De Bello Civili 3.20

BC 3.20.1Īsdem temporibus M. Caelius Rūfus praetor causā dēbitōrum susceptā initiō magistrātūs tribūnal suum iūxtā C. Trebōnī, praetōris urbānī, sellam collocāvit, et sīquis appellāvisset dē aestimātiōne et dē solūtiōnibus, quae per arbitrum fierent, ut Caesar praesēns cōnstituerat, fore auxiliō pollicēbātur.

At the same time Marcus Caelius Rufus, praetor, took up the cause of the debtors and, at the start of his magistracy, set up his tribunal next to the chair of Gaius Trebonius, the urban praetor, and promised that he would give help if anyone appealed about the valuation of property and the payments that were being made through an arbitrator, as Caesar had arranged when he was present.

Note. The scene moves to Rome in 48 B.C. Marcus Caelius Rufus, a young politician and Cicero's friend, had joined Caesar but was now disappointed. causā dēbitōrum susceptā: ablative absolute, 'having taken up the cause of the debtors'. Caesar had arranged that debts be paid by handing over property at pre-war values, set by arbitrators. sīquis appellāvisset: 'if anyone appealed'. fore auxiliō: double dative, 'that he would be of help'.

BC 3.20.2sed fīēbat aequitāte dēcrētī et hūmānitāte Trebōnī, quī hīs temporibus clēmenter et moderātē iūs dīcendum exīstimābat, ut reperīrī nōn possent, ā quibus initium appellandī nāscerētur.

But because of the fairness of the decree and the humanity of Trebonius, who thought that in these times justice should be administered mildly and with restraint, it turned out that no one could be found to make a start by appealing.

Note. fīēbat … ut reperīrī nōn possent: 'it came about that people could not be found'. initium appellandī: 'the start of appealing'.

BC 3.20.3nam fortasse inopiam excūsāre et calamitātem aut propriam suam aut temporum querī et difficultātēs auctiōnandī prōpōnere etiam mediocris est animī;

For it is perhaps the mark of even an ordinary spirit to plead poverty and to complain of one's own misfortune or that of the times, and to point out the difficulties of selling at auction;

Note. Caesar comments on the debtors. mediocris est animī: genitive of characteristic, 'it is the mark of an ordinary spirit'. auctiōnandī: 'of selling at auction'.

BC 3.20.3integrās vērō tenēre possessiōnēs, quī sē dēbēre fateantur, cuius animī aut cuius impudentiae est?

but to keep one's property intact while admitting that one is in debt: what kind of spirit, what shamelessness is that?

Note. integrās … tenēre possessiōnēs: the subject of est. cuius animī aut cuius impudentiae est: 'of what spirit, of what shamelessness is it?', a rhetorical question.

BC 3.20.4itaque, hoc quī postulāret, reperiēbātur nēmō.

So no one was found to demand this.

Note. hoc quī postulāret: relative clause of characteristic, 'one who would demand this'.

BC 3.20.4atque ipsīs, ad quōrum commodum pertinēbat, dūrior inventus est Caelius.

And Caelius proved harsher than the very people whose interests were at stake.

Note. atque: here 'than', after the comparative dūrior. ipsīs … ad quōrum commodum pertinēbat: 'the very people whose interest it concerned'.

BC 3.20.5et ab hōc profectus initiō, nē frūstrā ingressus turpem causam vidērētur, lēgem prōmulgāvit, ut sexennī diē sine ūsūrīs crēditae pecūniae solvantur.

Starting from this beginning, so as not to seem to have taken up a disgraceful cause for nothing, he proposed a law that borrowed money should be repaid in six years' time without interest.

Note. ab hōc … initiō: 'from this beginning'. nē frūstrā ingressus … vidērētur: 'so as not to seem to have entered … in vain'. sexennī diē: 'in six years' time'. sine ūsūrīs: 'without interest'.