De Bello Civili 3.23

BC 3.23.1Libō profectus ab Ōricō cum classe cui praeerat nāvium l Brundisium vēnit īnsulamque quae contrā portum Brundisīnum est occupāvit, quod praestāre arbitrābātur ūnum locum, quā necessārius nostrīs erat ēgressus, quam omnia lītora ac portūs custōdiā clausōs tuērī.

Libo set out from Oricum with the fleet of fifty ships that he commanded, came to Brundisium and seized the island that lies opposite the harbour of Brundisium, because he thought it better to guard one place, through which our men had to come out, than to keep watch over all the shores and harbours closed off by patrols.

Note. Libo is Pompey's admiral. nāvium l: '50 ships'. praestāre: 'that it was better', impersonal, followed by an infinitive (tuērī) and quam. quā … erat ēgressus: 'where our men had to come out'.

BC 3.23.2hic repentīnō adventū nāvēs onerāriās quāsdam nactus incendit et ūnam frūmentō onustam abdūxit magnumque nostrīs terrōrem iniēcit, et noctū mīlitibus ac sagittāriīs in terrā expositīs praesidium equitum dēiēcit et adeō locī opportūnitāte prōfēcit, utī ad Pompēium litterās mitteret, nāvēs reliquās, sī vellet, subdūcī et reficī iubēret;

Here, by his sudden arrival, he caught some transport ships and burned them, carried off one loaded with grain and struck great fear into our men; and at night, landing soldiers and archers, he drove off a cavalry outpost and gained so much from the advantage of the place that he sent a letter to Pompey telling him to have the rest of the ships hauled ashore and refitted, if he wished:

Note. hīc: 'he', i.e. Libo. repentīnō adventū: 'by his sudden arrival'. uti ad Pompeium litterās mitteret: result clause after adeō. nāvēs reliquās … subdūcī et reficī iubēret: Libo boasts that Pompey can haul his other ships ashore, since he alone will hold the strait.

BC 3.23.2suā classe auxilia sēsē Caesaris prohibitūrum.

with his own fleet, he said, he would keep Caesar's reinforcements away.

Note. Indirect statement continuing Libo's letter: sēsē … prohibitūrum (esse).