De Bello Civili 3.85

BC 3.85.1Pompēius, quī castra in colle habēbat, ad īnfimās rādīcēs montis aciem īnstruēbat, semper, ut vidēbātur, expectāns, sī inīquīs locīs Caesar sē subiceret.

Pompey, who had his camp on a hill, drew up his line at the very foot of the mountain, always waiting, it seemed, to see whether Caesar would put himself in an unfavourable position.

Note. ad īnfimās rādīcēs montis: 'at the very foot of the mountain'. sī … sē subiceret: 'in case Caesar would put himself (in a bad position)'.

BC 3.85.2Caesar nūllā ratiōne ad pugnam ēlicī posse Pompēium exīstimāns hanc sibi commodissimam bellī ratiōnem iūdicāvit, utī castra ex eō locō movēret semperque esset in itineribus, haec spectāns, ut movendīs castrīs plūribusque adeundīs locīs commodiōre rē frūmentāriā ūterētur, simulque in itinere ut aliquam occāsiōnem dīmicandī nancīscerētur et īnsolitum ad labōrem Pompēī exercitum cōtīdiānīs itineribus dēfatīgāret.

Caesar, thinking that Pompey could not be lured into battle by any means, judged that the best plan of campaign for him was to move his camp from that place and always be on the march: by moving camp and visiting more places he would have an easier supply of grain, and at the same time he might find some chance to fight on the march and wear out Pompey's army, which was unused to hard work, with daily marches.

Note. commodissimam bellī ratiōnem: 'the most convenient plan of campaign'. movendīs castrīs … adeundīs locīs: gerundives in the ablative of means. īnsolitum ad labōrem: 'unaccustomed to hard work'.

BC 3.85.3hīs cōnstitūtīs rēbus, signō iam profectiōnis datō tabernāculīsque dētēnsīs animum adversum est paulō ante extrā cōtīdiānam cōnsuētūdinem longius ā vallō esse aciem Pompēī prōgressam, ut nōn inīquō locō posse dīmicārī vidērētur.

When these plans were settled, the signal to march had already been given and the tents taken down, when it was noticed that Pompey's line had advanced a little further from his rampart than his daily custom, so that it seemed possible to fight on ground that was not unfavourable.

Note. tabernāculīs dētēnsīs: 'with the tents struck'. animum adversum est: 'it was noticed' (impersonal passive of animum advertere). extrā cōtīdiānam cōnsuētūdinem: 'beyond its usual custom'.

BC 3.85.4tum Caesar apud suōs, cum iam esset agmen in portīs, "differendum est," inquit "iter in praesentiā nōbīs et dē proeliō cōgitandum, sīcut semper dēpoposcimus.

Then Caesar, when the column was already in the gates, said to his men: "We must put off the march for now and think about battle, as we have always demanded.

Note. differendum est … nōbīs: gerundive with a dative of the agent, 'we must put off'. in praesentiā: 'for now'. This is one of the very few places where Caesar gives his own words in direct speech.

BC 3.85.4animō sīmus ad dīmicandum parātī;

Let us be ready in spirit to fight;

Note. simus: hortatory subjunctive, 'let us be'.

BC 3.85.4nōn facile occāsiōnem posteā reperiēmus."

we shall not easily find the opportunity later."

Note. The battle of Pharsalus follows in the next chapters.

BC 3.85.4cōnfestimque expedītās cōpiās ēdūcit.

And at once he led his forces out ready for action.

Note. expedītās cōpiās: 'his forces ready for action', without baggage.