De Bello Civili 2.43

BC 2.43.1Hīs rēbus cognitīs Mārcius Rūfus quaestor in castrīs relictus ā Cūriōne cohortātur suōs, nē animō dēficiant.

On learning this, Marcius Rufus, the quaestor, who had been left in the camp by Curio, urged his men not to lose heart.

Note. Hīs rēbus cognitīs: ablative absolute. quaestor: the officer responsible for the army's money and supplies. nē animō dēficiant: indirect command, 'not to lose heart'.

BC 2.43.1illī ōrant atque obsecrant, ut in Siciliam nāvibus reportentur.

They begged and implored him to have them taken back to Sicily by ship.

Note. ut … reportentur: indirect command after ōrant atque obsecrant, 'to be taken back'.

BC 2.43.1pollicētur magistrīsque imperat nāvium, ut prīmō vespere omnēs scaphās ad lītus adpulsās habeant.

He promised, and ordered the ships' captains to have all the boats brought to the shore at nightfall.

Note. magistrīs … nāvium: the masters of the ships. adpulsās habeant: 'have (them) brought in', with the perfect participle of appellō, -ere, 'bring to land'.

BC 2.43.2sed tantus fuit omnium terror, ut aliī adesse cōpiās Iubae dīcerent, aliī cum legiōnibus īnstāre Vārum iamque sē pulverem venientium cernere, quārum rērum nihil omnīnō acciderat, aliī classem hostium celeriter advolātūram suspicārentur.

But the terror was so great that some said Juba's forces were at hand, others that Varus was bearing down with his legions and that they could already see the dust of their approach, though nothing of the sort had happened at all, and others imagined that the enemy fleet would swiftly swoop on them.

Note. aliī … aliī … aliī: 'some … others … others'. pulverem venientium: 'the dust of men approaching'. advolātūram: future participle, 'about to swoop down'.

BC 2.43.2itaque perterritīs omnibus sibi quisque cōnsulēbat.

So, with everyone terrified, each man looked out for himself.

Note. sibi quisque cōnsulēbat: 'each looked out for himself'; cōnsulō with the dative means 'take care of'.

BC 2.43.3quī in classe erant, proficīscī properābant.

Those who were on board the fleet hurried to set sail.

Note. quī in classe erant: those on board the warships.

BC 2.43.3hōrum fuga nāvium onerāriārum magistrōs incitābat;

Their flight spurred on the captains of the transport ships;

Note. nāvium onerāriārum: the transport ships, as opposed to the warships.

BC 2.43.3paucī lēnunculī ad officium imperiumque conveniēbant.

only a few small boats gathered to do their duty and obey orders.

Note. lēnunculī: small boats or skiffs.

BC 2.43.4sed tanta erat complētīs lītoribus contentiō, quī potissimum ex magnō numerō cōnscenderent, ut multitūdine atque onere nōnnūllī dēprimerentur, reliquī hōc timōre propius adīre tardārentur.

But on the crowded shore there was such a struggle over who out of the great number should embark first that some boats sank under the crowd and the weight, and the rest were slow to come closer for fear of this.

Note. complētīs lītoribus: ablative absolute, 'the shore being crowded'. quī potissimum … cōnscenderent: indirect question, 'who in particular should embark'. hōc timōre: 'through this fear'.