§22.2.1dum consul placandis Romae dis habendoque dilectu dat operam, Hannibal profectus ex hibernis, quia iam Flaminium consulem Arretium pervenisse fama erat,
While the consul was occupied at Rome with appeasing the gods and holding the levy, Hannibal set out from his winter quarters, because there was already a report that the consul Flaminius had arrived at Arretium.
§22.2.2cum aliud longius, ceterum commodius ostenderetur iter, propiorem viam per paludes petit, qua fluvius Arnus per eos dies solito magis inundaverat.
Although another longer but more convenient route was pointed out, he took the shorter way through the marshes, where the river Arno had during those days flooded more than usual.
§22.2.3Hispanos et Afros et omne veterani robur exercitus admixtis ipsorum inpedimentis, necubi consistere coactis necessaria ad usus deessent, primos ire iussit,
He ordered the Spaniards and Africans and the whole veteran strength of the army to march first, with their own baggage mixed among them, so that, if they were forced to halt anywhere, they might not lack the necessities for their use.
§22.2.4sequi Gallos, ut id agminis medium esset, novissimos ire equites, Magonem inde cum expeditis Numidis cogere agmen, maxime Gallos, si taedio laboris longaeque viae, ut est mollis ad talia gens, dilaberentur aut subsisterent, cohibentem.
The Gauls were to follow, so that this might be the center of the column, the cavalry to go last, and Mago with his light-armed Numidians to bring up the rear, keeping a check especially on the Gauls, lest through weariness of labor and of the long march they should disperse or halt, as they are a nation soft for such hardships.
§22.2.5primi, qua modo praeirent duces, per praealtas fluvii ac profundas voragines hausti paene limo inmergentesque se tamen signa sequebantur.
The first, wherever the guides could but lead the way, through the very deep pools and abysses of the river, though almost swallowed up and sinking in the mud, nevertheless followed the standards.
§22.2.6Galli neque sustinere se prolapsi neque adsurgere ex voraginibus poterant neque aut corpora animis aut animos spe sustinebant, alii fessa aegre trahentes membra, §22.2.7alii, ubi semel victis taedio animis procubuissent, inter iumenta et ipsa iacentia passim morientes; maximeque omnium vigiliae conficiebant per quadriduum iam et tres noctes toleratae.
The Gauls could neither support themselves when they slipped, nor raise themselves from the abysses, nor did they sustain either their bodies with their spirits, or their spirits with hope, some dragging their exhausted limbs with difficulty, others, when once their spirits had fallen, overcome by weariness, dying scattered here and there among the beasts of burden which were themselves lying down; and more than all else, the lack of sleep, endured now for four days and three nights, was wearing them out.
§22.2.8cum omnia obtinentibus aquis nihil, ubi in sicco fessa sternerent corpora, §22.2.9inveniri posset, cumulatis in aqua sarcinis insuper incumbebant aut iumentorum itinere toto prostratorum passim acervi tantum, quod extaret aqua, quaerentibus ad quietem parvi temporis necessarium cubile dabant.
Since water covered everything, and no place could be found on dry ground where they might stretch their weary bodies, they lay down on top of their baggage piled up in the water, or the heaps of beasts of burden, which lay prostrate everywhere along the whole route, provided for those who sought only what stood out above the water a necessary bed for a short rest.
§22.2.10ipse Hannibal, aeger oculis ex verna primum intemperie variante calores frigoraque, elephanto qui unus superfuerat, §22.2.11quo altius ab aqua extaret, vectus, vigiliis tamen et nocturno umore palustrique caelo gravante caput, et quia medendi nec locus nec tempus erat, altero oculo capitur.
Hannibal himself, suffering in his eyes, at first from the spring weather which varied between heat and cold, rode on the only elephant that had survived, that he might be elevated higher above the water; yet, with the lack of sleep, the night dampness, and the marshy air oppressing his head, and because there was neither place nor time for healing, he lost one of his eyes.