1 XLIX. In a tranverse direction] “Transverso itinere.” It lay on the flank of the Romans as they marched toward the river, in dextero latere. c. 49, fin
2 Well acquainted with the country] “Prudentes.” “"Periti loci et regionis"” Cortius. Or it may mean knowing what they were to do, while the enemy would be imperiti, surprised and perplexed.
3 Would crown] “Confirmaturum.” Would establish, settle, put the last hand to them.
4 Was seen] “Conspicitur.” This is the reading adopted by Cortius, Müller and Allen as being that of all the manuscripts. Havercamp, Kritzius, and Dietsch admitted into their texts, on the sole authority of Donatus ad Ter. Eun. ii. 3, conspicatur, i.e. (Metellus) catches sight of the enemy. The latter reading, perhaps, makes a better connection.
5 Rendering it uncertain] “Incerti.” Presenting such an appearance that a spectator could not be certain what they were.
6 He drew up these in the right wing--in three lines] “In dextero latere-triplicibus subsidiis aciem instruxit.” In the other passages in which Sallust has the word subsidia (Cat. c. 59) he uses it for the lines behind the front. Thus he says of Catiline, Octo cohortes in fronte constituit; reliqua signa in subsidiis arctiùs collocat; and of Petreius, Cohortes veteranas--in fronte; post eas reliquum exercitum in subsidiis locat. But whether he uses the word in the same sense here: whether we might, as Cortius thinks (whom Gerlach and Dietsch follow), call the division of Metellus's troops quadruple instead of triple, or whether he arranged them, as De Brosses and others suppose, in the usual disposition of Hastati, Principes, and Triarii, who shall place beyond dispute? The probability, however, if Sallust is consistent with himself in his use of the word, lies with Cortius. Gerlach refers to Cæsar, De Bell, Civ., iii. 89: " Celeriter ex tertiâ acie singulas cohortes detraxit, atque ex his quartam instituit; but this does not illustrate Sallust's use of the word subsidia: Cæsar forms a fourth acies; Metellus draws up one acies "triplicibus subsidia."
7 With the front changed into a flank] “Transversis principiis.” He made the whole army wheel to the left, so that what was their front line, or principia, as they faced the enemy on the hill, became their flank as they marched from the mountain toward the river.
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