De Bello Civili 3.24

BC 3.24.1Erat eō tempore Antōnius Brundisiī;

Antony was at Brundisium at that time;

Note. Brundisiī: locative, 'at Brundisium'. Mark Antony was in command of Caesar's troops waiting to cross.

BC 3.24.1is virtūte mīlitum cōnfīsus scaphās nāvium magnārum circiter lx crātibus pluteīsque contēxit eōque mīlitēs dēlēctōs inposuit atque eās in lītore plūribus locīs sēparātim disposuit nāvēsque trirēmēs duās, quās Brundisiī faciendās cūrāverat, per causam exercendōrum rēmigum ad faucīs portūs prōdīre iussit.

relying on the courage of his soldiers, he covered about sixty boats from the large ships with hurdles and screens, put picked soldiers on board, and stationed them separately at several places along the shore; and he ordered two triremes, which he had had built at Brundisium, to go out to the mouth of the harbour as if to exercise the rowers.

Note. scaphās nāvium magnārum: the ships' boats of the large ships. crātibus plutēīsque: 'with hurdles and screens', as protection for the men on board. per causam exercendōrum rēmigum: 'on the pretext of exercising the rowers'.

BC 3.24.2hās cum audācius prōgressās Libō vīdisset, spērāns intercipī posse quadrirēmēs V ad eās mīsit.

When Libo saw that these had come out rather boldly, he sent five quadriremes against them, hoping they could be cut off.

Note. audācius: comparative adverb, 'rather boldly'. spērāns interciperī posse: 'hoping (they) could be cut off'. quadrirēmēs: ships with four banks (or files) of oars.

BC 3.24.2quae cum nāvibus nostrīs propinquāssent, nostrī veterānī in portum refugiēbant, illī studiō incitātī incautius sequēbantur.

When these drew near our ships, our veterans began to flee back into the harbour, and the enemy, carried away by eagerness, followed too carelessly.

Note. propinquāssent: contracted pluperfect subjunctive (= propinquāvissent). nostrī veterānī: Antony's men pretend to flee to draw the enemy on.

BC 3.24.3iam ex omnibus partibus subitō Antōniānae scaphae signō datō sē in hostēs incitāvērunt prīmōque impetū ūnam ex hīs quadrirēmem cum rēmigibus dēfēnsōribusque suīs cēpērunt, reliquās turpiter refugere coēgērunt.

Now, at a signal, Antony's boats suddenly rushed against the enemy from every side, at the first charge captured one of the quadriremes with its rowers and marines, and forced the rest to a shameful flight.

Note. Antōniānae scaphae: 'Antony's boats'. cum rēmigibus dēfēnsōribusque suīs: 'with its rowers and marines'. turpiter refugere coēgērunt: 'forced (them) to flee shamefully'.

BC 3.24.4ad hoc dētrīmentum accessit, ut equitibus per ōram maritimam ab Antōniō dispositīs aquārī prohibērentur.

On top of this loss came the fact that, with cavalry posted by Antony along the coast, they were prevented from getting water.

Note. ad hoc dētrīmentum accessit, ut: 'to this loss was added the fact that'. aquārī prohibērentur: 'they were prevented from fetching water'; aquor is deponent.

BC 3.24.4quā necessitāte et ignōminiā permōtus Libō discessit ā Brundisiō obsessiōnemque nostrōrum omīsit.

Moved by this necessity and disgrace, Libo left Brundisium and gave up the blockade of our men.

Note. obsessiōnem: 'the blockade'.