De Bello Civili 3.97

BC 3.97.1Caesar castrīs potītus ā mīlitibus contendit, nē in praedā occupātī reliquī negōtiī gerendī facultātem dīmitterent.

Caesar, having taken the camp, urged his soldiers not to let slip the chance of finishing the rest of the business by being taken up with plunder.

Note. nē … dīmitterent: indirect command after contendit, 'he insisted that they not let slip'. reliquī negōtiī gerendī: gerundive in the genitive, 'of finishing the remaining business'.

BC 3.97.2quā rē impetrātā montem opere circummūnīre īnstituit.

When he had obtained this, he began to surround the hill with siege works.

Note. quā rē impetrātā: 'when he had obtained this'. circummūnīre: 'to wall round'.

BC 3.97.2Pompēiānī, quod is mōns erat sine aquā, diffīsī eī locō relictō monte ūniversī iugīs eius Lārīsam versus recipere coepērunt.

The Pompeians, since that hill had no water, distrusted the position, left the hill and all began to withdraw along its ridges towards Larisa.

Note. Lārīsam versus: 'towards Larisa'; versus follows its noun. iugīs eius: 'along its ridges'.

BC 3.97.3quā rē animadversā Caesar cōpiās suās dīvīsit partemque legiōnum in castrīs Pompēī remanēre iussit, partem in sua castra remīsit, iiii sēcum legiōnēs dūxit commodiōreque itinere Pompēiānīs occurrere coepit et prōgressus mīlia passuum vi aciem īnstrūxit.

Noticing this, Caesar divided his forces and ordered part of the legions to remain in Pompey's camp, sent part back to his own camp, took four legions with him, and began to cut off the Pompeians by an easier route; and after advancing six miles he drew up his line.

Note. iiii: four legions. mīlia passuum vi: 'six miles', accusative of extent.

BC 3.97.4quā rē animadversā Pompēiānī in quōdam monte cōnstitērunt.

Noticing this, the Pompeians halted on a hill.

BC 3.97.4hunc montem flūmen subluēbat.

A river flowed at the foot of this hill.

Note. subluēbat: 'washed the foot of'.

BC 3.97.4Caesar mīlitēs cohortātus, etsī tōtīus diēī continentī labōre erant cōnfectī noxque iam suberat, tamen mūnītiōne flūmen ā monte sēclūsit, nē noctū aquārī Pompēiānī possent.

Caesar encouraged his soldiers and, although they were exhausted by the work of the whole day without a break and night was already coming on, he nevertheless cut the river off from the hill with a fortification, so that the Pompeians could not fetch water at night.

Note. ne noctū aquārī … possent: purpose clause; aquor is a deponent, 'to fetch water'.

BC 3.97.5quō perfectō opere illī dē dēditiōne missīs lēgātīs agere coepērunt.

When this work was completed, they sent envoys and began to negotiate about surrender.

Note. dē dēditiōne … agere: 'to negotiate about surrender'.

BC 3.97.5paucī ōrdinis senātōriī, quī sē cum iīs coniūnxerant, nocte fugā salūtem petīvērunt.

A few men of senatorial rank who had joined them sought safety by flight during the night.

Note. ōrdinis senātōriī: genitive of description, 'of senatorial rank'.