De Bello Civili 3.26

BC 3.26.1Illī adhibitā audāciā et virtūte administrantibus M. Antōniō et Fūfiō Calēnō, multum ipsīs mīlitibus hortantibus neque ūllum perīculum prō salūte Caesaris recūsantibus, nactī austrum nāvēs solvunt atque alterō diē Apollōniam Dyrrachiumque praetervehuntur.

Showing boldness and courage, under the direction of Mark Antony and Fufius Calenus, with the soldiers themselves urging them on strongly and refusing no danger for Caesar's safety, they found a south wind, set sail, and on the next day sailed past Apollonia and Dyrrachium.

Note. Illī: Caesar's men at Brundisium. adhibitā audāciā et virtūte: ablative absolute. administrantibus M. Antōniō et Fūfiō Calēnō: ablative absolute, 'with Antony and Calenus in charge'. multum: adverb, 'greatly'. nactī austrum: 'having found a south wind'. altero diē: 'on the next day'.

BC 3.26.2quī cum essent ex continentī vīsī, Copōnius, quī Dyrrachiī classī Rhodiae praeerat, nāvēs ex portū ēdūcit, et cum iam nostrīs remissiōre ventō adpropinquāsset, īdem auster incrēbruit nostrīsque praesidiō fuit.

When they had been seen from the mainland, Coponius, who commanded the Rhodian fleet at Dyrrachium, led his ships out of the harbour, and when, as the wind dropped, he had already drawn near our men, the same south wind grew stronger again and came to our men's rescue.

Note. quī cum essent … vīsī: 'when they had been seen'. Coponius commanded the Rhodian ships in Pompey's service. remissiōre ventō: ablative absolute, 'as the wind slackened'. idem auster: 'the same south wind'. nostrīs praesidiō fuit: double dative, 'was a protection to our men'.

BC 3.26.3neque vērō ille ob eam causam cōnātū dēsistēbat, sed labōre et persevērantiā nautārum et vim tempestātis superārī posse spērābat praetervectōsque Dyrrachium magnā vī ventī nihilō sētius sequēbātur.

But he did not give up his attempt on that account; he hoped that the effort and perseverance of his sailors could overcome even the force of the storm, and he kept following them none the less, even after they had been carried past Dyrrachium by the great force of the wind.

Note. labōre et persevērantiā nautārum: 'by the effort and persistence of his sailors'. nihilō sētius: 'none the less'. praetervectōs: from the deponent praetervehor, 'carried past'.

BC 3.26.4nostrī ūsī fortūnae beneficiō tamen impetum classis timēbant, sī forte ventus remīsisset.

Our men, though they had enjoyed the favour of fortune, still feared an attack by the fleet in case the wind should happen to drop.

Note. ūsī fortūnae beneficiō: 'having enjoyed the favour of fortune'. sī forte: 'in case'.

BC 3.26.4nactī portum, quī appellātur Nymphaeum, ultrā Lissum mīlia passuum iii, eō nāvēs intrōdūxērunt— quī portus ab Āfricō tegēbātur, ab austrō nōn erat tūtus— leviusque tempestātis quam classis perīculum aestimāvērunt.

Reaching a harbour called Nymphaeum, three miles beyond Lissus, they brought their ships into it (this harbour was sheltered from the south-west wind but not safe from the south wind), and they judged the danger from the storm less serious than that from the fleet.

Note. Nymphaeum: a harbour on the coast of Illyricum north of Dyrrachium. mīlia passuum iii: 'three miles'. ab Āfricō tegēbātur: 'was sheltered from the south-west wind'. levius … perīculum aestimāvērunt: 'they judged the danger of the storm lighter than that of the fleet'.

BC 3.26.5quō simulatque intrō est itum, incrēdibilī fēlīcitāte auster, quī per bīduum flāverat, in Āfricum sē vertit.

As soon as they had gone in, by an incredible stroke of luck the south wind, which had blown for two days, changed to the south-west.

Note. simulatque: 'as soon as'. intrō est itum: impersonal passive of eō, 'it was gone inside', i.e. they entered. per bīduum: 'for two days'. in Āfricum sē vertit: the wind swung to the south-west, so that the harbour was now sheltered.