De Bello Civili 3.105

BC 3.105.1Caesar cum in Asiam vēnisset, reperiēbat T. Ampium cōnātum esse pecūniās tollere Ephesō ex fānō Diānae eiusque reī causā senātōrēs omnēs ex prōvinciā ēvocāvisse, ut hīs testibus in summam pecūniae ūterētur, sed interpellātum adventū Caesaris profūgisse.

When Caesar had come into Asia, he found that Titus Ampius had tried to remove money from the temple of Diana at Ephesus, and for this purpose had summoned all the senators from the province, to use them as witnesses to the sum of money, but that he had been interrupted by Caesar's arrival and had fled.

Note. Caesar cum … vēnisset: cum with the pluperfect subjunctive, 'when'. reperiēbat … cōnātum esse … ēvocāvisse … profūgisse: three infinitives in indirect statement. Ephesō ex fānō Diānae: 'from the temple of Diana at Ephesus', one of the wonders of the world. hīs testibus: ablative absolute, 'with these as witnesses', so that the confiscation looked legal. interpellātum: 'interrupted'.

BC 3.105.2ita duōbus temporibus Ephesiae pecūniae Caesar auxilium tulit.

So on two occasions Caesar brought help to the money of Ephesus.

Note. duōbus temporibus: an earlier attempt on the same treasure had also been stopped by Caesar's approach.

BC 3.105.3item cōnstābat Ēlide in templō Minervae repetītīs atque ēnumerātīs diēbus, quō diē proelium secundum Caesar fēcisset, simulācrum Victōriae, quod ante ipsam Minervam collocātum esset et ante ad simulācrum Minervae spectāvisset, ad valvās sē templī līmenque convertisse.

It was also established that at Elis, in the temple of Minerva, when the days were reckoned back and counted, on the very day on which Caesar had fought his successful battle the statue of Victory, which had been placed in front of Minerva herself and had previously faced Minerva's statue, had turned towards the doors and threshold of the temple.

Note. Caesar now lists portents of his victory. cōnstābat: 'it was established' (impersonal), followed by the indirect statement simulācrum … sē … convertisse. repetītīs atque ēnumerātīs diēbus: ablative absolute, 'the days being reckoned back and counted'. quō diē: 'on the day on which'.

BC 3.105.4eōdemque diē Antiochīae in Syriā bis tantus exercitūs clāmor et signōrum sonus exaudītus est, ut in mūrīs armāta cīvitās discurreret.

And on the same day at Antioch in Syria twice there was heard such a shout as of an army and such a sound of trumpets that the citizens ran in arms to their posts on the walls.

Note. bis: probably 'twice', though some take it with tantus, 'twice as loud'. exercitūs clāmor: the shout of an army. signōrum sonus: the sound of trumpets (signa here are the military signals). armāta cīvitās: 'the citizens in arms'.

BC 3.105.5hoc idem Ptolomāide accidit.

The same thing happened at Ptolemais.

Note. Ptolomāide: ablative of place, 'at Ptolemais'.

BC 3.105.5Pergamīque in occultīs ac reconditīs templī, quō praeter sacerdōtēs adīre fās nōn est, quae Graecī adyta appellant, tympana sonuērunt.

And at Pergamum, in the hidden and secret parts of the temple, where no one except the priests may go, which the Greeks call adyta, drums sounded.

Note. Pergamī: locative. in occultīs ac reconditīs templī: neuter plural adjectives used as nouns, 'in the hidden and secret parts of the temple'. quō: 'where' (to which). fās nōn est: 'it is not lawful'. adyta: a Greek word, the innermost sanctuary. tympana: drums, used in the worship of Cybele.

BC 3.105.6item Trallibus in templō Victōriae, ubi Caesaris statuam cōnsecrāverant, palma per eōs diēs inter coagmenta lapidum ex pavīmentō exstitisse ostendēbātur.

At Tralles too, in the temple of Victory, where they had dedicated a statue of Caesar, a palm tree was shown to have sprung up during those days from the pavement between the joints of the stones.

Note. Trallibus: ablative of place, 'at Tralles'. palma … exstitisse ostendēbātur: personal passive, 'a palm tree was shown to have sprung up'.