Bellum Hispaniense 26

B. Hisp. 26.1Caesar ob virtūtem turmae Cassiānae dōnāvit dēnārium tria mīlia et praefectō torquēs aureōs v et levī armātūrae dēnārium duo mīlia.

For its courage Caesar gave the Cassian squadron three thousand denarii, and its commander five golden collars, and the light-armed troops two thousand denarii.

Note. turmae Cassiānae: a cavalry squadron named after its commander or founder Cassius. dēnārium tria mīlia: dēnārium is an old genitive plural (= dēnāriōrum). torquēs aureōs v: five golden neck-chains, a military decoration.

B. Hisp. 26.2Hōc diē A. Baebius et C. Flāvius et A. Trebellius, equitēs Rōmānī Astēnsēs, argentō prope tēctī equitēs ad Caesarem trānsfūgērunt;

On this day Aulus Baebius, Gaius Flavius and Aulus Trebellius, Roman knights from Asta, horsemen almost covered in silver, deserted to Caesar;

Note. A., C. = Aulus, Gaius. Astēnsēs: from Asta near Gades. argentō prope tēctī: 'almost covered in silver', i.e. with silver-plated armour and trappings, a sign of wealth.

B. Hisp. 26.2quī nūntiāvērunt equitēs Rōmānōs coniūrāsse omnīs, quī in castrīs Pompēī essent, ut trānsitiōnem facerent;

they reported that all the Roman knights who were in Pompey's camp had sworn together to desert;

Note. coniūrāsse = coniūrāvisse. omnis: the old accusative plural ending -īs (= omnēs).

B. Hisp. 26.2servī indiciō omnēs in custōdiam esse coniectōs, ē quibus occāsiōne captā sē trānsfūgisse.

that on a slave's information they had all been thrown into custody, and of these they had seized their chance and deserted.

Note. servī indiciō: 'on the information of a slave'. e quibus … sē trānsfūgisse: 'of these (they said) they themselves had deserted'.

B. Hisp. 26.3Item hōc diē litterae sunt dēprēnsae, quās mittēbat Ursaōnem Cn. Pompēius: "S.

Also on this day a letter was intercepted which Gnaeus Pompey was sending to Urso: "If

Note. The letter opens with the usual formula S. V. G. E. V. = sī valēs, gaudeō; ego valeō, 'if you are well, I am glad; I am well'. Because each abbreviation ends with a full stop, the formula is split over this and the next three sentences.

B. Hisp. 26.3V. G.

you are well, I am glad.

Note. V. G. = valēs, gaudeō.

B. Hisp. 26.3E.

I

Note. E. = ego.

B. Hisp. 26.3V. Etsī, prōut nostra fēlīcitās, ex sententiā adversāriōs adhūc prōpulsōs habēmus, sī aequō locō suī potestātem facerent, celerius, quam vestra opīniō fert, bellum cōnfēcissem;

am well. Although, as our good fortune goes, we have so far driven back the enemy as we wished, if they gave us the chance of battle on level ground, I would have finished the war more quickly than you expect;

Note. V. = valeō. prout nostra fēlīcitās: '(as far as) our good fortune (allows)'. ex sententiā: 'as we wished'. adversāriōs … prōpulsōs habēmus: habeō with the perfect participle, 'we have them driven back'. Kübler deletes a quī before sī. celerius … cōnfēcissem: a mixed condition, 'I would have finished'.

B. Hisp. 26.4sed exercitum tīrōnem nōn audent in campum dēdūcere nostrīsque adhūc frētī praesidiīs bellum dūcunt.

but they do not dare to lead their army of raw recruits down onto the plain, and, still relying on our garrisons, they are dragging out the war.

Note. exercitum tīrōnem: 'an army of recruits'; tīrō is used like an adjective. nostrīs … frētī praesidiīs: frētus takes the ablative. bellum dūcunt: 'they drag the war out'.

B. Hisp. 26.4Nam singulās cīvitātēs circumsēdērunt, ut inde sibi commeātūs capiant.

For they have besieged the towns one by one, to get their supplies from them.

Note. ut … capiant: purpose clause in the present subjunctive after a perfect (circumsēdērunt), as the purpose is still current.

B. Hisp. 26.5Quārē et cīvitātēs nostrārum partium cōnservābō et bellum prīmō quōque tempore cōnficiam.

So I shall both preserve the towns of our side and finish the war at the first opportunity.

Note. prīmō quōque tempore: 'at the earliest opportunity'.

B. Hisp. 26.6Cohortēs… animō habeō ad vōs mittere.

I intend to send you … cohorts.

Note. The number of cohorts is lost in a gap. animō habeō: 'I have in mind', 'I intend'.

B. Hisp. 26.6Profectū nostrō commeātū prīvātī necessāriō ad dīmicandum dēscendent."

Once we set out, they will be cut off from supplies and will of necessity come down to fight."

Note. Profectū nostrō: 'by our departure', ablative of cause or time. dēscendent: 'they will come down (to battle)'.