Bellum Hispaniense 40

B. Hisp. 40.1Interfectō Cn. Pompēiō adulēscente Dīdius, quem suprā dēmōnstrāvimus, illā adfectus laetitiā proximō sē recēpit castellō nōnnūllāsque nāvēs ad reficiendum subdūxit et, quodvīs essent… brachium ex utrīsque partibus… Lūsītānī, quī ex pugnā superfuērunt, ad signum sē recēpērunt et bene magnā manū comparātā ad Dīdium sē reportant.

After the young Gnaeus Pompey had been killed, Didius, whom we mentioned above, overjoyed at this, withdrew to the nearest fort and drew up some ships to be repaired, and … [the text is defective here] … a breakwater on both sides … The Lusitanians who had survived the battle rallied to their standards and, having gathered a very large force, made their way back against Didius.

Note. Interfectō Cn. Pompeiō adulēscente: ablative absolute; adulēscēns distinguishes the son from his father. The manuscripts are defective in the middle of this sentence, and Kübler marks the gaps; the meaning of quodvīs essent … brachium is uncertain. ad signum: 'to their standards'.

B. Hisp. 40.3Huic etsī nōn aberat dīligentia ad nāvēs tuendās, tamen nōnnumquam ex castellō propter eōrum crēbrās excursiōnēs ēliciēbātur et prope cōtīdiānīs pugnīs… īnsidiās pōnunt et tripertītō signa distribuunt.

Although he did not lack care in protecting the ships, he was nevertheless sometimes drawn out of the fort by their frequent raids, and with almost daily fights … they lay an ambush and divide their troops into three parts.

Note. Huic … nōn aberat dīligentia: 'he did not lack care'. ad nāvēs tuendās: gerundive of purpose. tripertītō: 'in three divisions'.

B. Hisp. 40.4Erant parātī, quī nāvēs incenderent, incēnsīsque quī subsidium ferrent repellerent: hī sīc dispositī erant, ut ā nūllō cōnspicī possent;

Some were ready to set fire to the ships, and, when the ships were burning, to drive back those who brought help; these were so placed that no one could see them;

Note. incēnsīsque: understand nāvibus, ablative absolute. quī subsidium ferrent: the antecedent of this relative is the unexpressed object of repellerent.

B. Hisp. 40.4reliquī in cōnspectū omnium ad pugnam contendunt.

the rest went into battle in full view of everyone.

Note. reliquī: 'the rest'. in cōnspectū omnium: 'in full view of everyone'.

B. Hisp. 40.5Ita cum ex castellō Dīdius ad prōpellendum prōcessisset cum cōpiīs, signum ā Lūsītānīs tollitur, nāvēs incenduntur, simulque, quī ex castellō ad pugnam prōcesserant, eōdem signō… fugientēs latrōnēs dum persequuntur, ā tergō īnsidiae clāmōre sublātō circumveniunt.

So when Didius had come out of the fort with his forces to drive them off, the Lusitanians raise the signal, the ships are set on fire, and at the same time the men who had come out of the fort to fight, at the same signal … while they are chasing the fleeing brigands, the ambush raises a shout and surrounds them from behind.

Note. ad prōpellendum: gerund of purpose. signum … tollitur: 'the signal is raised'. The text is again defective after eōdem signō. fugientēs latrōnēs: the 'brigands' are the Lusitanians, pretending to flee.

B. Hisp. 40.6Dīdius magnā cum virtūte pugnāns cum complūribus interficitur;

Didius, fighting with great courage, is killed along with many others;

Note. magnā cum virtūte: the preposition between adjective and noun is a common word order.

B. Hisp. 40.6nōnnūllī eā pugnā scaphās, quae ad lītus fuerant, occupant, item complūrēs nandō ad nāvēs, quae in salō fuērunt, sē recipiunt, ancorīs sublātīs pelagus rēmīs petere coepērunt;

in that fight some seized the boats that were by the shore, and likewise many swam to the ships riding at anchor offshore and got aboard; they raised anchor and began to row for the open sea;

Note. nandō: gerund of nō, 'by swimming'. in salō: 'in the open water, offshore'. ancorīs sublātīs: ablative absolute.

B. Hisp. 40.6quae rēs eōrum vītae fuit subsidiō.

this saved their lives.

Note. subsidiō: predicative dative, 'was the saving of their lives'.

B. Hisp. 40.7Lūsītānī praedā potiuntur.

The Lusitanians take possession of the booty.

Note. potiuntur: potior takes the ablative.

B. Hisp. 40.7Caesar Gādibus rūrsus ad Hispalim recurrit.

Caesar hurries back from Gades to Hispalis.

Note. Gādibus: ablative of place from which. recurrit: 'hurries back'.