Julius Caesar, Civil War, ed. William Duncan, 3.87

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Labienus spoke next, highly applauding this scheme of Pompey, and expressing the greatest contempt of Caesar’s army: Think not, says he, addressing himself to Pompey, that these are the legions which conquered Gaul and Germany . I was present in all those battles, and can, of my own knowledge, affirm, that but a very small part of that army now remains: great numbers have been killed, as must of necessity happen, in such a variety of conflicts: many perished during the autumnal pestilence in Apulia : many are returned to their own habitations: and not a few were left behind to guard Italy . Have you not heard, that the cohorts in garrison, at Brundusium , are made up of invalids ? The forces, which you now behold, are composed of new levies, raised in Lombardy , and the colonies beyond the Po: for the veterans, in whom consisted the main strength of the army, perished all in the two defeats at Dyrrhachium . Having finished this speech, he took an oath, which he proffered to all that were present, never to return to camp otherwise than victorious. Pompey commended his zeal, took the oath himself, and the rest followed his example, without hesitation. After these endeparted, full of joy and expectation; considering themselves as already victorious, and relying, entirely on the ability of their general; who, in an affair of that importance, they were confident would promise nothing without an assurance of success.

Civil War. Julius Caesar. ed. William Duncan. St. Louis. 1856.

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Current edition Perseus

Commentaries on the Civil War (English) (Julius Caesar. The Commentaries of Caesar. Duncan, William, translator. St. Louis: Edwards and Bushnell, 1856.)

Editions (2)

De Bello Civili Perseus (Julius Caesar. C. Iuli Caesaris Commentariorum Pars Posterior Qua Continentur Libri III De Bello Civili. Du Pontet, Renatus, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1901.) — 3.87.1 focus

[1] Hunc Labienus excepit, ut, cum Caesaris copias despiceret, Pompei consilium summis laudibus efferret, noli, inquit existimare, Pompei, hunc esse exercitum, qui Galliam Germaniamque devicerit.

[2] omnibus interfui proeliis neque temere incognitam rem pronuntio. perexigua pars illius exercitus superest; magna pars deperiit, quod accidere tot proeliis fuit necesse, multos autumni pestilentia in Italia consumpsit, multi domum discesserunt, multi sunt relicti in continenti.

[3] an non exaudistis ex iis qui per causam valetudinis remanserunt, cohortes esse Brundisii factas?

[4] hae copiae quas videtis, ex dilectibus horum annorum in citeriore Gallia sunt refectae, et plerique sunt ex coloniis Transpadanis. ac tamen, quod fuit roboris, duobus proeliis Dyrrachinis interiit.

[5] haec cum dixisset, iuravit se nisi victorem in castra non reversurum, reliquosque ut idem facerent hortatus est.

[6] hoc laudans Pompeius idem iuravit; nec vero ex reliquis fuit quisquam qui iurare dubitaret.

[7] haec cum facta sunt in consilio, magna spe et laetitia omnium discessum est; ac iam animo victoriam praecipiebant, quod de re tanta et a tam perito imperatore nihil frustra confirmari videbatur.

The Civil Wars Perseus (Julius Caesar. The Civil Wars. Peskett, Arthur George, editor. London, UK: William Heinemann; New York, NY, 1914.) — 3.87 focus

Hunc Labienus excepit et, cum Caesaris copias despiceret. Pompei consilium summis laudibus efferret, noli, inquit, existimare, Pompei, hunc esse exercitum,qui Galliam Germaniamque devicerit. Omnibus interfui proeliis neque temere incognitam rem pronuntio. Perexigua pars illius exercitus superest; magna pars deperiit, quod accidere tot proeliis fuit necesse, multos autumni pestilentia in Italia consumpsit, multi domum discesserunt, multi sunt relicti in continenti. An non audistis ex eis, qui per causam valetudinis remanserunt, cohortes esse Brundisi factas? Hae copiae, quas videtis, ex dilectibus horum annorum in citeriore Gallia sunt refectae, et plerique sunt ex coloniis Transpadanis. Ac tamen quod fuit roboris duobus proeliis Dyrrachinis interiit. Haec cum dixisset, iuravit se nisi victorem in castra non reversurum reliquosque, ut idem facerent, hortatus est. Hoc laudans Pompeius idem iuravit; nec vero ex reliquis fuit quisquam, qui iurare dubitaret. Haec cum facta sunt in consilio, magna spe et laetitia omnium discessum est; ac iam animo victoriam praecipiebant, quod de re tanta et a tam petito imperatore nihil frustra confirmari videbatur.

Translations (1)

The Civil Wars Perseus (Julius Caesar. The Civil Wars. Peskett, Arthur George, translator. London, UK: William Heinemann; New York, NY, 1914.) — 3.87 focus

Labienus followed him. Depreciating Caesar’s forces and extolling to the utmost the strategy of Pompeius, he said: Do not suppose, Pompeius, that this is the army that subdued Gaul and Germany. I was present at all the battles and do not rashly pronounce on a matter of which I am ignorant. A very small part of that army survives; a great part of it has perished—a necessary result of so many battles; autumnal pestilence has destroyed many in Italy; many have departed home; many have been left on the mainland. Have you not heard that cohorts have been composed at Brundisium of those who remained behind on the pretence of ill-health? These forces which you see have been made up from the levies of these last few years in hither Gaul, and most of them come from the Transpadane colonies. And nevertheless all the flower of them has fallen in the two Dyrrachian battles. Having said this, he swore that he would not return to the camp except as conqueror and exhorted the rest to do the same. Pompeius, commending this, took the same oath, nor was there any one of the rest who hesitated to swear. Such were their proceedings at this council, and they departed with general rejoicing and high expectation. And already in their thoughts they were anticipating the victory, because it did not seem likely that they should receive groundless encouragement on so important a matter and from so experienced a commander.

Julius Caesar Civil War 3.87

ed. William Duncan

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