§21.39.1peropportune ad principia rerum Taurinis, proximae genti, adversus Insubres motum bellum erat.
Very opportunely for the beginning of operations, a war had broken out between the Taurini, the nearest tribe, and the Insubres.
sed armare exercitum Hannibal, ut parti alteri auxilio esset, in reficiendo maxime sentientem contracta ante mala, non poterat: §21.39.2otium enim ex labore, copia ex inopia, cultus ex inluvie tabeque squalida et prope efferata corpora varie movebat.
But Hannibal could not arm his army to be of assistance to the other party, as it was feeling most acutely, especially while recovering, the hardships previously contracted; for rest after labor, abundance after want, and care after filth and squalor affected their dirty and almost brutalized bodies in various ways.
§21.39.3ea P. Cornelio consuli causa fuit, cum Pisas navibus venisset, exercitu a Manlio Atilioque accepto tirone et in novis ignominiis trepido ad Padum festinandi, ut cum hoste nondum refecto manus consereret.
That was the reason for the consul P. Cornelius, when he had come to Pisa by ship, having received from Manlius and Atilius an army of raw recruits and one trembling from recent disgraces, to hasten to the Po, so that he might join battle with an enemy not yet recovered.
§21.39.4sed cum Placentiam consul venit, iam ex stativis moverat Hannibal Taurinorumque unam urbem, caput gentis eius, quia volentes in amicitiam non veniebant, vi expugnarat; §21.39.5ac iunxisset sibi non metu solum sed etiam voluntate Gallos accolas Padi, ni eos circumspectantis defectionis tempus subito adventu consul oppressisset.
But when the consul came to Placentia, Hannibal had already moved from his stationary camp, and had taken by force one city of the Taurini, the capital of that tribe, because they did not come into friendship willingly; and he would have joined to himself, not by fear alone but also by goodwill, the Gauls dwelling near the Po, had not the consul, by his sudden arrival, crushed them while they were looking out for a time to revolt.
§21.39.6et Hannibal movit ex Taurinis, incertos, quae pars sequenda esset, Gallos praesentem secuturos esse ratus.
Hannibal also moved from the Taurini, thinking that the Gauls, uncertain which side they ought to follow, would follow the one who was present.
§21.39.7iam prope in conspectu erant exercitus convenerantque duces sicuti inter se nondum satis noti, ita iam inbutus uterque quadam admiratione alterius.
Now the armies were almost in sight of each other, and the generals had met, not yet well known to each other, but each already imbued with a certain admiration for the other.
§21.39.8nam Hannibalis et apud Romanos iam ante Sagunti excidium celeberrimum nomen erat, et Scipionem Hannibal eo ipso, quod adversus se dux potissimum lectus esset, praestantem virum credebat; §21.39.9et auxerant inter se opinionem, Scipio, quod relictus in Gallia obvius fuerat in Italiam transgresso Hannibali, Hannibal et conatu tam audaci traiciendarum Alpium et effectu.
For the name of Hannibal had been very famous among the Romans even before the destruction of Saguntum, and Hannibal believed Scipio to be an outstanding man for this very reason, that he had been chosen above all others as the general against him; and they had increased this opinion of each other, Scipio because, though left behind in Gaul, he had met Hannibal as he crossed into Italy, and Hannibal both by his so bold attempt of crossing the Alps and by its achievement.
§21.39.10occupavit tamen Scipio Padum traicere, et ad Ticinum amnem motis castris, priusquam educeret in aciem, adhortandorum militum causa talem orationem est exorsus:
Scipio, however, anticipated him in crossing the Po, and having moved his camp to the river Ticinus, before he led his men out into line of battle, he began a speech of this kind for the purpose of encouraging his soldiers: