De Bello Civili 3.45

BC 3.45.1In occupandīs praesidiīs magnā vī uterque nītēbātur: Caesar, ut quam angustissimē Pompēium continēret, Pompēius, ut quam plūrimōs collēs quam maximō circuitū occupāret;

Both sides strained with great force to seize positions: Caesar, to hem Pompey in as tightly as possible, Pompey, to occupy as many hills as he could in as wide a circuit as possible;

Note. In occupandīs praesidiīs: gerundive phrase, 'in seizing positions'. uterque nītēbātur: 'each strove'. The two ut-clauses state Caesar's and Pompey's purposes.

BC 3.45.1crēbraque ob eam causam proelia fīēbant.

and for this reason there were frequent battles.

Note. crēbra … proelia: 'frequent battles'. ob eam causam: 'for that reason'.

BC 3.45.2in hīs cum legiō Caesaris nōna praesidium quoddam occupāvisset et mūnīre coepisset, huic locō propinquum et contrārium collem Pompēius occupāvit nostrōsque opere prohibēre coepit, et cum ūnā ex parte prope aequum aditum habēret, prīmum sagittāriīs funditōribusque circumiectīs, posteā levis armātūrae magnā multitūdine missā tormentīsque prōlātīs mūnītiōnēs impediēbat.

In one of these, when Caesar's ninth legion had taken a certain position and begun to fortify it, Pompey occupied a hill near this place and facing it, and began to hinder our men's work; and since on one side it had an almost level approach, he first surrounded them with archers and slingers, then sent a great number of light-armed troops, brought up his artillery, and so held up the fortifications.

Note. in hīs: 'among these (battles)'. A long sentence: legiō … nōna (the ninth legion) occupies a position; Pompey takes a hill facing it (huic locō propinquum et contrārium collem). levis armātūrae: genitive of description, 'of light armour', i.e. light-armed troops.

BC 3.45.3neque erat facile nostrīs ūnō tempore prōpugnāre et mūnīre.

It was not easy for our men to defend themselves and build at the same time.

Note. neque erat facile … prōpugnāre et mūnīre: the infinitives are the subject: 'it was not easy to fight off attacks and build at the same time'.

BC 3.45.4Caesar cum suōs ex omnibus partibus vulnerārī vidēret, recipere sē iussit et locō excēdere.

When Caesar saw that his men were being wounded on every side, he ordered them to withdraw and leave the position.

Note. suōs … vulnerārī: indirect statement after vidēret. recipere sē: 'to withdraw' (literally 'to take themselves back').

BC 3.45.5erat per dēclīve receptus.

The way back was down a slope.

Note. erat per dēclīve receptus: 'the withdrawal was down a slope', which made it dangerous with the enemy above.

BC 3.45.5illī autem hōc ācrius īnstābant neque regredī nostrōs patiēbantur, quod timōre adductī locum relinquere vidēbantur.

But the enemy pressed on all the more fiercely and would not let our men retreat, because they seemed to be abandoning the position out of fear.

Note. hōc ācrius: 'all the more fiercely' (hōc, ablative of degree of difference). quod … vidēbantur: Caesar's men seemed to be leaving out of fear.

BC 3.45.6dīcitur eō tempore glōriāns apud suōs Pompēius dīxisse, nōn recūsāre sē, quīn nūllīus ūsūs imperātor exīstimārētur, sī sine maximō dētrīmentō legiōnēs Caesaris sēsē recēpissent inde, quō temerē essent prōgressae.

Pompey is said to have boasted among his men at that time that he would not object to being thought a general of no experience at all if Caesar's legions got back without very heavy losses from the place to which they had rashly advanced.

Note. Pompey's boast is reported: nōn recūsāre sē quīn … exīstimārētur, 'that he did not refuse to be considered', i.e. 'he would gladly be thought a general of no experience if …'. nūllīus ūsūs: genitive of description. The joke is that he was sure they could not escape without heavy losses.