Quotes from Caesar's Civil Wars, Book II

The Latin quotes are selected for interest (int), language (lan), and beauty (bea), and are translated into English. The line numbers are from the Loeb edition, and start counting from line 1 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



1.9 int/bea
Huius quoque spatii pars ea, quae ad arcem pertinet, loci natura et valle altissima munita longam et difficilem habet oppugnationem.

The part which leads to the fortress, protected by the nature of the place and a very deep valley, also calls for a long and hard siege.

2.4 int
Asseres enim pedum XII cuspidibus praefixi atque hi maximis balistis missi per IIII ordines cratium in terra defigebantur.

Poles of twelve feet affixed to spikes were sent by huge catapults, and they would pass through four layers of screens and embed themselves into the ground.

2.12
Sed magnitudo operum, altitudo muri atque turrium, multitudo tormentorum omnem administrationem tardabat.

But the size of the works, the height of the wall and towers, and the number of engines delayed the whole project.

4.7 int/lan/bea
Tali modo instructa classe omnium seniorum, matrum familiae, virginum precibus et fletu excitati, extremo tempore civitati subvenirent, non minore animo ac fiducia, quam ante dimicaverant, naves conscendunt.

With such a fleet arrayed, roused by the prayers and tears of the seniors, the mothers, and the virgins, to save the state in her darkest hour, they took to the seas with no less spirit and confidence than they had shown in the prior battle.

4.11 int/lan
Communi enim fit vitio naturae, ut inusitatis atque incognitis rebus magis confidamus vehementiusque exterreamur; ut tum accidit.

For there is a universal fault of human nature, that in things unusual and unfamiliar we are too confident, or too deeply disturbed; and so it happened then.

4.14 bea
Adventus enim L. Nasidi summa spe et voluntate civitatem compleverat.

For the arrival of L. Nasidius had filled the community with hope and eagerness to work.

5.7 int/lan
Facile erat ex castris C. Treboni atque omnibus superioribus locis prospicere in urbem, ut omnis iuventus, quae in oppido remanserat, omnesque superioris aetatis cum liberis atque uxoribus ex publicis locis custodiisque aut e muro ad caelum manus tenderent, aut templa deorum immortalium adirent et ante simulacra proiecti victoriam ab dis exposcerent.

From the camp of Trebonius and all higher places one could easily see that all the youth who had remained in the town, along with the seniors and their wives and children, were raising their hands to the sky in public places and on the walls, engaging the immortal gods in temples, and, prostrate before their shrines, pleading for victory from the immortal gods.

5.14 bea
Neque erat quisquam omnium, quin in eius diei casu suarum omnium fortunarum eventum consistere existimaret.

Nor was there anyone among them who did not think the outcome of that day's investments would determine his whole fortunes.

7.2 int/bea
Non enim has aut conspectus patriae aut propinquorum praecepta ad extremum vitae periculum adire cogebant.

For the Nasidians had not the sight of their fatherland nor the encouragement of their comrades to drive them into such imminent mortal danger.

8.10 int/lan/bea
Postea vero, ut est rerum omnium magister usus, hominum adhibita sollertia inventum est magno esse usui posse, si haec esset in altitudinem turris elata.

But afterward, as experience is the teacher of all things, it was discovered through the ingenuity of the men that it could be of great use if the tower were raised in height.

12.-4 int
hostes urbis direptione perterriti inermes cum infulis se porta foras universi proripiunt, ad legatos atque exercitum supplices manus tendunt.

The enemy, perturbed by the sacking of their city, unarmed and wearing the bands of beggars, together throw themselves outside the gate and stretch out their hands in supplication to our legates and army.

14.1 int
At hostes sine fide tempus atque occasionem fraudis ac doli quaerunt interiectisque aliquot diebus nostris languentibus atque animo remissis subito meridiano tempore, cum alius discessisset, alius ex diutino labore in ipsis operibus quieti se dedisset, arma vero omnia reposita contectaque essent, portis se foras erumpunt, secundo magnoque vento ignem operibus inferunt.

But an enemy without honor seeks a time and occasion for fraud and deceit, and after some days during which we rested and relaxed our spirits, suddenly at noon, while some where away, others reclining from their long toil in the siege works themselves, with all weapons put away and covered up, they burst out of the gates and set fire to the works at a time when the winds were great and favorable.

14.8 int
Hunc sic distulit ventus, uti uno tempore agger, plutei, testudo, turris, tormenta flammam conciperent et prius haec omnia consumerentur, quam, quemadmodum accidisset, animadverti posset.

Such a wind blew that all at once the earthwork, the shielding screens and tortoise, the tower, and the engines caught fire and were being burnt up before it was even possible to realize how it had happened.

15.-10
Ita multorum mensium labor hostium perfidia et vi tempestatis puncto temporis interiit.

Thus the treachery of an enemy and the power of a storm destroyed in one moment the toil of many months.

18.14 int
Saepe ex tribunali praedicavit adversa Caesarem proelia fecisse, magnum numerum ab eo militum ad Afranium perfugisse: haec se certis nuntiis, certis auctoribus comperisse.

From his tribunal he often proclaimed that Caesar had lost the latest battles, or that a great number of his soldiers had deserted to Afranius. He said that he had gathered this news from reliable informers and trustworthy authorities.

19.-18 int/lan/bea
Quas Caesari esse amicas civitates arbitrabatur, his graviora onera iniungebat praesidiaque eo deducebat et iudicia in privatos reddebat qui verba atque orationem adversus rem publicam habuissent: eorum bona in publicum addicebat.

On whatever states he thought were friends of Caesar he imposed very heavy burdens and installed garrisons there; he passed judgements on private citizens whom he thought had spoken words of terror, confiscating their property in the public interest.

19.-13 lan
Provinciam omnem in sua et Pompei verba iusiurandum adigebat.

He compelled the whole province to take an oath written for himself and Pompeius.

19.1 bea
Itaque duabus legionibus missis in ulteriorem Hispaniam cum Q. Cassio, tribuno plebis, ipse DC cum equitibus magnis itineribus progreditur edictumque praemittit, ad quam diem magistratus principesque omnium civitatum sibi esse praesto Cordubae vellet.

Therefore, after sending two legions under Q. Cassius, tribune of the people, to further Spain, and with 600 riders of his own, he sends ahead an edict as to when the magistrates and leading citizens of every state should be waiting for him at Corduba, and hastily heads there himself.

19.6 bea
Quo edicto tota provincia pervulgato nulla fuit civitas, quin ad id tempus partem senatus Cordubam mitteret, non civis Romanus paulo notior, quin ad diem conveniret.

The edict pervading the whole province, no state would fail to send part of their council to Corduba, and no citizen of any note was absent on that day.

21.-8 int/lan/bea
Tum vero omni interclusus itinere ad Caesarem mittit, paratum se esse legionem, cui iusserit, tradere.

Then, with every road cut off, Varro sends to Caesar that he is ready to hand over his legion.

21.1 int/lan
Caesar contione habita Cordubae omnibus generatim gratias agit: civibus Romanis, quod oppidum in sua potestate studuissent habere; Hispanis, quod praesidia expulissent; Gaditanis, quod conatus adversariorum infregissent seseque in libertatem vindicavissent; tribunis militum centurionibusque, qui eo praesidii causa venerant, quod eorum consilia sua virtute confirmavissent.

Caesar holds a meeting at Corduba and thanks all by tribes; the Roman citizens, for their dedication in holding the city for him; the Spaniards, for driving out the guards; the Gaditanians, because they broke the attempts of the enemy and proved themselves worthy of freedom; the military tribunes and centurions who had come there to provide security, because by their courage they had enabled the plans of the others.

22.-3 int
Ibi legem de dictatore latam seseque dictatorem dictum a M. Lepido praetore cognoscit.

There he learns that a law had been carried about a dictator, and that the praetor M. Lepidus had nominated him.

22.1 int/lan/bea
Massilienses omnibus defessi malis, rei frumentariae ad summam inopiam adducti, bis navali proelio superati, crebris eruptionibus fusi, gravi etiam pestilentia conflictati ex diutina conclusione et mutatione victus (panico enim vetere atque hordeo corrupto omnes alebantur, quod ad huiusmodi casus antiquitus paratum in publicum contulerant) deiecta turri, labefacta magna parte muri, auxiliis provinciarum et exercituum desperatis, quos in Caesaris potestatem venisse cognoverant, sese dedere sine fraude constituunt.

The Massilians— exhausted by all ills, driven to desperate shortage of food, twice overcome in naval battle, routed in frequent sorties, even afflicted by severe disease due to their long confinement and change of food (for all were fed from old Italian millet and stale barley, which in ancient anticipation of such a disaster had been stowed away for the people), with their tower collapsed, much of their walls broken open, and no hope of aid from the provinces and armies now known to be in the power of Caesar— decide to surrender honorably.

26.-8 lan
Interim adventu longarum navium Curio pronuntiari* onerariis navibus iubet, quae stabant ad Uticam numero circiter cc, se in hostium habiturum loco, qui non e vestigio* ad Castra Cornelia naves traduxisset.

Meanwhile, on the arrival of the warships, Curio orders the merchant ships, about 200 of which stood at Utica, to be informed that he would consider anyone an enemy who did not forthwith deliver their ships to the Cornelian camp.

26.1 int/bea
...universi exercitus conclamatione imperator appellatur...

By the exclamation of the whole army Curio is called Imperator.

26.4 int/bea
Nondum opere castrorum perfecto equites ex statione nuntiant magna auxilia equitum peditumque ab rege missa Uticam venire; eodemque tempore vis magna pulveris cernebatur, et vestigio temporis primum agmen erat in conspectu.

Before the camp is even finished, horsemen on watch report that great reinforcements of cavalry and infantry have been sent by the king and are coming to Utica; at the same time, a great force of dust was seen, and in no time the vanguard appeared.

27.5 int/bea
quae volumus, et credimus libenter et, quae sentimus ipsi, reliquos sentire speramus

What we wish to be true, we carelessly believe, and whenever we have a feeling, we wish others to have it too.

29.3 int/bea
Unusquisque enim opiniones fingebat, et ad id, quod ab alio audierat, sui aliquid timoris addebat.

For each of them made up their own stories, and people who had heard the news from another contributed some fear of their own.

29.5
Hoc ubi uno auctore ad plures permanaverat, atque alius alii tradiderat, plures auctores eius rei videbantur.

Although the story had been dispersed from one original source, it had been handed off from one person to another, making it seem to have many authors.

30.-3 int/bea
sermones militum dubii durius accipiebantur, nonnulli etiam ab eis, qui diligentiores videri volebant, fingebantur.

Doubtful reports from the soldiers were being received harshly, and some of them, wishing to seem more scrupulous, had even made them up.

31.1 lan/bea
Curio utrumque improbans consilium, quantum alteri sententiae deesset animi, tantum alteri superesse dicebat: hos turpissimae fugae rationem habere, illos etiam iniquo loco dimicandum putare.

Disapproving of both plans, Curio said that however much the one lacked in spirit, the other had too much— that the one amounted to a very shameful flight, the other to an engagement from inferior ground.

31.8 int/lan/bea
Quasi non et felicitas rerum gestarum exercitus benevolentiam imperatoribus et res adversae odia colligant!

As if an army does not admire their commander based on fortunate engagements, and despise him for defeats!

31.13 int/bea
Nam neque pudentes suspicari oportet sibi parum credi, neque improbes scire sese timeri, quod his licentiam timor augeat noster, illis studia deminuat.

For the honorable should not suspect that we are credulous, nor should the dishonest know that they are feared, for our fear gives the latter license, and our doubt weakens the former's drive.

32.2 lan
Commemorat, quo sit eorum usus studio ad Corfinium Caesar, ut magnam partem Italiae beneficio atque auctoritate eorum suam fecerit.

He reminds them what use Caesar had of their effort at Corfinium, and how, by their service and leadership, he had made a great part of Italy his own.

32.4 lan/bea
"Vos enim vestrumque factum omnia," inquit, "deinceps municipia sunt secuta, neque sine causa et Caesar amicissime de vobis et illi gravissime iudicaverunt..."

"All townships followed you and your action," he says, "one after another, nor without reason did Caesar judge you most friendly— they most fearsome."

32.13 bea
Quid enim est illis optatius, quam uno tempore et nos circumvenire et vos nefario scelere obstringere?

What could delight the enemy more than to surround us and at the same time entangle the lot of you in a wicked crime?

33.-3 int/lan/bea
Cuius si vos poenitet, vestrum vobis beneficium remitto, mihi meum restituite nomen, ne ad contumeliam honorem dedisse videamini.

If you regret it, I give back your goodwill, only restore me my proper name, lest you seem to have honored me as an insult.

34.2 int/lan
Hanc uterque, si adversariorum copiae transire conarentur, expectabat, quo aequiore loco proelium committeret.

Each side, in order to egage on more favorable ground, was waiting for the other to attempt to cross.

35.5 lan
Ubi ille saepius appellatus aspexit ac restitit et quis esset aut quid vellet quaesivit, umerum apertum gladio appetit, paulumque afuit quin Varum interficeret; quod ille periculum sublato ad eius conatum scuto vitavit.

When Varus, repeatedly addressed, finally stopped to see who it was and what he wanted, the caller lunged with a sword at Varus's exposed shoulder and very nearly killed him; he only escaped danger by raising his shield to the strike.

36.2 int/lan/bea
Erat in oppido multitudo insolens belli diuturnitate otii, Uticenses pro quibusdam Caesaris in se beneficiis illi amicissimi, conventus is, qui ex variis generibus constaret, terror ex superioribus proeliis magnus.

In the town there was a population made naive to war by a lasting peace, there were the Uticans, great friends of Caesar on account of certain gifts he conferred upon them, and the citizens, consisting of various tribes; and there was also a great fear from prior battles.

37.-5 bea
''Haec cum agerentur, nuntii praemissi ab rege Iuba venerunt, qui illum adesse cum magnis copiis dicerent et de custodia ac defensione urbis hortarentur. Quae res eorum perterritos animos confirmavit.''

Meanwhile, messengers sent in advance of King Juba arrive, inform them of the King's approach with great forces, and encourage them to protect and defend the city.

37.5 bea
Quibus omnibus rebus sublatus nihil contra se regem nisurum existimabat.

Pleased by all these things, he thought nothing of what the King could do against him.

39.10 int
Proinde ad praedam, ad gloriam properate, ut iam de praemiis vestris et de referenda gratia cogitare incipiamus.

So hasten to booty and to glory, that we may finally begin to think of your due thanks and rewards.

39.15 int/lan/bea
Haec tamen ab ipsis inflatius commemorabantur, ut de suis homines laudibus libenter praedicant.

Yet in recollection they exaggerated their own stories, just as men enjoy touting their own aspects.

41.7 bea
Ne militibus quidem ut defessis neque equitibus ut paucis et labore confectis studium ad pugnandum virtusque deerat.

Neither the soldiers, though exhausted, nor the cavalry, though few and overworked, had lost their devotion to battle and honor.

42.-5 int
Hi de sua salute desperantes, ut extremo vitae tempore homines facere consuerunt, aut suam mortem miserabantur aut parentes suos commendabant, si quos ex eo periculo fortuna servare potuisset.

Despairing of their own safety, as men are accustomed to do in their final moments of life, they bewailed their own death, and asked any whom fortune should spare to take the news to their family.

42.6 int
Tum vero ad summam desperationem nostri perveniunt et partim fugientes ab equitatu interficiuntur, partim integri procumbunt.

Then our men reach the highest desperation; some are killed in flight by cavalry; others play dead.

42.12 int/lan
At Curio numquam se amisso exercitu, quem a Caesare fidei commissum acceperit, in eius conspectum reversurum confirmat atque ita proelians interficitur.

But Curio, having lost the army he received from Caesar in trust, swears never again to be seen and judged by him, and thus is killed in battle.

44.-4 int
Sed tanta erat completis litoribus contentio, qui potissimum ex magno numero conscenderent, ut multitudine atque onere nonnulli deprimerentur, reliqui hoc timore propius adire tardarentur.

Yet there was such contention on the shores as to whom could come aboard first that some ships sank under the weight of too many people, thus making the other ships hesitate to approach.

44.4 lan/bea
Reliquae copiae missis ad Varum noctu legatorum numero centurionibus sese ei dediderunt.

The remaining forces, through centurions sent to Varus by night as ambassadors, surrendered themselves to him.