§14.2.1ἐπειδὴ δὲ τὰ μὲν τῆς ἐαρινῆς ὥρας ὑπέφαινεν ἤδη, τῷ δὲ Σκιπίωνι πάντα διηρεύνητο πρὸς τὴν προειρημένην ἐπιβολὴν τὰ κατὰ τοὺς ὑπεναντίους, §14.2.2τὰς μὲν νῆας καθεῖλκε καὶ μηχανὰς κατεσκεύαζε ταύταις ὡς πολιορκήσων ἐκ θαλάττης τὴν Ἰτύκην, τοῖς δὲ πεζοῖς, §14.2.3οὖσιν ὡς δισχιλίοις, κατελάβετο πάλιν τὸν ὑπὲρ τὴν πόλιν κείμενον λόφον, καὶ τοῦτον ὠχυροῦτο καὶ διετάφρευε πολυτελῶς, §14.2.4τοῖς μὲν ὑπεναντίοις ποιῶν φαντασίαν ὡς τοῦτο πράττων τῆς πολιορκίας ἕνεκα, τῇ δʼ ἀληθείᾳ βουλόμενος ἐφεδρεύειν τοῖς κατὰ τὸν τῆς πράξεως καιρόν, ἵνα μὴ τῶν στρατοπέδων ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς χωρισθέντων οἱ τὴν Ἰτύκην παραφυλάττοντες στρατιῶται τολμήσαιεν ἐξελθόντες ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἐγχειρεῖν τῷ χάρακι διὰ τὸ σύνεγγυς εἶναι, καὶ πολιορκεῖν τοὺς φυλάττοντας.
When the signs of the spring season were already beginning to appear, and Scipio had investigated everything concerning the enemy for the aforementioned enterprise, he, on the one hand, launched his ships and constructed siege engines on them as if he were going to besiege Utica from the sea, and on the other hand, with the infantry, who were about two thousand, he again occupied the hill lying above the city, and fortified it and thoroughly entrenched it, making a show to the enemy as if he were doing this for the sake of the siege, but in truth wishing to lie in reserve for the time of the action, so that when the main forces departed from the camp, the soldiers guarding Utica might not, because of the proximity, venture to come out of the city and attack the palisade, and besiege those guarding it.
§14.2.5ταῦτα δὲ παρασκευαζόμενος ἅμα διεπέμπετο πρὸς τὸν Σόφακα, πυνθανόμενος, ἐὰν συγχωρῇ τοῖς παρακαλουμένοις, εἰ καὶ τοῖς Καρχηδονίοις ἔσται ταῦτα κατὰ νοῦν καὶ μὴ πάλιν ἐκεῖνοι φήσουσι βουλεύσεσθαι περὶ τῶν συγχωρουμένων.
While making these preparations, he at the same time sent messengers to Syphax, inquiring whether, if he agreed to what was requested, this would also be to the mind of the Carthaginians, and they would not say again that they would deliberate about what had been agreed upon.
§14.2.6ἅμα δὲ τούτοις προσενετείλατο τοῖς πρεσβευταῖς μὴ πρότερον ὡς αὑτὸν ἀπιέναι πρὶν ἢ λαβεῖν ἀπόκρισιν ὑπὲρ τούτων.
At the same time, he gave additional instructions to the envoys not to return to him before they received an answer regarding these matters.
§14.2.7ὧν ἀφικομένων διακούσας ὁ Νομὰς ἐπείσθη διότι πρὸς τὸ συντελεῖν ἐστι τὰς διαλύσεις ὁ Σκιπίων, ἔκ τε τοῦ φάναι τοὺς πρέσβεις μὴ πρότερον ἀπαλλαγήσεσθαι πρὶν ἢ λαβεῖν παρʼ αὐτοῦ τὰς ἀποκρίσεις, ἔκ τε τοῦ διευλαβεῖσθαι τὴν τῶν Καρχηδονίων συγκατάθεσιν.
When they arrived and he had heard them out, the Numidian was convinced that Scipio was inclined to conclude the treaty, both because the envoys said they would not depart before receiving the answers from him, and because he was highly cautious about the consent of the Carthaginians.
§14.2.8διὸ καὶ πρὸς μὲν τὸν Ἀσδρούβαν ἐξ αὐτῆς ἔπεμπε, διασαφῶν τὰ γινόμενα καὶ παρακαλῶν δέχεσθαι τὴν εἰρήνην, αὐτὸς δὲ ῥᾳθύμως διῆγε, καὶ τοὺς ἐπισυναγομένους Νομάδας ἐκτὸς εἴα τῆς παρεμβολῆς αὐτοῦ κατασκηνοῦν.
Therefore, he immediately sent to Hasdrubal, explaining what was happening and urging him to accept the peace, while he himself spent his time carelessly and allowed the assembling Numidians to pitch their tents outside his camp.
§14.2.9ὁ δὲ Πόπλιος κατὰ μὲν τὴν ἐπίφασιν ἐποίει τὸ παραπλήσιον, κατὰ δὲ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα περὶ τὰς παρασκευὰς ἦν.
Publius, as far as appearance went, did the same, but in truth he was occupied above all with his preparations.
§14.2.10ἐπειδὴ δὲ παρὰ μὲν τῶν Καρχηδονίων τῷ Σόφακι διεσαφήθη συντελεῖν τὰ κατὰ τὰς συνθήκας, ὁ δὲ Νομὰς περιχαρὴς ὢν εἶπε τοῖς πρεσβευταῖς ὑπὲρ τούτων, εὐθέως οἱ πρέσβεις ἀπῄεσαν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν παρεμβολήν, μηνύσοντες τῷ Ποπλίῳ τὰ πραχθέντα παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως.
When the Carthaginians made it clear to Syphax that they would conclude the treaty according to the conditions, and the Numidian, being overjoyed, spoke to the envoys about this, the envoys immediately departed for their own camp in order to report to Publius what had been done by the king.
§14.2.11ὧν ἀκούσας ὁ τῶν Ῥωμαίων στρατηγὸς αὖθις ἐκ ποδὸς ἔπεμπε πρέσβεις, δηλώσοντας τῷ Σόφακι διότι συμβαίνει τὸν μὲν Πόπλιον εὐδοκεῖν καὶ σπουδάζειν ὑπὲρ τῆς εἰρήνης, τοὺς δʼ ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ διαφέρεσθαι καὶ φάναι διαμένειν ἐπὶ τῶν ὑποκειμένων· §14.2.12οἳ καὶ παραγενόμενοι διεσάφησαν ταῦτα τῷ Νομάδι.
Hearing this, the Roman general immediately sent envoys again to declare to Syphax that Publius himself approved of and was eager for the peace, but those in the council disagreed and said they must abide by the original terms; who, on arrival, made these things clear to the Numidian.
§14.2.13τὴν δʼ ἀποστολὴν ταύτην ὁ Σκιπίων ἐποιήσατο χάριν τοῦ μὴ δόξαι παρασπονδεῖν, ἐὰν ἔτι μενούσης τῆς ὑπὲρ τῶν διαλύσεων ἐπικηρυκείας πρὸς ἀλλήλους πράξῃ τι τῶν πολεμικῶν ἔργων.
Scipio made this dispatch for the purpose of not appearing to break faith, if, while the negotiations for the treaty were still going on between them, he should perform any act of war.
§14.2.14γενομένης δὲ τῆς ἀπορρήσεως ταύτης ἅπαν τὸ γινόμενον ἀνεπίληπτον ἕξειν ὑπέλαβε τὴν προαίρεσιν.
He believed that since this declaration of refusal had been made, everything that was about to happen would leave his purpose free from blame.