§22.15.1Fabius in suos haud minus quam hostis intentus prius ab illis invictum animum praestat.
Fabius, no less intent upon his own men than upon the enemy, first of all showed a mind unconquered by them.
quamquam probe scit non in castris modo suis sed iam etiam Romae infamem suam cunctationem esse, obstinatus tamen tenore eodem consiliorum aestatis reliquum extraxit, §22.15.2ut Hannibal destitutus ab spe summa ope petiti certaminis iam hibernis locum circumspectaret, quia ea regio praesentis erat copiae, non perpetuae, arbusta vineaeque et consita omnia magis amoenis quam necessariis fructibus.
Although he knew full well that his delay was disreputable not only in his own camp but now also in Rome, yet remaining obstinate in the same course of his counsels, he dragged out the remainder of the summer, so that Hannibal, disappointed of his hope of the battle he had sought with the greatest effort, was now looking around for a place for winter quarters, because that region was of present supply, not permanent, its orchards, vineyards, and all planted areas being filled with fruits more pleasant than necessary.
haec per exploratores relata Fabio.
These things were reported to Fabius by scouts.
§22.15.3cum satis sciret per easdem angustias, quibus intraverat Falernum agrum, §22.15.4rediturum, Calliculam montem et Casilinum occupat modicis praesidiis, quae urbs Vulturno flumine dirempta Falernum a Campano agro dividit; ipse iugis isdem exercitum reducit misso exploratum cum quadringentis equitibus sociorum L. Hostilio Mancino.
Since he knew well enough that the enemy would return through the same narrow passes by which he had entered the Falernian territory, he occupied Mount Callicula and Casilinum with moderate garrisons, which city, divided by the Vulturnus river, separates the Falernian from the Campanian territory; he himself led his army back along the same ridges, having sent Lucius Hostilius Mancinus with four hundred allied cavalry to reconnoiter.
§22.15.5qui ex turba iuvenum audientium saepe ferociter contionantem magistrum equitum progressus primo exploratoris modo, ut ex tuto specularetur hostem, ubi vagos passim per vicos Numidas prospexit ac per occasionem etiam paucos occidit, §22.15.6extemplo occupatus certamine est animus excideruntque praecepta dictatoris, qui, quantum tuto posset, progressum prius recipere sese iusserat, quam in conspectum hostium veniret.
He, having set out from the crowd of young men who often listened to the master of horse haranguing fiercely, proceeded at first in the manner of a scout, so that he might watch the enemy from a safe place; but when he saw the Numidians wandering everywhere through the villages and even killed a few on occasion, his mind was immediately seized by the desire for battle, and the instructions of the dictator slipped his memory, who had ordered him to retreat before he came into the sight of the enemy, having advanced only as far as he safely could.
§22.15.7Numidae alii atque alii occursantes refugientesque ad castra prope ipsa eum cum fatigatione equorum atque hominum pertraxere.
The Numidians, appearing now here now there and fleeing, drew him on, with the exhaustion of both horses and men, almost to their very camp.
§22.15.8inde Carthalo penes quem summa equestris imperii erat, concitatis equis invectus cum prius, quam ad coniectum teli veniret, avertisset hostis, quinque ferme milia continenti cursu secutus est fugientis.
Then Carthalo, in whose hands was the supreme command of the cavalry, having charged with spurred horses, put the enemy to flight before he came within weapon-cast, and followed them in their flight for nearly five miles in a continuous pursuit.
§22.15.9Mancinus, postquam nec hostem desistere sequi nec spem vidit effugiendi esse, cohortatus suos in proelium rediit omni parte virium inpar.
Mancinus, after he saw that the enemy would not stop pursuing and that there was no hope of escape, encouraged his men and returned to the battle, though unequal in every part of his strength.
§22.15.10itaque ipse et delecti equitum circumventi occiduntur; ceteri effuso cursu Cales primum, inde prope inviis callibus ad dictatorem perfugerunt.
And so he himself and the elite of the cavalry, having been surrounded, were slain; the rest fled in a headlong run first to Cales, and thence through almost pathless tracks to the dictator.
§22.15.11eo forte die Minucius se coniunxerat Fabio missus ad firmandum praesidio saltur, qui super Tarracinam in artas coactus fauces imminet maria, ne ab Sinuessa Poenus Appiae limite pervenire in agrum Romanum posset.
On that day, by chance, Minucius had joined Fabius, having been sent to secure with a garrison the pass which, narrowed into tight gorges above Tarracina, overlooks the sea, so that the Carthaginian might not be able to reach the Roman territory from Sinuessa by the Appian Way.
§22.15.12coniunctis exercitibus dictator ac magister equitum castra in viam deferunt, qua Hannibal ducturus erat.
Having united their armies, the dictator and the master of horse moved their camp down to the road along which Hannibal was about to lead his troops.
duo inde milia hostes aberant.
The enemy were two miles distant from there.