§22.16.1postero die Poeni, quod viae inter bina castra erat, agmine conplevere.
On the following day, the Carthaginians filled with their marching column all the road that was between the two camps.
§22.16.2cum Romani sub ipso constitissent vallo haud dubie aequiore loco, successit tamen Poenus cum expeditis equitibusque ad lacessendum hostem.
When the Romans had taken their stand under the very rampart, in a place undoubtedly more favorable, the Carthaginian nevertheless advanced with light-armed troops and cavalry to harass the enemy.
carptim Poeni et procursando recipiendoque sese pugnavere; restitit suo loco Romana acies.
The Carthaginians fought in a scattered manner, both by charging and retreating; the Roman line stood firm in its position.
§22.16.3lenta pugna et ex dictatoris magis quam Hannibalis fuit voluntate, ducenti ab Romanis, octingenti hostium cecidere.
The battle was slow and more according to the wish of the dictator than that of Hannibal; two hundred on the side of the Romans and eight hundred of the enemy fell.
§22.16.4inclusus inde videri Hannibal via ad Casilinum obsessa, cum Capua et Samnium et tantum ab tergo divitum sociorum Romanis commeatus subveheret, Poenus inter Formiana saxa ac Literni arenas stagnaque et per horridas silvas hibernaturus esset.
From then on, Hannibal seemed to be shut in, with the road to Casilinum blockaded, while Capua and Samnium and so many wealthy allies at their back were bringing up supplies for the Romans, whereas the Carthaginian would have to winter among the rocks of Formiae and the sands and marshes of Liternum, and through wild forests.
§22.16.5nec Hannibalem fefellit suis se artibus peti.
Nor did it escape Hannibal that he was being targeted by his own tactics.
itaque cum per Casilinum euadere non posset petendique montes et iugum Calliculae superandum esset, necubi Romanus inclusum vallibus agmen adgrederetur, §22.16.6ludibrium oculorum specie terribile ad frustrandum hostem commentus principio noctis furtim succedere ad montes statuit.
Therefore, since he could not escape through Casilinum and had to seek the mountains and cross the ridge of Callicula, lest the Roman should anywhere attack his column shut in by the valleys, having devised a visual deception, terrifying in appearance, to frustrate the enemy, he decided to advance secretly to the mountains at the beginning of the night.
fallacis consilii talis apparatus fuit: §22.16.7faces undique ex agris collectae fascesque virgarum atque aridi sarmenti praeligantur cornibus boum, quos domitos indomitosque multos inter ceteram agrestem praedam agebat; §22.16.8ad duo milia ferme boum effecta; Hasdrubalique negotium datum, ut nocte id armentum accensis cornibus ad montis ageret, maxime, si posset, super saltus ab hoste insessos.
The preparation for this deceptive plan was as follows: Torches collected from the fields on all sides and bundles of twigs and dry brushwood were bound to the horns of oxen, of which he was driving many, both tame and wild, among the rest of the rustic booty; about two thousand oxen were made ready; and the task was given to Hasdrubal to drive that herd in the night with their horns set on fire toward the mountains, especially, if he could, above the passes occupied by the enemy.