De Bello Civili 3.36

BC 3.36.1Eōdemque tempore Domitius in Macedoniam vēnit;

At the same time Domitius came into Macedonia;

Note. Eōdem … tempore: ablative of time when.

BC 3.36.1et cum ad eum frequentēs cīvitātium lēgātiōnēs convenīre coepissent, nūntiātum est adesse Scīpiōnem cum legiōnibus, magnā opīniōne et fāmā omnium;

and when frequent embassies from the cities had begun to gather to him, news came that Scipio was approaching with his legions, with a great reputation and fame among everyone;

Note. nūntiātum est: impersonal, 'it was reported', followed by indirect statement adesse Scīpiōnem. magnā opīniōne et fāmā omnium: ablative of attendant circumstances, 'with great expectations among everyone'.

BC 3.36.2nam plērumque in fāmā antecēdit.

for rumour usually runs ahead.

Note. A proverb-like comment: fāma (rumour) usually travels faster than the man himself.

BC 3.36.2hic nūllō in locō Macedoniae morātus magnō impetū tetendit ad Domitium, et cum ab eō mīlia passuum xx āfuisset, subitō sē ad Cassium Longīnum in Thessaliam convertit.

Scipio, delaying nowhere in Macedonia, made for Domitius with a great rush, and when he was twenty miles away from him, suddenly turned towards Cassius Longinus in Thessaly.

Note. hic: Scipio. mīlia passuum xx: 'twenty miles' (accusative of extent). āfuisset: pluperfect subjunctive of absum after cum.

BC 3.36.3hoc adeō celeriter fēcit ut simul adesse et venīre nūntiārētur, et quō iter expedītius faceret, M. Favōnium ad flūmen Haliacmonem, quod Macedoniam ā Thessaliā dīvidit, cum cohortibus viii praesidiō impedīmentīs legiōnum relīquit castellumque ibi mūnīrī iussit.

He did this so quickly that he was reported to be arriving and to be already there at the same moment, and to make his march easier he left Marcus Favonius with eight cohorts at the river Haliacmon, which divides Macedonia from Thessaly, as a guard for the legions' baggage, and ordered a fort to be built there.

Note. ut simul adesse et venīre nūntiārētur: result clause, 'that he was reported to be both arriving and already there at the same time'. quō … expedītius: purpose with comparative. praesidiō impedīmentīs: double dative, 'as a guard for the baggage'.

BC 3.36.4eōdem tempore equitātus rēgis Cotī ad castra Cassī advolāvit, quī circum Thessaliam esse cōnsuēverat.

At the same time the cavalry of King Cotus, which usually stayed around Thessaly, swooped on Cassius' camp.

Note. Cotus (Cotys) was king of the Odrysian Thracians, an ally of Pompey; his son Sadala commanded the Thracian cavalry. advolāvit: 'flew to', 'swooped'.

BC 3.36.5tum timōre perterritus Cassius cognitō Scīpiōnis adventū vīsīsque equitibus, quōs Scīpiōnis esse arbitrābātur, ad montēs sē convertit, quī Thessaliam cingunt, atque ex hīs locīs Ambraciam versus iter facere coepit.

Then Cassius, terrified, on learning of Scipio's approach and seeing the cavalry, which he thought were Scipio's, turned towards the mountains that ring Thessaly and from there began to march towards Ambracia.

Note. quōs Scīpiōnis esse arbitrābātur: 'which he thought were Scipio's' (predicative genitive). Ambraciam versus: versus after the noun, 'towards Ambracia'.

BC 3.36.6at Scīpiōnem properantem sequī litterae sunt cōnsecūtae ā M. Favōniō, Domitium cum legiōnibus adesse, neque sē praesidium, ubi cōnstitūtus esset, sine auxiliō Scīpiōnis tenēre posse.

But as Scipio was hurrying in pursuit, a letter from Marcus Favonius overtook him: Domitius was at hand with his legions, and he could not hold the post where he had been stationed without Scipio's help.

Note. Favonius' letter in indirect speech: Domitium … adesse, … sē … tenēre posse. ubi cōnstitūtus esset: subjunctive in a subordinate clause of indirect speech.

BC 3.36.7quibus litterīs acceptīs cōnsilium Scīpiō iterque commūtat;

On receiving this letter, Scipio changed his plan and his route;

Note. cōnsilium … iter que commūtat: one verb with two objects.

BC 3.36.7Cassium sequī dēsistit, Favōniō auxilium ferre contendit.

he stopped pursuing Cassius and hurried to bring help to Favonius.

Note. Two short main clauses side by side without a connective (asyndeton), matching the sudden change of plan.

BC 3.36.8itaque diē ac nocte continuātō itinere ad eum pervēnit, tam opportūnō tempore, ut simul Domitiānī exercitūs pulvis cernerētur et prīmī antecursōrēs Scīpiōnis vidērentur.

And so, marching on day and night without a break, he reached him at so opportune a moment that the dust of Domitius' army was seen and Scipio's first scouts came into view at the same time.

Note. diē ac nocte continuātō itinere: 'marching on without a break day and night'. ut simul … cernerētur et … vidērentur: result clause; both armies arrive at the same moment.

BC 3.36.8ita Cassiō industria Domitī, Favōniō Scīpiōnis celeritās salūtem adtulit.

Thus Domitius' energy saved Cassius, and Scipio's speed saved Favonius.

Note. A neatly balanced sentence (chiasmus): Cassiō industria Domitī, Favōniō Scīpiōnis celeritās.