De Bello Civili 3.57

BC 3.57.1Haec cum in Achāiā atque apud Dyrrachium gererentur Scīpiōnemque in Macedoniam vēnisse cōnstāret, nōn oblītus prīstinī īnstitūtī Caesar mittit ad eum Clōdium, suum atque illīus familiārem, quem ab illō trāditum initiō et commendātum in suōrum necessāriōrum numerō habēre īnstituerat.

While this was going on in Achaia and at Dyrrachium, and it was known that Scipio had come into Macedonia, Caesar, not forgetting his earlier policy, sent to him Clodius, a friend both of his own and of Scipio's, whom he had decided to count among his close friends after Scipio introduced and recommended him at the start.

Note. Scīpiōnem: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Scipio, Pompey's father-in-law, bringing an army from the east. nōn oblītus prīstinī īnstitūtī: 'not forgetting his former policy', i.e. of offering peace. quem ab illō trāditum: 'who had been introduced to him by Scipio'.

BC 3.57.2huic dat litterās mandātaque ad eum, quōrum haec erat summa: sēsē omnia dē pāce expertum;

He gave him a letter and instructions for Scipio, the substance of which was this: he had tried every way of making peace;

Note. Caesar's message is given in indirect statement from here to the end of sentence 99: sēsē omnia dē pāce expertum (esse), 'that he had tried everything to make peace'.

BC 3.57.2nihil adhūc arbitrārī vitiō factum eōrum quōs esse auctōrēs eius reī voluisset, quod sua mandāta perferre nōn opportūnō tempore ad Pompēium verērentur.

so far, he thought, nothing had come of it through the fault of those whom he had wanted to be its sponsors, because they were afraid to carry his message to Pompey at an unfavourable moment;

Note. nihil adhūc … factum: 'that nothing had so far been achieved'. vitiō … eōrum: 'through the fault of those'.

BC 3.57.3Scīpiōnem eā esse auctōritāte, ut nōn sōlum līberē, quae probāsset, expōnere, sed etiam ex magnā parte compellāre atque errantem regere posset;

Scipio had such authority that he could not only speak out freely what he approved, but also to a large extent take Pompey to task and set him right if he went wrong;

Note. Scīpiōnem eā esse auctōritāte: ablative of description, 'that Scipio was of such authority'. errantem: 'when he went wrong' (Pompey).

BC 3.57.3praeesse autem suō nōmine exercituī, ut praeter auctōritātem vīrēs quoque ad coercendum habēret.

moreover, he commanded an army in his own name, so that besides authority he also had the strength to compel;

Note. praeesse … exercituī suō nōmine: 'that he commanded an army in his own name'.

BC 3.57.4quod sī fēcisset, quiētem Ītaliae, pācem prōvinciārum, salūtem imperiī ūnī omnēs acceptam relātūrōs.

if he did this, everyone would credit him alone with the peace of Italy, the calm of the provinces and the safety of the empire.

Note. quod sī fēcisset: 'if he did this' (quod sī: 'but if'). acceptam relātūrōs: an accounting phrase, 'would enter to his credit', i.e. everyone would owe it to him alone.

BC 3.57.5haec ad eum mandāta Clōdius refert ac prīmīs diēbus, ut vidēbātur, libenter audītus, reliquīs ad colloquium nōn admittitur castīgātō Scīpiōne ā Favōniō, ut posteā cōnfectō bellō reperiēbāmus, īnfectāque rē sēsē ad Caesarem recēpit.

Clodius delivered these instructions to Scipio and in the first days was, as it seemed, given a willing hearing; on the following days he was not admitted to a meeting, because Scipio had been rebuked by Favonius, as we learned afterwards when the war was over; and so he returned to Caesar with nothing achieved.

Note. castīgātō Scīpiōne ā Favōniō: ablative absolute, 'Scipio having been rebuked by Favonius', a strict senator who opposed any deal with Caesar. īnfectā rē: 'with the business unaccomplished'.