Bellum Catilinae 45

Cat. 45.1Hīs rēbus ita āctīs, cōnstitūtā nocte quā proficīscerentur Cicerō per lēgātōs cūncta ēdoctus L. Valeriō Flaccō et C. Pomptīnō praetōribus imperat, ut in ponte Mulviō per īnsidiās Allobrogum comitātūs dēprehendant.

When these things had been done in this way and the night on which they were to set out had been fixed, Cicero, informed of everything through the envoys, orders the praetors Lucius Valerius Flaccus and Gaius Pomptinus to seize the party of the Allobroges by an ambush at the Mulvian bridge.

Note. pōns Mulvius: the Mulvian Bridge, where the Via Flaminia crossed the Tiber north of Rome; travellers to Gaul had to cross it. Cicero tells the same story in the Third Catilinarian (5-6). per īnsidiās 'by an ambush'. comitātūs is accusative plural: 'the escort'.

Cat. 45.1Rem omnem aperit, quoius grātiā mittēbantur;

He reveals the whole matter for whose sake they were being sent;

Cat. 45.1cētera, utī factō opus sit, ita agant permittit.

the rest he leaves them to handle as the need might require.

Note. utī factō opus sit 'as there should be need of action': the praetors were left free to act as needed.

Cat. 45.2Illī, hominēs mīlitārēs, sine tumultū praesidiīs conlocātīs, sīcutī praeceptum erat, occultē pontem obsīdunt.

They, being military men, placed guards without any disturbance, as they had been instructed, and secretly occupy the bridge.

Note. hominēs mīlitārēs: in apposition to illī. obsīdunt is from obsīdō 'occupy', not obsideō 'besiege'.

Cat. 45.3Postquam ad id locī lēgātī cum Volturciō vēnērunt et simul utrimque clāmor exortus est, Gallī citō cognitō cōnsiliō sine morā praetōribus sē trādunt, Volturcius prīmō cohortātus cēterōs gladiō sē ā multitūdine dēfendit, deinde, ubi ā lēgātīs dēsertus est, multa prius dē salūte suā Pomptīnum obtestātus, quod eī nōtus erat, postrēmō timidus ac vītae diffīdēns velut hostibus sēsē praetōribus dedit.

When the envoys with Volturcius had come to that spot and at the same moment a shout arose from both sides, the Gauls, quickly recognising the plan, without delay surrender themselves to the praetors; Volturcius at first, urging on the others, defends himself with his sword against the crowd; then, when he had been abandoned by the envoys, after first earnestly begging Pomptinus, to whom he was known, to spare his life, at last, fearful and despairing of his life, he gave himself up to the praetors as if to enemies.

Note. A long sentence with three subjects: lēgātī, Gallī, Volturcius. ad id locī 'to that point of place', partitive genitive. Volturcius' actions are given in stages: prīmō … deinde … postrēmō. velut hostibus 'as if to enemies': surrendering to enemies of war rather than to Roman magistrates.