De Bello Civili 2.8

BC 2.8.1Est animadversum ab legiōnāriīs, quī dextram partem operis administrābant, ex crēbrīs hostium ēruptiōnibus magnō sibi esse praesidiō posse, sī ibi prō castellō ac receptāculō turrim ex latere sub mūrō fēcissent.

The legionaries who were carrying out the work on the right side noticed that, because of the enemy's frequent sallies, it could be a great protection to them if they built a tower of brick there, under the wall, as a fort and a refuge.

Note. Est animadversum: impersonal passive, 'it was noticed'. magnō sibi esse praesidiō: double dative, 'to be a great protection to them'. sī … fēcissent: pluperfect subjunctive in indirect speech, 'if they built'. prō castellō ac receptāculō: 'as a fort and refuge'. ex latere: 'of brick'. Do not confuse later, lateris m. 'brick' (lateribus in chapters 9–10 is 'with bricks') with latus, lateris n. 'side'.

BC 2.8.1quam prīmō ad repentīnōs incursūs humilem parvamque fēcērunt.

At first they made it low and small, against sudden attacks.

Note. quam … fēcērunt: linking relative, 'they made it'. ad repentīnōs incursūs: 'against sudden attacks'.

BC 2.8.2hūc sē referēbant;

They would retreat into it;

Note. The three short sentences describe the use of the tower; the imperfects show what was done repeatedly.

BC 2.8.2hinc, sīqua maior oppresserat vīs, prōpugnābant;

from it they would fight back if any greater force pressed them;

Note. sīqua maior … vīs: 'if any greater force'.

BC 2.8.2hinc ad repellendum et prōsequendum hostem prōcurrēbant.

from it they would run out to drive back and pursue the enemy.

Note. ad repellendum et prōsequendum hostem: gerundives agreeing with hostem, 'for driving back and pursuing the enemy'.

BC 2.8.2patēbat haec quōquōversus pedēs xxx, sed parietum crassitūdō pedēs v.

It measured thirty feet each way, and the walls were five feet thick.

Note. quōquōversus: 'in every direction', i.e. thirty feet square. pedēs: accusative of extent. parietum crassitūdō: 'the thickness of the walls'.

BC 2.8.3posteā vērō, ut est rērum omnium magister ūsus, hominum adhibitā sollertiā inventum est magnō esse ūsuī posse, sī haec esset in altitūdinem turris ēlāta.

But later, since experience is the teacher of all things, by applying men's ingenuity it was found that it could be of great use if it were raised to the height of a tower.

Note. ut est rērum omnium magister ūsus: a proverb, 'as experience is the teacher of all things'. inventum est: impersonal, 'it was discovered'. magnō … ūsuī: double dative, 'of great use'. sī haec esset … ēlāta: 'if it were raised'.

BC 2.8.3id hāc ratiōne perfectum est.

This was done in the following way.

Note. hāc ratiōne: 'in this way'. The next chapter describes one of the most detailed pieces of engineering in Caesar. The trick: the builders put the roof on first, and then jacked it up storey by storey, building the walls underneath it in safety.