29.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXV [3] comprehension (2)

CIVIL WAR BREAKS OUT BETWEEN CÆSAR AND POMPEY; THE BATTLE OF PHARSALIA [2]

Plūribus leviōribus proeliīs factīs, tandem cōpiae adversae ad Pharsālum in Thessaliā sitam castra posuērunt. Cum Pompeī exercitus esset bis tantus quantus Caesaris, tamen erant multī quī veterānās legiōnēs quae Gallōs et Germānōs superāverant vehementer timēbant. Quōs ante proelium commissum Labiēnus lēgātus, quī ab Caesare nūper dēfēcerat, ita adlocūtus est: “Nōlīte exīstimāre hunc esse exercitum veterānōrum mīlitum. Omnibus interfuī proeliīs neque temerē incognitam rem prōnūntiō. Perexigua pars illīus exercitūs quī Gallōs superāvit adhūc superest. Magna pars occīsa est, multī domum discessērunt, multī sunt relictī in Italiā. Hae cōpiae quās vidētis in citeriōre Galliā nūper cōnscrīptae sunt.” Haec cum dīxisset, iūrāvit sē nisi victōrem in castra nōn reversūrum esse. Hoc idem Pompēius et omnēs reliquī iūrāvērunt, et magnā spē et laetitiā, sīcut certam ad victōriam, cōpiae ē castrīs exiērunt.

• tantus … quantus …: as big … as … 
• perexiguus, -a, -um: very small

[1] “Plūribus … timēbant.”

[i] What had happened prior to both sides pitching camp? (1)

[ii] How did the armies of Caesar and Pompey compare in size? Read carefully. (1)

[iii] Why was Caesar’s army feared? (2)

[2] “Quōs ante … cōnscrīptae sunt.”

[i] Why did Labenus know about Caesar’s army? (2)

[ii] Quote and translate the statement Labienus made to emphasise his knowledge. (2)

[iii] What information did Labienus give concerning the current condition of Caesar’s army? (6)

[3] “Haec cum dīxisset … ē castrīs exiērunt.”

[i] What did Labienus swear? (1)

[ii] How did Pompey and the rest of the men respond? (1)

[iii] What was the mood of the troops when they went out of the camp? (3)

____________________

[1]

[i] several lighter engagements had been fought

[ii] Pompey’s army was twice as big as Caesar’s (Cum Pompeī exercitus esset bis tantus quantus Caesaris …)

[iii] the army comprised veteran legions (1) that had defeated the Gauls and the Germans (1)

[2]

[i] He had recently defected from Caesar (Caesar’s army) (1); he had been involved in all the battles (1).

[ii] … neque temerē incognitam rem prōnūntiō | … and I do not rashly pronounce on a matter I do not know.

[iii]

a very small part ¦ which defeated the Gauls (1) ¦ still survived (1)

a large part had been killed (1)

many had gone home (1)

many left behind in Italy (1)

forces in Cisalpine Gaul had been recently levied (were recent conscripts) (1)

[3]

[i] He would not return to the camp unless he was victorious.

[ii] They swore the same.

[iii] very hopeful (1); happy (1); as if certain of victory (1)