§60Proelia non tantum destinato, sed ex occasione sumebat ac saepe ab itinere statim, interdum spurcissimis tempestatibus, cum minime quis moturum putaret;
He engaged in battles not only by design but also as opportunity offered, often straight from a march, sometimes in the foulest weather, when anyone would least think he would stir.
nec nisi tempore extremo ad dimicandum cunctatior factus est, quo saepius uicisset, hoc minus experiendos casus opinans nihilque se tantum adquisiturum uictoria, quantum hostem fudit, quin castris quoque exueret: ita nullum spatium perterritis dabat.
Nor did he become more cautious in fighting except in his final years, thinking that the more often he had conquered, the less he should tempt fortune, and that he would acquire nothing so great by a victory as the damage a disaster could bring; yet when he routed the enemy, he did not fail to strip them of their camp as well: so completely did he give no space to those in terror.
ancipiti proelio equos dimittebat et in primis suum, quo maior permanendi necessitas imponeretur auxilio fugae erepto.
In doubtful battles he would dismiss the horses, and first of all his own, so that a greater necessity of remaining might be imposed, the aid of flight having been taken away.
§61utebatur autem equo insigni, pedibus prope humanis et in modum digitorum ungulis fissis, quem natum apud se, cum haruspices imperium orbis terrae significare domino pronuntiassent, magna cura aluit nec patientem sessoris alterius primus ascendit; cuius etiam instar pro aede Veneris Genetricis postea dedicauit.
Moreover, he used a remarkable horse, with feet almost human and hoofs split in the manner of fingers. Having been born on his estate, since the haruspices had declared to its master that it signified the empire of the world, he raised it with great care, and was the first to mount it, as it would not endure any other rider; later he even dedicated a statue of it before the temple of Venus Genetrix.
§62inclinatam aciem solus saepe restituit obsistens fugientibus retinensque singulos et contortis faucibus conuertens in hostem et quidem adeo plerumque trepidos, ut aquilifer moranti se cuspide sit comminatus, alius in manu detinentis reliquerit signum.
He often restored a wavering line of battle by himself, confronting those who fled, holding back individuals, and turning their necks by force toward the enemy; and indeed they were often so terrified that a standard-bearer threatened him with the point of his weapon when he tried to stop him, and another left the standard in the hand of him who held him back.
§63non minor illa constantia eius, maiora etiam indicia fuerint.
No less was that resolution of his, and there would be even greater proofs of it.
post aciem Pharsalicam cum praemissis in Asiam copiis per angustias Hellesponti uectoria nauicula traiceret, L. Cassium partis aduersae cum decem rostratis nauibus obuium sibi neque refugit et comminus tendens, ultro ad deditionem hortatus, supplicem ad se recepit.
After the battle of Pharsalus, when he was crossing the straits of the Hellespont in a small passenger boat, having sent his forces ahead into Asia, he did not flee from Lucius Cassius of the opposing party, who met him with ten beaked ships; but going close to him and of his own accord exhorting him to surrender, he received him as a suppliant.
§64Alexandriae circa oppugnationem pontis eruptione hostium subita conpulsus in scapham pluribus eodem praecipitantibus, cum desilisset in mare, nando per ducentos passus euasit ad proximam nauem, elata laeua, ne libelli quos tenebat madefierent, paludamentum mordicus trahens, ne spolio poteretur hostis.
At Alexandria, during the assault on the bridge, being forced into a skiff by a sudden sally of the enemy, when many others threw themselves into the same boat, he leaped into the sea and escaped by swimming for two hundred paces to the nearest ship, holding up his left hand so that the documents he held might not be wet, and dragging his general's cloak with his teeth, so that the enemy might not possess it as a spoil.
§65Militem neque a moribus neque a fortuna probabat, sed tantum a uiribus, tractabatque pari seueritate atque indulgentia.
He judged a soldier neither by his morals nor by his fortune, but only by his strength, and he treated them with equal severity and indulgence.
non enim ubique ac semper, sed cum hostis in proximo esset, coercebat: tum maxime exactor grauissimus disciplinae, ut neque itineris neque proelii tempus denuntiaret, sed paratum et intentum momentis omnibus quo uellet subito educeret.
For he did not restrain them everywhere and always, but only when the enemy was close at hand; then especially he was a most rigorous exactor of discipline, so that he did not announce the time of a march or a battle, but would suddenly lead them out wherever he wished, ready and alert at all moments.
quod etiam sine causa plerumque faciebat, praecipue pluuiis et festis diebus.
This he did for the most part even without cause, especially on rainy and festive days.
ac subinde obseruandum se admonens repente interdiu uel nocte subtrahebat, augebatque iter, ut serius subsequentis defetigaret.
And frequently warning them to watch him, he would suddenly withdraw by day or by night, and would lengthen the march in order to exhaust those who followed too slowly.
§66fama uero hostilium copiarum perterritos non negando minuendoue, sed insuper amplificando ementiendoque confirmabat.
Indeed, he encouraged those who were terrified by the rumor of the enemy's forces, not by denying or minimizing them, but by exaggerating and lying about them even further.
itaque cum expectatio aduentus Iubae terribilis esset, conuocatis ad contionem militibus: 'scitote,' inquit, 'paucissimis his diebus regem adfuturum cum decem legionibus, equitum triginta, leuis armaturae centum milibus, elephantis trecentis.
Thus, when the expectation of Juba's arrival was terrible, having called the soldiers to an assembly, he said: "Know that in these very few days the king will be here with ten legions, thirty thousand cavalry, a hundred thousand light-armed troops, and three hundred elephants.
proinde desinant quidam quaerere ultra aut opinari mihique, qui compertum habeo, credant; aut quidem uetustissima naue impositos quocumque uento in quascumque terras iubebo auehi. ' §67Delicta neque obseruabat omnia neque pro modo exequebatur, sed desertorum ac seditiosorum et inquisitor et punitor acerrimus coniuebat in ceteris.
Therefore, let certain men cease to inquire further or to conjecture, and let them believe me, who have ascertained the facts; otherwise, I will order them to be put on a very old ship and carried away by any wind to any lands whatsoever." He neither watched all offenses nor punished them according to their measure, but while he was a most fierce investigator and punisher of deserters and mutineers, he winked at the rest.
ac nonnumquam post magnam pugnam atque uictoriam remisso officiorum munere licentiam omnem passim lasciuiendi permittebat, iactare solitus milites suos etiam unguentatos bene pugnare posse.
And sometimes after a great battle and victory, relaxing the duty of offices, he allowed them all license to run riot everywhere, being accustomed to boast that his soldiers could fight well even when perfumed.
nec milites eos pro contione, sed blandiore nomine commilitones appellabat habebatque tam cultos, ut argento et auro politis armis ornaret, simul et ad speciem et quo tenaciores eorum in proelio essent metu damni.
Nor did he call them soldiers before an assembly, but by the more flattering name of fellow-soldiers, and he kept them so well-equipped that he adorned them with weapons polished with silver and gold, both for appearance and that they might be more tenacious of them in battle from fear of loss.
diligebat quoque usque adeo, ut audita clade Tituriana barbam capillumque summiserit nec ante dempserit quam uindicasset.
He loved them also to such a degree that, on hearing of the disaster of Titurius, he let his beard and hair grow, and did not cut them until he had taken vengeance.