'. fit … ut: 'it happens that', followed by subjunctives. invīsitātīs atque incognitīs rēbus: dative with cōnfīdāmus, but also 'in unfamiliar circumstances' with exterreāmur.

BC 2.4.4ut tum accidit.

as happened then.

Note. ut: 'as', with the indicative.

BC 2.4.4adventus enim L. Nāsidī summā spē et voluntāte cīvitātem conplēverat.

For the arrival of Lucius Nasidius had filled the city with the highest hope and eagerness.

Note. summā spē et voluntāte: ablatives of means with complēverat, 'had filled with the highest hope and eagerness'. Nāsidī: the old genitive of names in -ius ends in -ī.

BC 2.4.5nactī idōneum ventum ex portū exeunt et Tauroenta, quod est castellum Massiliēnsium, ad Nāsidium perveniunt ibique nāvēs expediunt rūrsusque sē ad cōnflīgendum animō cōnfirmant et cōnsilia commūnicant.

Finding a suitable wind, they sail out of the harbour and come to Nasidius at Tauroeis, a stronghold of the Massiliots; there they make the ships ready, encourage one another again to fight, and share their plans.

Note. nactī: perfect participle of the deponent nancīscor, 'having got'. Tauroenta: a Greek accusative of Tauroīs, a coastal fort east of Massilia. quod est castellum: the relative agrees with castellum. ad cōnflīgendum: gerund of purpose.

BC 2.4.5dextra pars attribuitur Massiliēnsibus, sinistra Nāsidiō.

The right wing is assigned to the Massiliots, the left to Nasidius.

Note. dextra pars: the right wing of the battle line.