De Bello Civili 3.64

BC 3.64.1Hōc tumultū nūntiātō Mārcellīnus cohortēs subsidiō nostrīs labōrantibus submittit ex castrīs.

When this uproar was reported, Marcellinus sends cohorts from the camp to help our men in their distress.

Note. Hōc tumultū nūntiātō: ablative absolute. nostrīs labōrantibus: dative, 'to our men in trouble'; subsidiō is a dative of purpose ('as help').

BC 3.64.1quae fugientēs cōnspicātae neque illōs suō adventū cōnfirmāre potuērunt neque ipsae hostium impetum tulērunt.

These, seeing the men in flight, could neither steady them by their arrival nor themselves withstand the enemy's attack.

Note. fugientēs cōnspicātae: 'catching sight of those fleeing'; cōnspicor is deponent, so the perfect participle is active in meaning.

BC 3.64.2itaque quodcumque addēbātur subsidiō, id corruptum timōre fugientium terrōrem et perīculum augēbat;

So whatever was added as reinforcement was infected by the fear of the fugitives and only increased the terror and the danger;

Note. quodcumque addēbātur subsidiō: 'whatever was added as help'. id corruptum timōre: panic spread from the fugitives to the reinforcements.

BC 3.64.2hominum enim multitūdine receptus impediēbātur.

for retreat was hampered by the mass of men.

Note. receptus: 'retreat' (a noun of the fourth declension), the subject of impediēbātur.

BC 3.64.3in eō proeliō cum gravī vulnere esset adfectus aquilifer et ā vīribus dēficerētur, cōnspicātus equitēs nostrōs "hanc ego," inquit "et vīvus multōs per annōs magnā dīligentiā dēfendī et nunc moriēns eādem fidē Caesarī restituō.

In that battle, when the eagle-bearer had been badly wounded and his strength was failing, catching sight of our cavalry he said: "This eagle I have defended with great care for many years while I lived, and now, dying, I give it back to Caesar with the same loyalty.

Note. aquilifer: the bearer of the legion's silver eagle, whose loss was the worst disgrace a legion could suffer. hanc: 'this (eagle)'. vīvus … moriēns: 'living … dying', a pointed contrast.

BC 3.64.3nōlīte, obsecrō, committere, quod ante in exercitū Caesaris nōn accidit, ut reī mīlitāris dēdecus admittātur, incolumemque ad eum dēferte."

Do not, I beg you, allow a disgrace to military honour to be committed, something which has never happened before in Caesar's army, but carry it safe to him."

Note. nōlīte … committere: a polite negative command, 'do not allow'. quod … nōn accidit: 'a thing which has not happened', referring forward to the clause ut … admittātur.

BC 3.64.4hōc cāsū aquila cōnservātur omnibus prīmae cohortis centuriōnibus interfectīs praeter prīncipem priōrem.

By this chance the eagle was saved, though all the centurions of the first cohort were killed except the senior centurion of the principes.

Note. praeter prīncipem priōrem: the senior centurion of the principes (the second rank) of the cohort; every other centurion of the first cohort fell.