Bellum Hispaniense 7

B. Hisp. 7.1Īnsequentī nocte castra sua incendit Pompēius et trāns flūmen Salsum per convallēs castra inter duo oppida Ateguam et Ucubim in monte cōnstituit.

The following night Pompeius burned his camp and, crossing the river Salsum through the valleys, set up camp on a hill between the two towns of Ategua and Ucubis.

Note. Īnsequentī nocte: 'the following night'. trāns flūmen Salsum: the Salsum ('salt river', the modern Guadajoz), a tributary of the Baetis. Ucubim: another accusative in -im.

B. Hisp. 7.2Caesar mūnītiōnibus cēterīsque, quae ad oppugnandum opus fuērunt, perfectīs aggerem vīneāsque agere īnstituit.

When Caesar had finished his siege-works and everything else needed for the assault, he began to push forward the ramp and the sheds.

Note. cēterīsque, quae ad oppugnandum opus fuērunt: 'and the other things that were needed for the assault'; opus est, 'there is need'. aggerem vīneāsque agere: 'to push forward the siege-ramp and the sheds', the standard siege works.

B. Hisp. 7.3Haec loca sunt montuōsa et nātūrā impedīta ad rem mīlitārem;

This country is mountainous and by nature awkward for military operations;

Note. rem mīlitārem: 'military operations'.

B. Hisp. 7.3quae plānitiē dīviduntur, Salsō flūmine, proximē tamen Ateguam ut flūmen sit;

it is divided by a plain, the river Salsum, though in such a way that the river is nearest to Ategua;

Note. The geography is confused, partly by the text: the plain is divided by the river Salsum, which runs closest to Ategua. proximē … ut flūmen sit: 'in such a way that the river is nearest'.

B. Hisp. 7.3circiter passūs duo mīlia ē regiōne oppidī in montibus castra habuit posita Pompēius in cōnspectū utrōrumque oppidōrum, neque suīs ausus est subsidiō venīre.

about two miles from the town, facing it, Pompeius had his camp set up in the hills in sight of both towns, and he did not dare come to the help of his own men.

Note. passūs duo mīlia: 'two thousand paces', about two Roman miles. castra habuit posita: habēre with a perfect participle, 'had his camp set up', close to a perfect tense. suīs … subsidiō: double dative, 'as help to his own men' in Ategua.

B. Hisp. 7.4Aquilās et signa habuit XIII legiōnum;

He had the eagles and standards of thirteen legions;

Note. Aquilās et signa: each legion had an eagle and smaller standards; thirteen legions is the author's count, many of them weak.

B. Hisp. 7.4sed ex quibus aliquid firmāmentī sē exīstimābat habēre, duae fuērunt vernāculae, quae ā Trebōniō trānsfūgerant;

but of those from which he thought he had some real strength, two were the native legions which had deserted from Trebonius;

Note. aliquid firmāmentī: 'some real strength', a partitive genitive. duae … vernāculae: the two 'native' legions, raised in Spain; they had mutinied against Caesar's governor Gaius Trebonius in 46 BC.

B. Hisp. 7.4ūna facta ex colōniīs, quae fuērunt in hīs regiōnibus;

one had been formed from the colonies in this region;

Note. ūna facta ex colōniīs: 'one formed from the colonies', i.e. from Roman settlers in the province.

B. Hisp. 7.4quārta fuit Afrāniāna ex Āfricā, quam sēcum addūxerat;

the fourth was Afranius' legion from Africa, which he had brought with him;

Note. quārta: a loose count, since only three have been named. Afrāniāna: 'Afranius' legion', once commanded by Pompey's legate Lucius Afranius, which had fought in Africa.

B. Hisp. 7.5reliquī ex fugitīvīs auxiliārēs cōnsistēbant: nam dē levī armātūrā et equitātū longē et virtūte et numerō nostrī erant superiōrēs.

the rest were made up of runaways and auxiliaries: for in light-armed troops and cavalry our men were far superior both in courage and in numbers.

Note. ex fugitīvīs auxiliārēs: 'auxiliaries made up of runaway slaves'. dē levī armātūrā et equitātū: 'as regards light-armed troops and cavalry'. nostrī: 'our men', Caesar's; the author writes as one of the army.