XXV.
Nec multo post adfertur Numidas apud castellum semirutum, ab ipsis quondam incensum, cui nomen Auzea, (cui nomen Auzea: probably modern Aumale SE of Algiers, then in the province of Mauretania caesariensis) positis mapalibus consedisse, fisos loco (fisos loco: loco is probably locative with the semi-deponent fidere: ‘having confidence in the place’; fidere can also take dative: fidere alicui, where alicui is indirect object, fidere being intransitive.) quia vastis circum saltibus claudebatur. tum expeditae cohortes alaeque quam in partem ducerentur ignarae cito agmine rapiuntur. (tum expeditae cohortes alaeque quam in partem ducerentur ignarae cito agmine rapiuntur: ‘then quick-moving cohorts and cavalry are hurried off (rapiuntur) at a rapid pace, not knowing whither they might be led.’ ducerentur is potential subjunctive; ignarae: lest warning of their arrival be given to the rebels) simulque coeptus dies et concentu tubarum ac truci clamore aderant semisomnos in barbaros, (simulque coeptus [est] dies et concentu tubarum ac truci clamore aderant semisomnos in barbaros: ‘at the same time, the day was dawning and the Romans were upon the half-asleep barbarians, amid the concerted blaring of trumpets and the savage shouting.’) praepeditis Numidarum equis aut diversos pastus pererrantibus. (praepeditis Numidarum equis aut diversos pastus pererrantibus: abl. abs., ‘the horses of the Numidians being tied up or roaming over various pasture grounds’) ab Romanis confertus pedes, (ab Romanis confertus [est] pedes, dispositae [sunt] turmae, cuncta proelio provisa [sunt]: ‘compact order of battle was assumed by the Romans, the squadrons were deployed, all was provided for the engagement.’ confertus pedes is idiom referring to the feet of the soldiers being pressed close together when maintaining tight ranks.) dispositae turmae, cuncta proelio provisa: hostibus contra omnium nesciis (hostibus omnium nesciis: abl. abs., ‘the enemy being unaware of everything’, i.e. completely unprepared) non arma, non ordo, non consilium, sed pecorum modo trahi occidi capi. infensus miles memoria laborum et adversum eludentis optatae totiens pugnae se quisque ultione et sanguine explebant. (adversum eludentis optatae totiens pugnae se quisque ultione et sanguine explebant: ‘every soldier satiated himself with blood and vengeance against the [Numidians] cheating them so many times of the desired battle.’ eludo is found with acc. and abl., never with genitive. Perhaps, as someone has suggested, it should somehow be taken with the previous memoria.) differtur per manipulos, Tacfarinatem omnes notum tot proeliis consectentur: (differtur per manipulos, Tacfarinatem omnes … consectentur: ‘the word is passed among the ranks that all soldiers should pursue Tacfarinas.’ consectentur (in place of consectarentur) is jussive subjunctive in indirect speech, corresponding to the imperative consectamini of direct speech. differtur, impersonal use of the passive, is historical present, not the only one in the chapter.) non nisi duce interfecto requiem belli fore. (non nisi duce interfecto requiem belli fore: also in indirect discourse: lit. ‘not unless the leader having been killed would there be respite from war.’ The case of a conditional sentence having an abl. abs. for protasis, i.e. without finite verb; nisi here is practically adverbial, qualifying the participle interfecto. requiem belli: unlike the English ‘rest’ or ‘respite’, requies is followed by objective genitive.) at ille deiectis circum stipatoribus (deiectis circum stipatoribus: abl. abs.: ‘his bodyguards having been cut down all around him’) vinctoque iam filio et effusis undique Romanis ruendo in tela captivitatem haud inulta morte effugit; (ruendo in tela captivitatem haud inulta morte effugit: ‘he escaped captivity through a not unavenged death by throwing himself against the enemy spears.’ ruendo is instrumental use of the abl. gerund.) isque finis armis impositus.