§21.12.1nec Sagunti oppugnatio segnior erat Maharbale Himilconis filio — eum praefecerat Hannibal — ita inpigre rem agente, ut ducem abesse nec cives nec hostes sentirent.
Nor was the siege of Saguntum any less vigorous under Maharbal, the son of Himilco—whom Hannibal had put in command—who conducted operations so energetically that neither the citizens nor the enemy felt that the leader was absent.
§21.12.2is et proelia aliquot secunda fecit et tribus arietibus aliquantum muri discussit strataque omnia recentibus ruinis advenienti Hannibali ostendit.
He both fought several successful battles and demolished a considerable part of the wall with three battering rams, and showed to Hannibal upon his arrival everything leveled with recent ruins.
§21.12.3itaque ad ipsam arcem extemplo ductus exercitus, atroxque proelium cum multorum utrimque caede initum et pars arcis capta est.
Therefore, the army was immediately led to the citadel itself, and a fierce battle was begun with great slaughter on both sides, and a part of the citadel was captured.
temptata deinde per duos est exigua pacis spes, Alconem Saguntinum et Alorcum Hispanum.
Then, a slight hope of peace was attempted by two men, Alco the Saguntine and Alorcus the Spaniard.
§21.12.4Alco insciis Saguntinis, precibus aliquid moturum ratus, cum ad Hannibalem noctu transisset, postquam nihil lacrimae movebant condicionesque tristes ut ab irato victore ferebantur, transfuga ex oratore factus apud hostem mansit, moriturum adfirmans, qui sub condicionibus iis de pace ageret.
Alco, without the knowledge of the Saguntines, thinking that he would accomplish something by entreaties, when he had crossed over to Hannibal by night, after his tears moved nothing and harsh conditions were offered as if by an angry victor, became a deserter instead of an envoy and remained with the enemy, asserting that anyone who should treat for peace under those conditions would die.
§21.12.5postulabatur autem, redderent res Turdetanis traditoque omni auro atque argento egressi urbe cum singulis vestimentis ibi habitarent, ubi Poenus iussisset.
Moreover, it was demanded that they should restore their property to the Turdetani, and, having handed over all their gold and silver, depart from the city with a single garment each, and dwell where the Carthaginian should command.
§21.12.6has pacis leges abnuente Alcone accepturos Saguntinos, Alorcus, vinci animos, ubi alia vincantur, adfirmans, se pacis eius interpretem fore pollicetur; erat autem tum miles Hannibalis, ceterum publice Saguntinis amicus atque hospes.
While Alco denied that the Saguntines would accept these terms of peace, Alorcus, asserting that minds are conquered when other things are conquered, promised that he would be the mediator of this peace; now he was at that time a soldier of Hannibal, but otherwise publicly a friend and guest-friend of the Saguntines.
§21.12.7tradito palam telo custodibus hostium transgressus munimenta ad praetorem Saguntinum — et ipse ita iubebat — est deductus.
Having openly handed over his weapon to the guards of the enemy, he crossed the fortifications and was conducted to the Saguntine magistrate—and he himself was so ordering.
§21.12.8quo cum extemplo concursus omnis generis hominum esset factus, summota cetera multitudine senatus Alorco datus est, cuius talis oratio fuit:
When a crowd of every kind of people had immediately gathered there, the rest of the multitude was cleared away, and an audience with the senate was granted to Alorcus, whose speech was as follows: