Bellum Hispaniense 20

B. Hisp. 20.1Quod Pompēius ex perfugīs cum dēditiōnem oppidī factam esse scīsset, castra mōvit Ucubim versus et circum ea loca castella disposuit et mūnītiōnibus sē continēre coepit.

When Pompey learned from deserters that the town had surrendered, he moved his camp towards Ucubi, set out forts around that area and began to keep himself within his fortifications.

Note. Quod … cum: 'when (Pompey) learned this', with quod as connecting relative. scīsset = scīvisset. Ucubim versus: 'towards Ucubi'. circum ea loca: 'around that area'.

B. Hisp. 20.1Item Caesar mōvit et propius castra castrīs contulit.

Caesar likewise moved and pitched his camp closer to Pompey's.

Note. castra castrīs contulit: 'brought his camp close to (Pompey's) camp'.

B. Hisp. 20.2Eōdem tempore māne lōrīcātus ūnus ex legiōne vernāculā ad nōs trānsfūgit et nūntiāvit Pompēium oppidānōs Ucubēnsēs convocāsse eīsque ita imperāvisse, ut dīligentiā adhibitā perquīrerent, quī essent suārum partium itemque adversāriōrum victōriae fautōrēs.

At the same time, in the morning, a heavy-armed soldier from the native legion deserted to us and reported that Pompey had called together the townspeople of Ucubi and ordered them to search carefully to find out who were on their side and who were supporters of the enemy's victory.

Note. lōrīcātus: a heavily armed soldier in a breastplate. legiō vernācula: a legion raised from natives of Spain. ut … perquīrerent, quī essent: indirect command followed by an indirect question. suārum partium: genitive of characteristic, 'of their side'.

B. Hisp. 20.3Hōc praeteritō tempore in oppidō, quod fuit captum, servus est prēnsus in cunīculō, quem suprā dēmōnstrāvimus dominam iugulāsse: is vīvus est combūstus.

After this time, in the town which had been taken, the slave who, as we showed above, had cut his mistress's throat was caught in a mine: he was burned alive.

Note. quem suprā dēmōnstrāvimus: the slave of ch. 18. vīvus est combūstus: 'he was burned alive'.

B. Hisp. 20.4Idemque temporis centuriōnēs lōrīcātī VIII ad Caesarem trānsfūgērunt ex legiōne vernāculā, et equitēs nostrī cum adversāriōrum equitibus congressī sunt, et sauciī aliquot occidērunt levī armātūrā.

At the same time eight armoured centurions from the native legion deserted to Caesar, and our cavalry clashed with the enemy's cavalry, and some of the light-armed fell wounded.

Note. Idemque temporis: 'and at the same point of time' (idem is accusative, temporis partitive genitive). saucii aliquot occidērunt: 'several fell wounded'; occidō here from cadō, 'fall'.

B. Hisp. 20.5Eā nocte speculātōrēs prēnsī servī Iii et ūnus ex legiōne vernāculā.

That night spies were caught: three slaves and one man from the native legion.

Note. speculātōrēs prēnsī (sunt): 'spies were caught'. prēnsī from prēndō (= prehendō).

B. Hisp. 20.5Servī sunt in crucem sublātī, mīlitī cervīcēs abscīsae.

The slaves were crucified; the soldier's head was cut off.

Note. in crucem sublātī: 'raised onto the cross', crucified, the punishment for slaves. mīlitī cervīcēs abscīsae (sunt): the soldier, a free man, was beheaded; mīlitī is a dative of disadvantage.