De Bello Civili 3.92

BC 3.92.1Inter duās aciēs tantum erat relictum spatiī, ut satis esset ad concursum utrīusque exercitūs.

Between the two lines only so much space had been left as was enough for the charge of each army.

Note. tantum … spatiī: partitive genitive, 'so much space'. ut satis esset: result clause.

BC 3.92.2sed Pompēius suīs praedīxerat, ut Caesaris impetum exciperent nēve sē locō movērent aciemque eius distrahī paterentur;

But Pompey had told his men in advance to receive Caesar's charge and not to move from their place, and to let his line become disordered;

Note. praedīxerat, ut … exciperent: indirect command. nēve: 'and not'.

BC 3.92.2idque admonitū C. Triārī fēcisse dīcēbātur, ut prīmus excursus vīsque mīlitum īnfringerētur aciēsque distenderētur, atque in suīs ōrdinibus dispositī dispersōs adorīrentur;

and he was said to have done this on the advice of Gaius Triarius, so that the soldiers' first rush and force would be broken and their line stretched out, and his own men, drawn up in their ranks, could attack them while they were scattered;

Note. admonitū: ablative, 'on the advice'. Triāriī: Pompey's officer Gaius Triarius. ut … īnfringerētur: purpose clause. dispersōs: Caesar's men, scattered after their long run.

BC 3.92.3leviusque cāsūra pīla spērābat in locō retentīs mīlitibus, quam sī ipsī immissīs tēlīs occurrissent, simul fore ut duplicātō cursū Caesaris mīlitēs exanimārentur et lassitūdine cōnficerentur.

and he hoped the javelins would fall more lightly if the soldiers were kept in their place than if they themselves ran to meet the weapons thrown; and at the same time that Caesar's soldiers, having run double the distance, would be out of breath and worn out with fatigue.

Note. cāsūra: future participle, 'would fall'. quam sī ipsī … occurrissent: 'than if they themselves had run to meet them'. fore ut … exanimārentur: 'that it would come about that they were winded'.

BC 3.92.4quod nōbīs quidem nūllā ratiōne factum ā Pompēiō vidētur, proptereā quod est quaedam animī incitātiō atque alacritās nātūrāliter innāta omnibus, quae studiō pugnae incenditur.

This seems to us to have been done by Pompey for no good reason, because there is a certain excitement and eagerness of spirit naturally inborn in everyone, which is kindled by the desire for battle.

Note. Caesar breaks off to judge Pompey's tactic as a mistake: nūllā ratiōne, 'for no good reason'.

BC 3.92.5hanc nōn reprimere, sed augēre imperātōrēs dēbent;

Commanders ought not to suppress this but to increase it;

Note. hanc: the alacritās just mentioned.

BC 3.92.5neque frūstrā antīquitus īnstitūtum est, ut signa undique concinerent clāmōremque ūniversī tollerent;

and it was not for nothing established long ago that the trumpets should sound together from all sides and that everyone should raise a shout;

Note. antīquitus īnstitūtum est: impersonal, 'it was established in ancient times'. concinerent: the trumpets sounding together.

BC 3.92.5quibus rēbus et hostēs terrērī et suōs incitārī exīstimāvērunt.

by these things they thought the enemy was frightened and their own men roused.

Note. et hostēs terrērī et suōs incitārī: two infinitives in indirect statement, 'that both the enemy was frightened and their own men roused'.