Bellum Hispaniense 9

B. Hisp. 9.1Quod Pompēius, quod eōdem iugō tegēbātur locī nātūrā et remōtum erat ā castrīs Caesaris, animadvertēbat locī difficultāte et, quia flūmine Salsō interclūdēbātur, nōn esse commissūrum Caesarem, ut in tantā locī difficultāte ad subsidium mittendum sē dēmitteret, illā frētus opīniōne tertiā vigiliā profectus castellum oppugnāre coepit.

Pompeius noticed that because it was screened by the same ridge and was far from Caesar's camp, Caesar, given the difficulty of the ground and because he was cut off by the river Salsum, would not risk coming down to send help in such difficult country; relying on that belief, he set out in the third watch and began to attack the fort.

Note. Quod: 'this'. The construction then drifts: Pompeius animadvertēbat (Caesarem) nōn esse commissūrum, 'would not risk', with ut … dēmitteret, 'that he should come down'. quod eōdem iugō tegēbātur … et remōtum erat: the subject of these verbs is the fort. ad subsidium mittendum: gerundive of purpose. illā frētus opīniōne: frētus with the ablative, 'relying on that belief'. tertiā vigiliā: about midnight to 3 a.m.

B. Hisp. 9.2Cum adpropinquāssent, clāmōre repentīnō tēlōrum multitūdine iactūs facere coepērunt, utī magnam partem hominum vulneribus adficerent.

When they drew near, with a sudden shout they began to hurl a great quantity of missiles, so that they wounded a large part of the men.

Note. iactūs facere: 'to make throws', i.e. to hurl, a wordy phrase typical of the author. utī = ut, result.

B. Hisp. 9.3Quō peractō cum ex castellō repugnāre coepissent maiōribusque castrīs Caesaris nūntius esset adlātus, cum III legiōnibus est profectus, ut labōrantibus succurreret nostrīs;

When this had been done and the men in the fort had begun to fight back, and news had been brought to Caesar's larger camp, he set out with three legions to help our men in their difficulty;

Note. Quō perāctō: connecting relative in an ablative absolute. ex castellō repugnāre: 'to fight back from the fort'. maiōribus castrīs: dative, 'to the larger camp', Caesar's main camp. cum III legiōnibus est profectus: understand Caesar as subject.

B. Hisp. 9.3et cum ad eōs adpropinquāsset, fugā perterritī multī sunt interfectī, complūrēs captī, in quibus duo centuriōnēs;

and when he drew near them, the enemy were panic-stricken and fled; many were killed and several captured, among them two centurions;

Note. fugā perterritī: the subject switches to the enemy without warning. complūrēs captī: supply sunt. in quibus: 'among whom'.

B. Hisp. 9.3multī praetereā armīs exūtī fūgērunt, quōrum scūta sunt relāta LXXX.

many besides threw away their arms and fled, and eighty of their shields were brought in.

Note. armīs exūtī: 'stripped of their arms', i.e. having thrown them away. scūta … relāta LXXX: eighty shields were brought back as trophies.