De Bello Civili 3.87

BC 3.87.1Hunc Labiēnus excēpit, ut, cum Caesaris cōpiās dēspiceret, Pompēī cōnsilium summīs laudibus efferret, "nōlī," inquit "exīstimāre, Pompēī, hunc esse exercitum, quī Galliam Germāniamque dēvīcerit."

Labienus took up from him, and, while despising Caesar's forces, he praised Pompey's plan in the highest terms: 'Do not think, Pompey,' he said, 'that this is the army which conquered Gaul and Germany.'

Note. Labiēnus had been Caesar's chief officer in Gaul but went over to Pompey in 49 BC. nōlī existimāre: nōlī + infinitive is a negative command, 'do not think'. Pompeī: vocative of Pompeius (contracted from Pompeie).

BC 3.87.2"omnibus interfuī proeliīs neque temerē incognitam rem prōnūntiō.

'I was present at all the battles, and I do not declare something I do not know at random.

Note. interfuī: perfect of intersum, 'I was present at' + dative.

BC 3.87.2perexigua pars illīus exercitūs superest;

Only a very small part of that army survives;

Note. illīus exercitūs: 'of that army', Caesar's army of the Gallic wars.

BC 3.87.2magna pars dēperiit, quod accidere tot proeliīs fuit necesse, multōs autumnī pestilentiā in Ītaliā cōnsūmpsit, multī domum discessērunt, multī sunt relictī in continentī."

a large part has perished, as was bound to happen in so many battles; the autumn plague in Italy carried off many; many went home; many were left behind on the mainland.'

Note. quod … fuit necesse: 'which was bound to happen'; quod refers to the whole idea. in continentī: 'on the mainland', i.e. in Italy, when Caesar crossed to Greece.

BC 3.87.3"an nōn exaudīstis ex iīs quī per causam valētūdinis remānsērunt, cohortēs esse Brundisiī factās?"

'Have you not heard from those who stayed behind because of ill health that cohorts have been formed at Brundisium?'

Note. Brundisiī: locative, 'at Brundisium'. cohortēs esse … factās: indirect statement after exaudīstis.

BC 3.87.4"hae cōpiae quās vidētis, ex dīlēctibus hōrum annōrum in citeriōre Galliā sunt refectae, et plērīque sunt ex colōniīs Trānspadānīs.

'These forces which you see have been made up from the levies of these last years in Nearer Gaul, and most of them come from the colonies beyond the Po.

Note. ex dīlēctibus: 'from levies', recent recruiting. Trānspadānīs: the colonies beyond the Po, Caesar's recruiting ground.

BC 3.87.4ac tamen, quod fuit rōboris, duōbus proeliīs Dyrrachīnīs interiit."

And yet, what strength there was perished in the two battles at Dyrrachium.'

Note. quod fuit rōboris: partitive genitive, 'what there was of strength'. Dyrrachīnīs: the fighting at Dyrrachium earlier in 48 BC, where Caesar was badly beaten.

BC 3.87.5haec cum dīxisset, iūrāvit sē nisi victōrem in castra nōn reversūrum, reliquōsque ut idem facerent hortātus est.

When he had said this, he swore that he would not return to camp except as a victor, and he urged the rest to do the same.

Note. sē … reversūrum: indirect statement with the future participle of the deponent revertor, 'that he would return'. nisi victōrem: 'except as victor'.

BC 3.87.6hoc laudāns Pompēius idem iūrāvit;

Pompey praised this and swore the same oath;

Note. laudāns: present participle. idem iūrāvit: 'swore the same oath'.

BC 3.87.6nec vērō ex reliquīs fuit quisquam quī iūrāre dubitāret.

and indeed among the rest there was no one who hesitated to swear.

Note. quī iūrāre dubitāret: relative clause of characteristic, 'who hesitated to swear'.

BC 3.87.7haec cum facta sunt in cōnsiliō, magnā spē et laetitiā omnium discessum est;

When this had been done in the council, they broke up in great hope and joy on everyone's part;

Note. discessum est: impersonal passive, 'they departed' (literally 'there was a departure').

BC 3.87.7ac iam animō victōriam praecipiēbant, quod dē rē tantā et ā tam perītō imperātōre nihil frūstrā cōnfirmārī vidēbātur.

and already in their minds they were anticipating victory, because about so great a matter, and from so experienced a commander, nothing seemed to be affirmed in vain.

Note. praecipiēbant: 'they were anticipating' (literally 'taking beforehand'). nihil frūstrā cōnfirmārī: 'that nothing was being affirmed in vain'.