De Bello Civili 3.18

BC 3.18.1Bibulus multōs diēs terrā prohibitus et graviōre morbō ex frīgore ac labōre inplicitus, cum neque cūrārī posset neque susceptum officium dēserere vellet, vim morbī sustinēre nōn potuit.

Bibulus, kept from the land for many days and struck down by a rather serious illness brought on by cold and toil, since he could neither be given treatment nor was willing to abandon the duty he had undertaken, could not withstand the force of the disease.

Note. Bibulus died in early 48 B.C., still blockading. graviōre morbō … implicitus: 'caught up in a rather serious illness'. cum neque cūrārī posset neque … vellet: causal cum.

BC 3.18.2eō mortuō ad nēminem ūnum summa imperiī redit, sed sēparātim suam quisque classem ad arbitrium suum administrābat.

After his death the supreme command did not pass to any one man, but each man commanded his own fleet separately, at his own discretion.

Note. ad nēminem ūnum: 'to no single man'. suam quisque classem: 'each man his own fleet'; quisque is often placed after a possessive.

BC 3.18.3Vibullius sēdātō tumultū, quem repentīnus Caesaris adventus concitāverat, ubi prīmum, adhibitō Libōne et L. Lucceiō et Theophane, quibuscum commūnicāre dē maximīs rēbus Pompēius cōnsuēverat, dē mandātīs Caesaris agere īnstituit.

Vibullius, once the commotion that Caesar's sudden arrival had caused had died down, called in Libo and Lucius Lucceius and Theophanes, with whom Pompey had been accustomed to discuss the most important matters, and began to deal with Caesar's message.

Note. Vibullius had been captured by Caesar twice and sent to Pompey with peace terms. ubi prīmum: 'as soon as'. adhibitō Libōne …: ablative absolute, 'having called in Libo …'. Theophanes of Mytilene was Pompey's Greek historian and friend. quibuscum = cum quibus.

BC 3.18.4quem ingressum in sermōnem Pompēius interpellāvit et loquī plūra prohibuit.

As he began to speak, Pompey interrupted him and forbade him to say more.

Note. ingressum in sermōnem: 'having begun to speak'; ingressum agrees with quem (Vibullius).

BC 3.18.4"quid mihi," inquit "aut vītā aut cīvitāte opus est, quam beneficiō Caesaris habēre vidēbor?

'What need have I,' he said, 'of life or of citizenship, which I shall be seen to hold by Caesar's favour?

Note. Pompey's only direct speech in the work. quid mihi … opus est: 'what need have I of …', with ablatives vītā and cīvitāte. quam … habēre vidēbor: the relative refers to cīvitāte, 'which I shall be seen to hold by Caesar's favour'.

BC 3.18.4cuius reī opīniō tollī nōn poterit, cum in Ītaliam, ex quā profectus sum reductus exīstimābor."

This belief can never be removed, when I am thought to have been brought back to Italy, which I left.'

Note. cuius reī opīniō: 'the belief in this'. cum … reductus exīstimābor: 'when I shall be thought to have been brought back to Italy'; Pompey cannot accept owing his return to Caesar.

BC 3.18.5bellō perfectō ab iīs Caesar haec facta cognōvit, quī sermōnī interfuērunt.

Caesar learned that these things had been said, once the war was over, from those who were present at the conversation.

Note. bellō perfectō: ablative absolute, 'when the war was over'. Caesar explains how he knows what was said in Pompey's council.

BC 3.18.5cōnātus tamen nihilōminus est aliīs ratiōnibus per colloquia dē pāce agere.

Nevertheless he tried by other means to negotiate about peace through conferences.

Note. cōnātus … est: perfect of the deponent cōnor. aliīs ratiōnibus: 'by other means'.