De Bello Civili 3.29

BC 3.29.1Quō factō conventus cīvium Rōmānōrum, quī Lissum obtinēbant, quod oppidum iīs anteā Caesar attribuerat mūniendumque cūrāverat, Antōnium recēpit omnibusque rēbus iūvit.

When this had been done, the association of Roman citizens who held Lissus, a town which Caesar had earlier assigned to them and had seen fortified, received Antony and helped him in every way.

Note. Winter 48 BC: Mark Antony has finally brought Caesar's second wave of troops across the Adriatic and landed at Lissus, north of Pompey's base at Dyrrachium. Quō factō: 'when this had been done' (a relative linking the sentence to the last). conventus cīvium Rōmānōrum: the formal association of Roman citizens living in a provincial town. muniendum … cūrāverat: gerundive with cūrō, 'had seen to its fortification'.

BC 3.29.1Otacilius sibi timēns oppidō fūgit et ad Pompēium pervēnit.

Otacilius, fearing for himself, fled from the town and reached Pompey.

Note. sibi timēns: 'fearing for himself' (dative of the person concerned). Otacilius was Pompey's commander at Lissus. oppidō: ablative of separation with fugit, 'fled from the town'.

BC 3.29.2expositīs omnibus cōpiīs Antōnius, quārum erat summa veterānārum trium legiōnum ūnīusque tīrōnum et equitum dccc, plērāsque nāvēs in Ītaliam remittit ad reliquōs mīlitēs equitēsque trānsportandōs, pontōnēs, quod est genus nāvium Gallicārum, Lissī relinquit, hōc cōnsiliō, ut sī forte Pompēius vacuam exīstimāns Ītaliam eō trāiēcisset exercitum, quae opīniō erat ēdita in vulgus, aliquam Caesar ad īnsequendum facultātem habēret, nūntiōsque ad eum celeriter mittit, quibus regiōnibus exercitum exposuisset et quid mīlitum trānsvexisset.

When all his forces had been landed (their total was three veteran legions and one of recruits, and 800 cavalry), Antony sent most of his ships back to Italy to bring over the rest of the infantry and cavalry, and left the pontoons, a kind of Gallic ship, at Lissus, with this plan: that if by chance Pompey, thinking Italy empty, should take his army across there (a belief that had spread among the people), Caesar might have some means of following him; and he quickly sent messengers to Caesar to say in what region he had landed his army and how many soldiers he had brought over.

Note. A long Caesarian period: ablative absolute (expositīs … cōpiīs), main verbs remittit, relinquit, mittit. quārum erat summa: 'of which the total was'. dccc = 800. ad … trānsportandōs: gerundive of purpose. hōc cōnsiliō, ut: 'with this plan, that'. Lissī: locative. quibus regiōnibus … exposuisset, quid mīlitum trānsvexisset: indirect questions after the idea of reporting in nūntiōs mittit.