De Bello Civili 3.21

BC 3.21.1Cum resisteret Servīlius cōnsul reliquīque magistrātūs et minus opīniōne suā efficeret, ad hominum excitanda studia sublātā priōre lēge duās prōmulgāvit, ūnam, quā mercēdēs habitātiōnum annuās conductōribus dōnāvit, aliam tabulārum novārum, impetūque multitūdinis in C. Trebōnium factō et nōnnūllīs vulnerātīs eum dē tribūnālī dēturbāvit.

When the consul Servilius and the other magistrates resisted, and he achieved less than he had expected, he withdrew his first law and, to stir up men's enthusiasm, proposed two others: one by which he granted tenants a year's rent, the other for the cancellation of debts; and after the crowd had attacked Gaius Trebonius and several people had been wounded, he drove him from his tribunal.

Note. Servīlius cōnsul: Publius Servilius Isauricus, Caesar's colleague as consul in 48. minus opīniōne suā: 'less than his expectation'. mercēdēs habitātiōnum annuās: 'a year's rent of dwellings'. tabulārum novārum: '(a law) of new account books', i.e. cancellation of debts.

BC 3.21.3dē quibus rēbus Servīlius cōnsul ad senātum rettulit, senātusque Caelium ab rē pūblicā removendum cēnsuit.

The consul Servilius reported these events to the senate, and the senate decreed that Caelius should be removed from public office.

Note. ab rē pūblicā remōvendum: 'that he should be removed from public office', gerundive of obligation.

BC 3.21.3hōc dēcrētō eum cōnsul senātū prohibuit et cōntiōnārī cōnantem dē rōstrīs dēdūxit.

By this decree the consul barred him from the senate and dragged him from the rostra when he tried to address the people.

Note. hōc dēcrētō: 'by this decree'. dē rōstrīs: the speakers' platform in the Forum.

BC 3.21.4ille ignōminiā et dolōre permōtus palam sē proficīscī ad Caesarem simulāvit;

Stung by the disgrace and by resentment, he pretended openly that he was setting out to join Caesar;

Note. ignōminiā et dolōre permōtus: 'stung by the disgrace and resentment'. simulāvit: 'pretended'.

BC 3.21.4clam nūntiīs ad Milōnem missīs, quī Clōdiō interfectō eō nōmine erat damnātus, atque eō in Ītaliam ēvocātō, quod magnīs mūneribus datīs gladiātōriae familiae reliquiās habēbat, sibi coniūnxit atque eum in Thūrīnum ad sollicitandōs pāstōrēs praemīsit.

secretly he sent messengers to Milo, who had been condemned for killing Clodius, and called him back to Italy, because Milo had the remnants of the gladiator troupe left over from the great shows he had given; he joined him to himself and sent him ahead into the territory of Thurii to stir up the herdsmen.

Note. Milo had been condemned in 52 for the killing of Clodius and lived in exile at Massilia. quod … reliquiās habēbat: Milo still had the remnants of the gladiator troupe from the games he had given. in Thūrīnum: '(the territory) of Thurii'.

BC 3.21.5ipse cum Casilīnum vēnisset ūnōque tempore signa eius mīlitāria atque arma Capuae essent comprēnsa et familia Neāpolī vīsa quae prōditiōnem oppidī apparāret, patefactīs cōnsiliīs exclūsus Capuā et perīculum veritus, quod conventus arma cēperat atque eum hostis locō habendum exīstimābat, cōnsiliō dēstitit atque eō itinere sēsē āvertit.

He himself had reached Casilinum, when at the same moment his military standards and weapons were seized at Capua, and his band of followers was discovered at Neapolis preparing to betray the town; his plans exposed and shut out of Capua, and fearing danger because the community of Roman citizens there had taken up arms and thought he should be treated as an enemy, he gave up his plan and turned aside from that route.

Note. ūnōque tempore: 'and at one and the same time'. Capuae and Neāpolī: locatives, 'at Capua', 'at Naples'. familia: here 'a band' (of gladiators or slaves). conventus: the association of Roman citizens living in Capua. hostis locō habendum: 'that he should be treated as an enemy'.