§22.45.1dum altercationibus magis quam consiliis tempus teritur, Hannibal ex acie, quam ad multum diei tenuerat instructam, cum in castra ceteras reciperet copias, §22.45.2Numidas ad invadendos ex minoribus castris Romanorum aquatores trans flumen mittit.
While time was being wasted in altercations rather than in deliberations, Hannibal, when he was withdrawing the rest of his forces into the camp from the battle line which he had kept drawn up for a large part of the day, sent the Numidians across the river to attack the Roman water-gatherers coming from the smaller camp.
§22.45.3quam inconditam turbam cum vixdum in ripam egressi clamore ac tumultu fugassent, in stationem quoque pro vallo locatam atque in ipsas prope portas evecti sunt.
When they, having scarcely yet ascended the bank, had routed this disorderly crowd with clamor and tumult, they rode on even against the outpost stationed in front of the rampart and almost up to the very gates.
§22.45.4id vero adeo indignum visum ab tumultuario auxilio iam etiam castra Romana terreri, ut ea modo una causa, ne extemplo transirent flumen derigerentque aciem, tenuerit Romanos, quod summa imperii eo die penes Paulum fuit.
But it indeed seemed so shameful that even the Roman camp was now being terrified by a disorderly auxiliary force, that only this one cause—that the chief command on that day was held by Paulus—restrained the Romans from immediately crossing the river and drawing up their line of battle.
§22.45.5itaque postero die Varro, cui sors eius diei imperii erat, nihil consulto collega signum proposuit instructasque copias flumen traduxit, sequente Paulo, quia magis non probare quam non adiuvare consilium poterat.
Therefore, on the following day, Varro, who had the command for that day by lot, without consulting his colleague at all, displayed the signal and led the drawn-up forces across the river, with Paulus following, because he was less able to disapprove the plan than not to assist it.
§22.45.6transgressi flumen eas quoque, quas in castris minoribus habuerant, copias suis adiungunt atque ita instruunt aciem: in dextro cornu — id erat gumini propius — Romanos equites locant, deinde pedites; §22.45.7laevum cornu extremi equites sociorum, intra pedites, ad medium iuncti legionibus Romanis, tenuerunt; iaculatores cum ceteris levium armorum auxiliis prima acies facta.
Having crossed the river, they joined those forces also, which they had kept in the smaller camp, to their own, and thus drew up the line of battle: on the right wing—which was closer to the river—they stationed the Roman cavalry, and next, the infantry; the outermost cavalry of the allies held the left wing, and inside, the allied infantry, joined to the Roman legions toward the center; the javelin-throwers, with the rest of the light-armed auxiliaries, formed the front line.
§22.45.8consules cornua tenuere, Terentius laevum, Aemilius dextrum; Gemino Servilio media pugna tuenda data.
The consuls held the wings, Terentius the left, Aemilius the right; to Gemino Servilio was given the task of guarding the center of the battle.