History of Rome

​On both sides, the Carthaginian battle-line had been stripped of its cavalry when the infantry clashed, no longer equal either in hope or in strength. In addition to this, there were factors small to mention, but of great importance in the actual conduct of affairs: a unified shout from the Romans, and therefore greater and more terrible, while on their side, there were discordant voices, as is natural with the differing languages of many nations;

​the Roman style of fighting was steady and pressed upon the enemy by both their own weight and that of their arms, while on the other side, there was more running about and speed than force.

​Therefore, at the first charge, the Romans immediately dislodged the enemy’s line from its position. Then, pushing with their shoulders and shield-bosses, advancing step by step against those who were forced back, they marched forward some distance as if no one were resisting, ​with even the rear ranks pushing the front ranks as soon as they perceived that the line was once moved, which itself added great power to drive back the enemy.

​On the enemy’s side, the second line, the Africans and Carthaginienses, so far from supporting the retreating auxiliaries, even retreated themselves on the contrary, lest the enemy should reach them by cutting down those who were resisting stubbornly in the front.

​Therefore, the auxiliaries suddenly turned their backs, and turning towards their own men, some fled into the second line, while others began to cut down those who would not receive them, since they had been unaided shortly before and were then shut out.

​And now there were almost two battles mixed together, since the Carthaginians were compelled to fight at the same time with the enemy and with their own men. They did not, however, receive those who were thus stricken and enraged into their battle-line, ​but closing their ranks, they drove them out onto the wings and the empty field around, outside the battle, lest they should mix a sound and untouched line with soldiers terrified by flight and wounds.

​Moreover, such a great slaughter of men and weapons had filled the place where the auxiliaries had stood shortly before, that passage was almost more difficult than it had been through the crowded enemy.

​Therefore, the hastati, who were in the front, following the enemy through heaps of bodies and weapons and the pool of blood, each where he could, threw their standards and ranks into confusion. The standards of the principes also had begun to waver, seeing a disordered line before them.

​When Scipio saw this, he quickly ordered the signal for retreat to be sounded for the hastati, and having withdrawn the wounded to the rear line, he brought up the principes and triarii to the wings, so that the center line of the hastati might be safer and firmer.

​Thus a new battle began afresh; for they had come to the real enemy, equal both in the nature of their arms, in military experience, in the fame of their deeds, and in the magnitude of either their hope or their danger.

​But the Roman was superior both in number and in courage, because he had already routed the cavalry, already routed the elephants, and, having already beaten the first line, was now fighting against the second.