De Bello Civili 3.47

BC 3.47.1Erat nova et inūsitāta bellī ratiō cum tot castellōrum numerō tantōque spatiō et tantīs mūnītiōnibus et tōtō obsidiōnis genere, tum etiam reliquīs rēbus.

This was a new and unusual way of making war, both in the number of forts, the size of the area, the scale of the works and the whole manner of the siege, and in every other respect.

Note. cum … tum: 'both … and', or 'not only … but also'. tot castellōrum numerō: 'in the number of so many forts'.

BC 3.47.2nam quīcumque alterum obsidēre cōnātī sunt, perculsōs atque īnfirmōs hostēs adortī aut proeliō superātōs aut aliquā offēnsiōne permōtōs continuērunt, cum ipsī numerō equitum mīlitumque praestārent;

For whenever men have tried to besiege others, they have attacked enemies who were shaken and weak, beaten in battle or upset by some setback, and have kept them shut in while they themselves were stronger in cavalry and infantry;

Note. quīcumque … cōnātī sunt: 'whoever have tried'. The point: sieges are normally laid by the stronger side against a beaten enemy; here it was the reverse.

BC 3.47.2causa autem obsidiōnis haec ferē esse cōnsuēvit, ut frūmentō hostēs prohibērent.

and the purpose of a siege has usually been this, to cut the enemy off from grain.

Note. cōnsuēvit: perfect of cōnsuēscō with present meaning, 'has been accustomed, usually is'. frūmentō prohibērent: prohibeō with the ablative of separation, 'to keep from grain'.

BC 3.47.3at tum integrās atque incolumēs cōpiās Caesar īnferiōre mīlitum numerō continēbat, cum illī omnium rērum cōpiā abundārent;

But now Caesar, with a smaller number of soldiers, was hemming in forces that were fresh and unharmed, while they had plenty of everything;

Note. integrās atque incolumēs: 'fresh and unharmed'. īnferiōre mīlitum numerō: 'with a smaller number of soldiers'. cum illī … abundārent: cum with the subjunctive, 'while they had plenty'.

BC 3.47.3cōtīdiē enim magnus undique nāvium numerus conveniēbat, quae commeātum supportārent, neque ūllus flāre ventus poterat quīn aliquā ex parte secundum cursum habērent.

for every day a great number of ships gathered from all quarters to bring them supplies, and no wind could blow without their having a favourable course from some direction.

Note. quae commeātum supportārent: relative clause of purpose. neque ūllus … quīn: 'no wind could blow without (their) having a favourable course from some direction', because Pompey's ships came from many coasts.

BC 3.47.4ipse autem cōnsūmptīs omnibus longē lātēque frūmentīs summīs erat in angustiīs.

Caesar himself, however, after all the grain far and wide had been used up, was in the greatest difficulties.

Note. cōnsūmptīs omnibus … frūmentīs: ablative absolute. summīs … in angustiīs: 'in the greatest difficulties'.

BC 3.47.5sed tamen haec singulārī patientiā mīlitēs ferēbant.

But the soldiers bore this with remarkable endurance.

Note. singulārī patientiā: ablative of manner, 'with remarkable endurance'.

BC 3.47.5recordābantur enim eadem sē superiōre annō in Hispāniā perpessōs labōre et patientiā maximum bellum cōnfēcisse;

For they remembered that they had suffered the same in Spain the year before and had finished a very great war by hard work and endurance;

Note. recordābantur: deponent, 'they remembered', introducing indirect statement: eadem sē … perpessōs (esse) … cōnfēcisse. The year before (49 BC) Caesar's army had defeated the Pompeian army in Spain after long privations.

BC 3.47.5meminerant ad Alesiam magnam sē inopiam perpessōs, multō etiam maiōrem ad Avaricum, maximārum sē gentium victōrēs discessisse.

they remembered that they had endured great want at Alesia, and much greater at Avaricum, and had come away victors over very great nations.

Note. Alesia (52 BC) and Avaricum (52 BC) are the great sieges of the Gallic War, Book VII. maximārum … gentium victōrēs: 'as conquerors of very great nations'.

BC 3.47.6nōn illīs hordeum cum darētur, nōn legūmina recūsābant;

When they were given barley, they did not refuse it, nor beans;

Note. nōn illīs hordeum cum darētur: 'when barley was given to them'. Barley was considered poor food for soldiers, almost a punishment.

BC 3.47.6pecus vērō, cuius reī summa erat ex Ēpīrō cōpia, magnō in honōre habēbant.

and cattle, of which there was a great supply from Epirus, they valued highly.

Note. cuius reī: 'of which thing' (i.e. cattle). magnō in honōre habēbant: 'they held in great esteem'. Roman soldiers preferred grain to meat.