De Bello Civili 3.103

BC 3.103.1Quibus cognitīs rēbus Pompēius dēpositō adeundae Syriae cōnsiliō pecūniā societātibus sublātā et ā quibusdam prīvātīs sūmptā et aeris magnō pondere ad mīlitārem ūsum in nāvēs impositō duōbusque mīlibus hominum armātīs, partim quōs ex familiīs societātum dēlēgerat, partim ā negōtiātōribus coēgerat, quōsque ex suīs quisque ad hanc rem idōneōs exīstimābat, Pēlūsium pervēnit.

When Pompey learned this, he gave up his plan of going to Syria, took money from the tax companies and borrowed some from certain private individuals, put a great weight of bronze coin on board for military use, armed two thousand men, some of whom he had picked from the slaves of the tax companies, some collected from the merchants, and others whom each of his followers thought suitable for this purpose, and reached Pelusium.

Note. A long sentence built on ablative absolutes before the main verb pervēnit: dēpositō … cōnsiliō, pecūniā … sublātā et … sūmptā, aeris … impositō, duōbusque mīlibus hominum armātīs. societātibus: the tax-farming companies of Roman businessmen in the East. aeris: bronze coin. ex familiīs societātum: 'from the slave households of the companies'. Pēlūsium: a fortress at the eastern mouth of the Nile.

BC 3.103.2ibi cāsū rēx erat Ptolomaeus, puer aetāte, magnīs cōpiīs cum sorōre Cleopatrā bellum gerēns, quam paucīs ante mēnsibus per suōs propinquōs atque amīcōs regnō expulerat;

There by chance was King Ptolemy, a boy in age, waging war with large forces against his sister Cleopatra, whom he had driven from the throne a few months before with the help of his relatives and friends;

Note. Ptolemy XIII was about thirteen; Cleopatra VII, his sister and joint ruler, was about twenty-one. Caesar spells the name Ptolomaeus. gerēns: present participle. quam … expulerat: the relative refers to Cleopatra.

BC 3.103.2castraque Cleopatrae nōn longō spatiō ab eius castrīs distābant.

and Cleopatra's camp was not far away from his camp.

Note. nōn longō spatiō: ablative of degree of difference, 'by no great distance'. eius: the king's.

BC 3.103.3ad eum Pompēius mīsit, ut prō hospitiō atque amīcitiā patris Alexandrīā reciperētur atque illīus opibus in calamitāte tegerētur.

Pompey sent to him, asking to be received in Alexandria for the sake of his guest-friendship and friendship with the boy's father, and to be protected in his misfortune by the king's resources.

Note. prō hospitiō atque amīcitiā patris: Pompey had helped restore the king's father, Ptolemy XII, to his throne. ut … reciperētur … tegerētur: indirect command, what Pompey's messengers asked for. illīus opibus: 'by his resources'.

BC 3.103.4sed quī ab eō missī erant, cōnfectō lēgātiōnis officiō līberius cum mīlitibus rēgis colloquī coepērunt eōsque hortārī, ut suum officium Pompēiō praestārent nēve eius fortūnam dēspicerent.

But those whom he had sent, after carrying out the duty of their embassy, began to talk rather freely with the king's soldiers and to urge them to do their duty by Pompey and not to despise his fortune.

Note. cōnfectō … officiō: ablative absolute. līberius: comparative adverb, 'rather freely'. ut … praestārent nēve … dēspicerent: indirect command; nēve, 'and not'.

BC 3.103.5in hōc erant numerō complūrēs Pompēī mīlitēs, quōs ex eius exercitū acceptōs in Syriā Gabīnius Alexandrīam trādūxerat bellōque cōnfectō apud Ptolomaeum, patrem puerī, relīquerat.

Among these were many of Pompey's soldiers, whom Gabinius had taken over from his army in Syria and brought across to Alexandria, and at the end of the war had left with Ptolemy, the boy's father.

Note. Aulus Gabinius, governor of Syria, had restored Ptolemy XII to the throne in 55 BC and left a Roman force in Egypt (the 'Gabinians'). acceptōs … trādūxerat: Gabinius had taken them over from Pompey's army.