§22.17.1primis tenebris silentio mota castra; boves aliquanto ante signa acti.
At the first darkness, the camp was moved in silence; the oxen were driven some distance ahead of the standards.
§22.17.2ubi ad radices montium viasque angustas ventum est, signum extemplo datur, ut accensis cornibus armenta in adversos concitentur montes; et metus ipse relucentis flammae a capite calorque iam ad vivum ad imaque cornua veniens velut stimulatos furore agebat boves.
When they arrived at the foot of the mountains and the narrow passes, the signal was immediately given that the herds, with their horns set on fire, should be driven up the opposing mountains; and the very fear of the flame reflecting from their heads and the heat already reaching the quick and the roots of their horns drove the oxen forward as if stimulated by madness.
§22.17.3quo repente discursu haud secus quam silvis montibusque accensis omnia circa virgulta uisa ardere, capitumque irrita quassatio excitans flammam hominum passim discurrentium speciem praebebat.
By this sudden dispersion, just as if the forests and mountains had been set on fire, all the brushwood around seemed to burn, and the useless shaking of their heads, which fanned the flame, presented the appearance of men running about in all directions.
§22.17.4qui ad transitum saltus insidendum locati erant, ubi in summis montibus ac super se quosdam ignes conspexere, circumventos se esse rati praesidio excessere; qua minime densae micabant lammae, velut tutissimum iter petentes summa montium iuga, tamen in quosdam boves palatos a suis gregibus inciderunt.
Those who had been stationed to occupy the pass, when they saw certain fires on the tops of the mountains and above themselves, thinking they were surrounded, abandoned their post; making for the highest ridges of the mountains as if seeking the safest path where the flames gleamed least densely, they nevertheless ran into some oxen that had strayed from their herds.
et primo cum procul cernerent, veluti flammas spirantium miraculo attoniti constiterunt; §22.17.5deinde ut humana apparuit fraus, §22.17.6tum vero, insidias rati esse, cum maiore tumultu concitant se in fugam.
And at first, when they saw them from a distance, they stood still, astonished as if by the marvel of creatures breathing fire; then, when it appeared to be a human deception, then indeed, thinking it was an ambush, they turned to flight with greater tumult.
levi quoque armaturae hostium incurrere; ceterum nox aequato timore neutros pugnam incipientis ad lucem tenuit.
They also ran into the light-armed troops of the enemy; but the night, with fear equalized on both sides, held them back until daylight, neither side beginning a battle.
§22.17.7interea toto agmine Hannibal transducto per saltum et quibusdam in ipso saltu hostium oppressis in agro Allifano posuit castra.
Meanwhile, Hannibal, having led his entire army through the pass and having overwhelmed some of the enemy in the pass itself, pitched his camp in the territory of Allifae.