§21.11.1cum Hanno perorasset, nemini omnium certare oratione cum eo necesse fuit: adeo prope omnis senatus Hannibalis erat; infestiusque locutum arguebant Hannonem quam Flaccum Valerium legatum Romanum.
When Hanno had finished his speech, there was no need for anyone of them all to contend with him in debate: so nearly the entire senate was on Hannibal's side; and they argued that Hanno had spoken with more hostility than Valerius Flaccus, the Roman ambassador.
§21.11.2responsum inde legatis Romanis est, bellum ortum ab Saguntinis, non ab Hannibale esse; populum Romanum iniuste facere, si Saguntinos vetustissimae Carthaginiensium societati praeponat.
Then a reply was given to the Roman ambassadors, that the war had been started by the Saguntines, not by Hannibal; and that the Roman people acted unjustly if they preferred the Saguntines to the most ancient alliance of the Carthaginians.
dum Romani tempus terunt legationibus mittendis, §21.11.3Hannibal, quia fessum militem proeliis operibusque habebat, paucorum iis dierum quietem dedit stationibus ad custodiam vinearum aliorumque operum dispositis.
While the Romans were wasting time in sending embassies, Hannibal, because he had his soldiers weary from battles and works, gave them a rest of a few days, after posting guards for the protection of the mantlets and other siege-works.
interim animos eorum nunc ira in hostis stimulando, nunc spe praemiorum accendit; §21.11.4ut vero pro contione praedam captae urbis edixit militum fore, adeo accensi omnes sunt, ut, si extemplo signum datum esset, nulla vi resisti videretur posse.
Meanwhile, he inflamed their minds, now by stimulating their anger against the enemy, now by the hope of rewards; indeed, when he declared before the assembly that the plunder of the captured city would belong to the soldiers, they were all so fired up that, if the signal had been given immediately, it seemed that they could not have been resisted by any force.
§21.11.5Saguntini ut a proeliis quietem habuerant nec lacessentes nec lacessiti per aliquot dies, ita non nocte, non die umquam cessaverant ab opere, ut novum murum ab ea parte, qua patefactum oppidum ruinis erat, reficerent.
Just as the Saguntines had had rest from battles, neither attacking nor being attacked for several days, so they had never ceased from work day or night, in order to rebuild a new wall in that part where the town had been exposed by the ruins.
§21.11.6inde oppugnatio eos aliquanto atrocior quam ante adorta est, nec, qua primum aut potissimum parte ferrent opem, cum omnia variis clamoribus streperent, satis scire poterant.
Then an assault somewhat more fierce than before fell upon them, and, as everything resounded with various shouts, they could not know well enough in which part they should first or most particularly bring help.
§21.11.7ipse Hannibal, qua turris mobilis omnia munimenta urbis superans altitudine agebatur, hortator aderat.
Hannibal himself was present as an encourager where a movable tower, exceeding in height all the defenses of the city, was being driven forward.
quae cum admota catapultis ballistisque per omnia tabulata dispositis muros defensoribus nudasset, §21.11.8tum Hannibal occasionem ratus quingentos ferme Afros cum dolabris ad subruendum ab imo murum mittit.
When this, having been brought near, had cleared the walls of defenders by means of catapults and ballistas arranged on all its stories, then Hannibal, thinking it an opportunity, sent about five hundred Africans with pickaxes to undermine the wall from its foundation.
nec erat difficile opus, quod caementa non calce durata erant, sed interlita luto structurae antiquo genere.
Nor was it a difficult task, because the stones were not hardened with mortar, but bonded with mud in an ancient style of building.
§21.11.9itaque latius, quam qua caederetur, ruebat, perque patentia ruinis agmina armatorum in urbem vadebant.
Therefore, it fell down more widely than where it was being cut, and through the passages opened by the ruins, bands of armed men made their way into the city.
§21.11.10locum quoque editum capiunt, collatisque eo catapultis ballistisque, ut castellum in ipsa urbe velut arcem imminentem haberent, muro circumdant; et Saguntini murum interiorem ab nondum capta parte urbis ducunt.
They also captured an elevated spot, and having gathered catapults and ballistas there, they surrounded it with a wall in order to have a stronghold within the city itself, like a threatening citadel; and the Saguntines built an inner wall from the part of the city not yet captured.
§21.11.11utrimque summa vi et muniunt et pugnant; sed interiora tuendo minorem in dies urbem Saguntini faciunt.
On both sides they fortified and fought with the greatest force; but by defending the interior, the Saguntines made their city smaller day by day.
§21.11.12simul crescit inopia omnium longa obsidione et minuitur expectatio externae opis, cum tam procul Romani, unica spes, circa omnia hostium essent.
At the same time, the scarcity of all things grew because of the long siege, and the expectation of external help diminished, since the Romans, their only hope, were so far away, and everything around was occupied by the enemy.
§21.11.13paulisper tamen adfectos animos recreavit repentina profectio Hannibalis in Oretanos Carpetanosque, qui duo populi dilectus acerbitate consternati retentis conquisitoribus metum defectionis cum praebuissent, oppressi celeritate Hannibalis omiserunt mota arma.
For a short time, however, the sudden departure of Hannibal against the Oretani and Carpetani revived their discouraged spirits; these two peoples, having caused fear of a rebellion because, terrified by the severity of the levy, they had detained the recruiting officers, were overwhelmed by the speed of Hannibal and laid down the arms they had taken up.