Quotes from Caesar's Civil Wars, Book III

The Latin quotes are selected for interest (int), language (lan), and rhetoric (bea), and are translated into English. The line numbers are from the Loeb edition, and start counting from line 0 of the section. All translations are by Gus Wiseman (Nafindix), with the exception of any contributions from other users. The sources of the Latin quotes are:

1. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, vol. 39, 1914; Latin text with facing English translation by A. G. Peskett.

2. C. Julius Caesar, De Bello Civili. Renatus du Pontet, Ed. http://data.perseus.org/texts/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi002.perseus-lat1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pharsalus

• Quotes from Caesar's Civil Wars, Book I
• Quotes from Caesar's Civil Wars, Book II

Commentarii De Bello Civili III

1.0 int

Dictatore habente comitia Caesare consules creantur lulius Caesar et P. Servilius: is enim erat annus, quo per leges ei consulem fieri liceret.

In elections held under Caesar's dictatorship, Julius Caesar and P. Servilius are appointed consuls, for it was the year when the laws permitted Caesar to serve.

2.-4 bea

Statuerat enim prius hos iudicio populi debere restitui, quam suo beneficio videri receptos, ne aut ingratus in referenda gratia aut arrogans in praeripiendo populi beneficio videretur.

For he had decided that these should be restored by the people's grace, instead of his own, as not to seem ungrateful in returning a favor or insensitive in co-opting their will.

6.0 lan/bea

Caesar, ut Brundisium venit, contionatus apud milites, quoniam prope ad finem laborum ac perculorum esset perventum, aequo animo mancipia atque impedimenta in Italia relinquerent, ipsi expediti naves conscenderent, quo maior numerus militum posset imponi, omniaque ex victoria et ex sua liberalitate sperarent, conclamantibus omnibus, imperaret, quod vellet, quodcumque imperavisset, se aequo animo esse facturos.

On reaching Brundisium Caesar went among his men to urge them, now that they had nearly reached the end of their labors and dangers, to leave their slaves and baggage behind in Italy without complaint, to board the ships light so that more would fit, and to anticipate everything from their victory and his own generosity. They all cheered and asked for his orders, promising to follow them without resentment.

9.15 bea

Illi omnia perpeti parati maxime a re frumentaria laborabant.

Prepared to undergo all things, they struggled most for a supply of corn.

11.1 bea

...continuato nocte ac die itinere atque omnibus oppidis mutatis ad celeritatem iumentis ad Pompeium contendit, ut adesse Caesarem nuntiaret.

Marching night and day and swapping in fresh horses at every town for speed, Vibullius hurried to Pompeius to announce Caesar's approach.

16.12 bea

Suam summam esse ac fuisse semper voluntatem, ut componeretur atque ab armis discederetur, sed potestatem eius rei nullam habere, propterea quod de consilii sententia summam belli rerumque omnium Pompeio permiserint.

His own great desire for peace did not matter, because on advice they had given all authority to Pompeius.

18.12 bea

"Quid mihi," inquit, "aut vita aut civitate opus est, quam beneficio Caesaris habere videbor?"

What use is a life or a state to me which I am seen to hold by the grace of Caesar?

25.0 int

Multi iam menses erant et hiems precipitaverat, neque Brundisio naves legionesque ad Caesarem veniebant.

Many were the months and winter had come, yet Caesar's ships and legions from Brundisium had not.

28.8 int

Hic cognosci licuit, quantum esset hominibus praesidii in animi firmitudine.

Here was proven how much a man is guarded by his confidence.

31.10 int/bea

...contra hostem si ducerentur, ituros, contra civem et consulem arma non laturos...

Led against an enemy, they would go; against a citizen and consul, they would not bear arms.

32.2 int/bea

In capita singula servorum ac liberorum tributum imponebatur; columnaria, ostiaria, frumentum, milites, arma, remiges, tormenta, vecturae imperabantur; cuius modo rei nomen reperiri poterat, hoc satis esse ad cogendas pecunias videbatur.

A tribute was imposed on the heads of individual slaves and children; columns and doors were taxed; corn, soldiers, weapons, rowers, engines, and carriage were requisitioned; practically anything that could be named was used to exact contributions.

32.9

Qui horum quid acerbissime crudelissimeque fecerat, is et vir et civis optimus habebatur.

Whomever of these had acted most harshly and cruelly was held to be the best man and citizen.

36.4 int/bea

...nam plerumque in novitate rem fama antecedit.

Reputation precedes reality in novel affairs.

36.8 lan

Hoc adeo celeriter fecit, ut simul adesse et venire nuntiaretur...

He did this so fast that he arrived as soon as he was reported to be coming.

43.3 int/lan/bea

Inde, ut loci cuiusque natura ferebat, ex castello in castellum perducta munitione circumvallare Pompeium instituit, haec spectans, quod angusta re frumentaria utebatur quodque Pompeius multitudine equitum valebat, quo minore periculo undique frumentum commeatumque exercitui supportare posset, simul, uti pabulatione Pompeium prohiberet equitatumque eius ad rem gerendam inutilem efficeret, tertio, ut auctoritatem qua ille maxime apud exteras nationes niti videbatur, minueret, cum fama per orbem terrarum percrebuisset, illum a Caesare obsideri neque audere proelio dimicare.

Following the nature of each place, from outpost to outpost, Caesar set about surrounding Pompeius with munitions, hoping first, because Caesar was greatly pressed for food and Pompeius had a great number of horses, to more safely support his army with corn and supplies from all places, and at the same time to prevent Pompeius from foraging and constrict his cavalry from operating, and finally to announce to an audience around the world that Pompeius was under siege and afraid to do battle with Caesar.

46.-5 int/lan/bea

Dicitur eo tempore glorians apud suos Pompeius dixisse: non recusare se, quin nullius usus imperator existimaretur, si sine maximo detrimento legiones Caesaris sese recepissent inde, quo temere essent progressae.

It is said that Pompeius then told his people he did not dispute that a commander was useless who allowed Caesar's rashly advanced legions to withdraw without taking very great losses.

47.8 int/bea

At tum integras atque incolumes copias Caesar inferiore militum numero continebat, cum illi omnium rerum copia abundarent;

Ceasar was containing the enemy's fresh, unhurt, and abundantly supplied forces with fewer men of his own.

49.5 int/lan

Libenter etiam ex perfugis cognoscebant equos eorum tolerari, reliqua vero iumenta interisse; uti autem ipsos valetudine non bona, cum angustiis loci et odore taetro ex multitudine cadaverum et cotidianis laboribus insuetos operum, tum aquae summa inopia affectos.

They were glad to learn from deserters that the enemy scarcely kept their horses alive, while all other flocks had perished. Even the men were unwell, due to the foul odor from countless corpses in cramped places, their ineptitude for daily labor, and the greatest scarcity of water.

51.7 int

At plerique existimant, si acrius insequi voluisset, bellum eo die potuisse finire.

Many have reckoned that, if he had pursued more aggressively, the war could have been ended that day.

54.-11 int

Et cum laboris sui periculique testimonium afferre vellent, milia sagittarum circiter XXX in castellum coniecta Caesari renumeraverunt, scutoque ad eum relato Scaevae centurionis inventa sunt in eo foramina CXX.

Wishing to demonstrate their labor and the danger, they counted up some 30,000 arrows in the fortress, and showed Caesar the shield of the centurion Scaeva, in which were found 120 holes.

57.11 int/bea

Scipionem ea esse autoritate, ut non solum libere quae probasset exponere, sed etiam ex magna parte compellere atque errantem regere posset; praeesse autem suo nomine exercitui, ut praeter auctoritatem vires quoque ad coercendum haberet.

Scipio was a man of such authority that he could expound what he wished, compel those who did not, and to a great extent rule the strays; for with his own army he could coerce whomever resisted.

59.-4 int/lan/bea

Sed postquam non modo hordeum pabulumque omnibus locis herbaeque desectae, sed etiam frons ex arboribus deficiebat, corruptis equis macie conandum sibi aliquid Pompeius de eruptione existimavit.

But after not only the grain and forage and herbs that had been everywhere were cut down, but even the leaves of the trees were deficient, with starving horses Pompeius decided he should try to break out.

60.9 bea

Quo pudore adducti et fortasse non se liberari, sed in aliud tempus reservari arbitrati discedere a nobis et novam temptare fortunam novasque amicitias experiri constituerunt.

Disturbed by this shame and thinking, perhaps, that they were not absolved but had merely been reserved for another day, they decided to leave us for new fortunes and new friendships.

61.5 int/lan

Nam ante id tempus nemo aut miles aut eques a Caesare ad Pompeium transierat, cum paene cotidie a Pompeio ad Caesarem perfugerent...

Before that time no footman or horseman of Caesar had passed over to Pompeius, while nearly every day they were defecting the other way.

62.-8 int/lan

Sed hi cognitis omnibus rebus, seu quid in munitionibus perfectum non erat, seu quid a peritioribus rei militaris desiderari videbatur, temporibusque rerum et spatiis locorum, custodiarum varia diligentia animadversa, prout cuiusque eorum, qui negotiis praeerant, aut natura aut studium ferebat, hae ad Pompeium omnia detulerunt.

These men knew of every fault, whether a weakness in the munitions, or a flaw known to veterans, or the varying times and spaces of garrisons, or the nature and will of each of the leaders; all of this they reported to Pompeius.

64.7 int

In eo proelio cum gravi vulnere esset affectus aquilifer et a viribus deficeretur, conspicatus equites nostros, "hanc ego," inquit, "et vivus multos per annos magna diligentia defendi et nunc moriens eadem fide Caesari restituo.

An eagle-bearer who was gravely wounded in the battle saw our horsemen and said, his strength now failing him, "For my many years I have defended this eagle diligently, and now dying I return it to Caesar with the same spirit."

64.11

"Nolite, obsecro, committere, quod ante in exercitu Caesaris non accidit, ut rei militaris dedecus admittatur, incolumemque ad eum deferte."

Refuse to allow what has never before existed in the army of Caesar, a military disgrace, and return the eagle intact.

68.0 int

Sed fortuna, quae plurimum potest cum in reliquis rebus tum precipue in bello, parvis momentis magnas rerum commutationes efficit; ut tum accidit.

The power of fortune is especially great in war, wherein it effects devastating reversals by small moments; as then happened.

71.8 int

Pompeius eo proelio imperator est appellatus.

For this battle Pompeius won the title of Imperator.

72.2 int/lan

Non illi paucitatem nostrorum militum, non iniquitatem loci atque angustias praeoccupatis castris et ancipitem terrorem intra extraque munitiones, non abscisum in duas partes exercitum, cum altera alteri auxilium ferre non posset, causae fuisse cogitabant.

They did not understand that their victory was the result of our inferior numbers, the unfavorable ground and narrow places after the camp was seized, the double terror within and without the munitions, and the cutting of the army into two parts that could not assist each other.

78.0 int

Caesari ad saucios deponendos, stipendium exercitui dandum, socios confirmandos, praesidium urbibus relinquendum necesse erat adire Apolloniam.

To drop off the wounded, pay the army, affirm the allies, and post garrisons in the towns, Caesar had to go to Apollonia.

84.-5 int/bea

Postremo omnes aut de honoribus suis aut de praemiis pecuniae aut de persequendis inimicitiis agebant nec, quibus rationibus superare possent, sed, quemadmodum uti victoria deberent, cogitabant.

They thought only of their own fame, of rewards of money, and of pursuing their enemies; nor did they deliberate how to succeed, but only how to profit from success.

87.2 int

Noli existimare, Pompei, hunc esse exercitum, qui Galliam Germaniamque devicerit.

Fear not, Pompeius, that this is the same army that pacified Gaul and Germany.

87.15 bea

Haec cum dixisset, iuravit se nisi victorem in castra non reversurum reliquosque, ut idem facerent, hortatus est.

When he had said this, he swore not to return to camp until he was victorious, and urged the others to do the same.

92.11 int

Quod nobis quidem nulla ratione factum a Pompeio videtur, propterea quod est quaedam animi incitatio atque alacritas naturaliter innata omnibus, quae studio pugnae incenditur; hanc non reprimere, sed augere imperatores debent.

Pompeius was foolish, for there is a certain ardor and alacrity innate to all, which burns in zealous battle; this commanders should not suppress but cultivate.

95.3 int/bea

Qui, etsi magno aestu fatigati (nam ad meridiem res erat perducta), tamen ad omnem laborem animo parati imperio paruerunt.

Though exhausted by the heat (for the affair had carried into midday), they were still ready for any work and obeyed Caesar's command.

103.7 int

Ibi casu rex erat Ptolomaeus, puer aetate, magnis copiis cum sorore Cleopatra bellum gerens, quam paucis ante mensibus per suos propinquos atque amicos regno expulerat.

There by chance was the child king Ptolomaeus waging war with great forces against his sister Cleopatra, whom months before he had expelled from the kingdom with the aid of his relatives and friends.

105.6 lan

Item constabat Elide in templo Minervae repetitis atque enumeratis diebus, quo die proelium secundum Caesar fecisset, simulacrum Victoriae, quod ante ipsam Minervam collocatum esset et ante ad simulacrum Minervae spectavisset, ad valvas se templi limenque convertisse.

It was also found by counting back the days that at Elis in the temple of Minerva, on the day of Caesar's victorious battle, the statue of Victory, which had been placed before Minerva herself and was facing her, had redirected itself towards the doors and threshold of the temple.

106.10 bea

Sed Caesar confisus fama rerum gestarum infirmis auxiliis proficisci non dubitaverat, aeque omnem sibi locum tutum fore existimans.

But Caesar, trusting his reputation, had not feared to go with weak guards, thinking every place to be equally safe for him.

112.-7

Itaque tanta est contentione actum, quanta agi debuit, cum illi celerem in ea re victoriam, hi salutem suam consistere viderent.

The action was in such contention as is expected when one side sees a fast victory, the other their own safety.

113.-2 int

Haec initia belli Alexandrini fuerunt.

Thus began the Alexandrian war.