De Bello Civili 3.76

BC 3.76.1Cōnfectō iūstō itinere eius diēī quod prōposuerat Caesar, trāductōque exercitū flūmen Genusum veteribus suīs castrīs contrā Asparagium cōnsēdit mīlitēsque omnēs intrā vallum castrōrum continuit equitātumque per causam pābulandī ēmissum cōnfestim decumānā portā in castra sē recipere iussit.

Having completed the regular day's march that he had planned, and taken the army across the river Genusus, Caesar encamped in his old camp opposite Asparagium; he kept all the soldiers inside the rampart, and ordered the cavalry, which had been sent out on the pretext of foraging, to come straight back into camp by the rear gate.

Note. iūstō itinere: 'a regular day's march', about 15 miles. eius diēī: 'of that day'. per causam pābulandī: 'on the pretext of foraging'. decumānā portā: the rear gate of a Roman camp, away from the enemy.

BC 3.76.2similī ratiōne Pompēius cōnfectō eius diēī itinere in suīs veteribus castrīs ad Asparagium cōnsēdit.

In the same way Pompey, having completed that day's march, encamped in his old camp at Asparagium.

Note. simili ratione: 'in the same way'. Pompey too goes back to his old camp at Asparagium, as Caesar had foreseen.

BC 3.76.3eius mīlitēs, quod ab opere integrīs mūnītiōnibus vacābant, aliī lignandī pābulandīque causā longius prōgrediēbantur, aliī, quod subitō cōnsilium profectiōnis cēperant magnā parte impedīmentōrum et sarcinārum relictā ad haec repetenda invītātī propinquitāte superiōrum castrōrum dēpositīs in contuberniō armīs vallum relinquēbant.

His soldiers, since they were free from work with the fortifications intact, went off some distance, some to gather wood and fodder; others, because the decision to set out had been taken suddenly and a large part of the baggage and packs had been left behind, were tempted by the nearness of their former camp to go back for these things, laid their arms down in the tents, and left the rampart.

Note. eius mīlitēs: Pompey's soldiers. integrīs mūnītiōnibus: 'since the fortifications were intact', i.e. there was no digging to do. invītātī propinquitāte: 'tempted by the nearness'. in contuberniō: 'in their tents' (a contubernium was a tent group of eight men).

BC 3.76.4quibus ad sequendum impedītīs, Caesar quod fore prōvīderat, merīdiānō ferē tempore signō profectiōnis datō exercitum ēdūcit duplicātōque eius diēī itinere viii mīlia passuum ex eō locō prōcēdit.

While they were hampered from pursuing, Caesar, as he had foreseen would happen, gave the signal to march at about midday, led out the army and, doubling that day's march, advanced eight miles from that place.

Note. quibus … impedītīs: ablative absolute, 'while they were hampered'. quod fore prōvīderat: 'which he had foreseen would happen'. duplicātō … itinere: Caesar marches twice the normal distance in one day. VIII mīlia passuum: 'eight miles'.

BC 3.76.4quod facere Pompēius discessū mīlitum nōn potuit.

This Pompey could not do because his soldiers had gone off.

Note. quod: 'this', connecting relative. discessū mīlitum: 'because his soldiers had gone off'.