De Bello Civili 3.10

BC 3.10.1Dēmōnstrāvimus L. Vibullium Rūfum, Pompēī praefectum, bis in potestātem pervēnisse Caesaris atque ab eō esse dīmissum, semel ad Corfīnium, iterum in Hispāniā.

We have shown that Lucius Vibullius Rufus, Pompey's prefect, twice fell into Caesar's hands and was let go by him, once at Corfinium and again in Spain.

Note. Dēmōnstrāvimus: Caesar refers back to Civil War 1.15 and 1.34. Vibullium Rūfum: accusative subject of the infinitives pervēnisse and esse dīmissum.

BC 3.10.2hunc prō suīs beneficiīs Caesar idōneum iūdicāverat, quem cum mandātīs ad Cn. Pompēium mitteret, eundemque apud Cn. Pompēium auctōritātem habēre intellegēbat.

Because of his kindnesses to him, Caesar had judged him a suitable man to send with instructions to Gnaeus Pompey, and he also knew that he had influence with Gnaeus Pompey.

Note. prō suīs beneficiīs: because of the kindnesses Caesar had done him. quem … mitteret: relative clause of purpose, 'to send with instructions'.

BC 3.10.3erat autem haec summa mandātōrum: dēbēre utrumque pertināciae fīnem facere et ab armīs discēdere neque amplius fortūnam perīclitārī.

Now the substance of the instructions was this: each of them ought to put an end to his obstinacy, to lay down arms, and not to try his fortune any further.

Note. summa mandātōrum: 'the substance of the instructions'. From here to the end of 3.10 the message is given in indirect speech. pertināciae fīnem facere: 'put an end to their obstinacy'.

BC 3.10.4satis esse magna utrimque incommoda accepta, quae prō disciplīnā et praeceptīs habēre possent, ut reliquōs cāsūs timērent: illum Ītaliā expulsum āmissā Siciliā et Sardiniā duābusque Hispāniīs et cohortibus in Ītaliā atque Hispāniā cīvium Rōmānōrum c atque xxx;

Losses great enough had been suffered on both sides, which they could take as lessons and warnings to fear what remained: Pompey had been driven from Italy and had lost Sicily and Sardinia and the two Spains and a hundred and thirty cohorts of Roman citizens in Italy and Spain;

Note. satis … magna … incommoda: 'losses great enough'. quae prō disciplīnā et praeceptīs habēre possent: 'which they could treat as lessons and warnings'. illum: Pompey. duābus Hispāniīs: Nearer and Further Spain. c atque xxx: centum atque trīgintā, 'a hundred and thirty'.

BC 3.10.5sē morte Cūriōnis et dētrīmentō Āfricānī exercitūs et Antōnī mīlitumque dēditiōne ad Curictam.

he himself by the death of Curio and the loss of the army in Africa, and by the surrender of Antonius and his soldiers at Curicta.

Note. sē: Caesar, the subject of an understood verb ('had suffered losses'). Curio was killed in Africa in 49 BC (Book 2); C. Antonius surrendered at Curicta.

BC 3.10.6proinde sibi ac reī pūblicae parcerent, cum quantum in bellō fortūna posset, iam ipsī incommodīs suīs satis essent documentō.

So they should spare themselves and the state, since they themselves by their own losses were proof enough of how much fortune could do in war.

Note. parcerent: indirect command, 'they should spare'. quantum in bellō fortūna posset: indirect question, 'how much fortune could do in war'. documentō: dative of purpose, 'as a proof'.

BC 3.10.7hoc ūnum esse tempus dē pāce agendī, dum sibi uterque cōnfīderet et parēs ambō vidērentur;

This was the one time for discussing peace, while each was confident in himself and both seemed equal;

Note. dē pāce agendī: gerund, 'of negotiating about peace'. dum … cōnfīderet: 'while each was confident'.

BC 3.10.7sī vērō alterī paulum modo tribuisset fortūna, nōn esse ūsūrum condiciōnibus pācis eum, quī superior vidērētur, neque fore aequā parte contentum, quī sē omnia habitūrum cōnfīderet.

but if fortune gave even a little to one of them, the one who seemed the stronger would not accept terms of peace, nor would the one who was confident that he would have everything be content with an equal share.

Note. alterī: dative, 'to one of the two'. ūsūrum: future participle of ūtor, 'would use'. neque fore … contentum: 'nor would he be content'; fore = futūrum esse.

BC 3.10.8condiciōnēs pācis quoniam anteā convenīre nōn potuissent, Rōmae ab senātū et ā populō petī dēbēre.

Since they had not been able to agree on terms of peace before, these should be sought at Rome from the senate and the people.

Note. Rōmae: locative, 'at Rome'. petī dēbēre: 'ought to be sought'.

BC 3.10.9intereā et reī pūblicae et ipsīs placēre oportēre, sī uterque in cōntiōne statim iūrāvisset sē trīduō proximō exercitum dīmissūrum.

Meanwhile it ought to satisfy the state and themselves if each swore at once before an assembly that he would disband his army within the next three days.

Note. placēre oportēre: 'it ought to satisfy'. trīduō proximō: ablative of time within which, 'within the next three days'. dīmissūrum: future infinitive with esse understood.

BC 3.10.10dēpositīs armīs auxiliīsque, quibus nunc cōnfīderent, necessāriō populī senātūsque iūdiciō fore utrumque contentum.

When arms and the auxiliaries in which they now trusted were laid down, each would of necessity be content with the judgment of the people and senate.

Note. dēpositīs armīs auxiliīsque: ablative absolute. necessāriō: adverb, 'of necessity'.

BC 3.10.11haec quō facilius Pompēiō probārī possent, omnīs suās terrestrīs cōpiās dīmissūrum.

So that Pompey might approve these terms more easily, he [Caesar] would disband all his land forces.

Note. quō facilius … possent: purpose clause with a comparative. dīmissūrum: Caesar promises to disband his own land forces first.