Bellum Hispaniense 38

B. Hisp. 38.1Pompēius cum paucīs profūgit et locum quendam mūnītum nātūrā occupat.

Pompey fled with a few men and occupied a place strongly protected by nature.

Note. locum … mūnītum nātūrā: 'a place fortified by nature'.

B. Hisp. 38.1Equitēs et cohortēs, quae ad persequendum missae essent, speculātōribus antemissīs certiōrēs fīunt: diem et noctem iter faciunt.

The cavalry and cohorts that had been sent in pursuit are informed by scouts sent on ahead; they march day and night.

Note. speculātōribus antemissīs: ablative absolute, 'when scouts had been sent ahead'. certiōrēs fīunt: 'are informed'. diem et noctem: accusative of extent of time.

B. Hisp. 38.2Pompēius humerō et sinistrō crūre vehementer erat saucius.

Pompey was badly wounded in the shoulder and the left leg.

Note. umerō … crūre: ablatives of respect, 'in the shoulder and the left leg'. Kübler prints humerō.

B. Hisp. 38.2Hoc accēdēbat, ut etiam tālum intorsisset;

On top of this he had also twisted his ankle,

Note. Hōc accēdēbat ut: 'besides this'. talum intorsisset: 'had twisted his ankle'.

B. Hisp. 38.2quae rēs maximē impediēbat.

which hampered him greatly.

Note. quae rēs: 'and this'.

B. Hisp. 38.3Ita lectīca ā turre cum esset ablātus, in eā ferēbātur Lūsītānīs mōre mīlitārī;

So, after he had been carried down from a tower in a litter, he was carried in it by Lusitanians in military fashion;

Note. lectīcā … ablātus: 'carried down in a litter'. Lūsītānīs: the bearers. mōre mīlitārī: 'in military fashion'.

B. Hisp. 38.3cum Caesaris praesidiō fuisset cōnspectus, celeriter equitātū cohortibusque circumclūditur.

when he had been sighted by Caesar's detachment, he is quickly surrounded by cavalry and cohorts.

Note. Caesaris praesidiō: dative of agent with the passive, 'by Caesar's detachment'. circumclūditur: 'is surrounded'.

B. Hisp. 38.4Erat accessus locī difficilis.

The approach to the place was difficult.

Note. accessus: 'the approach'.

B. Hisp. 38.4Nam idcircō mūnītum locum nātūrā cēperat sibi Pompēius, ut quamvīs magnam multitūdinem dēductī paucī hominēs ex superiōre locō dēfendere possent.

For Pompey had chosen a place protected by nature for this very reason, so that a few men, once brought there, could defend it from the higher ground against however great a host.

Note. idcircō … ut: 'for this reason … that'. quamvīs magnam multitūdinem: quamvīs with an adjective, 'however great'. ex superiōre locō: 'from higher ground'.

B. Hisp. 38.4Subeunt in adventū nostrī dēpellunturque tēlīs.

Our men come up on the approach and are driven back with missiles.

Note. in adventū: 'on the approach'. nostrī: the subject.

B. Hisp. 38.5Quibus cēdentibus cupidius īnsequēbantur adversāriī et cōnfestim tardābant ab accessū.

As they gave way, the enemy pursued them too eagerly and at once held them up from the approach.

Note. Quibus cēdentibus: ablative absolute, 'as they gave way'. cupidius: comparative adverb, 'too eagerly'.

B. Hisp. 38.5Hōc saepius factō animum advertēbātur, nostrō magnō id fierī perīculō.

After this had happened several times, it was noticed that it was being done at great risk to our men.

Note. animum advertēbātur: impersonal passive of animum advertō, 'it was noticed'. nostrō magnō … perīculō: ablative of attendant circumstance.

B. Hisp. 38.6Opere circummūnīre īnstituunt;

They set about surrounding the place with siege works;

Note. Opere circummūnīre: 'to surround with siege works'.

B. Hisp. 38.6parī autem ex celerī festīnātiōne circummūnītiōnēs iugō dērigunt, ut aequō pede cum adversāriīs congredī possent.

and with equally swift haste they ran the encircling works along the ridge, so that they could meet the enemy on level ground.

Note. parī … ex celerī festīnātiōne: 'with equally quick haste'. iugō: 'along the ridge'. dērigunt: Kübler's spelling of dīrigunt. aequō pede: 'on level ground'.

B. Hisp. 38.6Ā quibus cum animum adversum esset, fugā sibi praesidium capiunt.

When the enemy noticed this, they looked to flight to save themselves.

Note. cum animum adversum esset: impersonal pluperfect passive, 'when (this) had been noticed'. fugā sibi praesidium capiunt: 'they take flight as a protection for themselves'.