De Bello Civili 3.43

BC 3.43.1Quibus rēbus cognitīs Caesar cōnsilium capit ex locī nātūrā.

When he learned of this, Caesar formed a plan based on the nature of the ground.

Note. Spring 48 BC near Dyrrachium (modern Durrës, Albania): Pompey is camped by the sea with a larger army, and Caesar decides to wall him in. Quibus rēbus cognitīs: ablative absolute, 'these things having been learned'. ex locī nātūrā: 'in accordance with the nature of the ground'.

BC 3.43.1erant enim circum castra Pompēī permultī ēditī atque asperī collēs.

For around Pompey's camp there were a great many high and rugged hills.

Note. circum castra Pompeī: Pompeī is the genitive of Pompeius (-eī contracted). ēditī: 'raised, high', from ēditus (originally the participle of ēdō, 'put out').

BC 3.43.1hōs prīmum praesidiīs tenuit castellaque ibi commūniit.

These he first occupied with garrisons and fortified forts there.

Note. commūniit: perfect of commūniō, 'fortify strongly', with the -v- dropped (commūnīvit).

BC 3.43.2inde, ut locī cuiusque nātūra ferēbat, ex castellō in castellum perductā mūnītiōne circumvallāre Pompēium īnstituit.

Then, as the nature of each place allowed, he carried a line of fortification from fort to fort and set about walling Pompey in.

Note. ut … ferēbat: 'as the nature of each place allowed'. perductā mūnītiōne: ablative absolute, 'a line of works having been carried through'. circumvallāre: 'to surround with a wall', the technical term for a siege line.

BC 3.43.2haec spectāns, quod angustā rē frūmentāriā ūtēbātur, quodque Pompēius multitūdine equitum valēbat, quō minōre perīculō undique frūmentum commeātumque exercituī supportāre posset, simul utī pābulātiōne Pompēium prohibēret equitātumque eius ad rem gerendam inūtilem efficeret, tertiō ut auctōritātem, quā ille maximē apud exterās nātiōnēs nītī vidēbātur, minueret, cum fāma per orbem terrārum percrēbruisset illum ā Caesare obsidērī neque audēre proeliō dīmicāre.

He had these aims in view: since he was short of grain and Pompey was strong in cavalry, he wanted to be able to bring grain and supplies to his army from every side with less danger; at the same time to keep Pompey from foraging and make his cavalry useless for fighting; and thirdly to lessen the prestige on which Pompey seemed chiefly to rely among foreign nations, once the report had spread through the world that he was being besieged by Caesar and did not dare to fight a battle.

Note. A long sentence giving three aims, marked by quō … posset, simul utī … efficeret, and tertiō ut … minueret. quō minōre perīculō: quō introduces a purpose clause with a comparative, 'so that with less danger'. utī is the old form of ut. cum fāma … percrēbruisset: 'once the report had spread'; the reported statement follows in the infinitives obsidērī and audēre.