§22.49.1parte altera pugnae Paulus, quamquam primo statim proelio funda graviter ictus fuerat, §22.49.2tamen et occurrit saepe cum confertis Hannibali et aliquot locis proelium restituit, protegentibus eum equitibus Romanis, omissis postremo equis, quia consulem ad regendum equum vires deficiebant.
On the other side of the battle, the consul Paullus, although he had been severely wounded by a sling-stone at the very beginning of the battle, yet repeatedly opposed Hannibal with closely packed men and in several places restored the fight, with Roman cavalry protecting him, though they finally abandoned their horses because strength was failing the consul to guide his horse.
§22.49.3tum nuntianti cuidam, iussisse consulem ad pedes descendere equites, dixisse Hannibalem ferunt “quam mallem, vinctos mihi traderet. ” equitum pedestre proelium, §22.49.4quale iam haud dubia hostium victoria, fuit, cum victi mori in vestigio mallent quam fugere, victores morantibus victoriam irati trucidarent, quos pellere non poterant.
Then, when someone reported that the consul had ordered the cavalry to dismount, Hannibal is said to have remarked: "How much rather I would have wished that he had delivered them to me in chains." The cavalry's battle on foot ensued, such as it was when the victory of the enemy was already beyond doubt, since the vanquished preferred to die on the spot rather than flee, and the victors, angered at those who delayed their victory, slaughtered those whom they could not drive back.
§22.49.5pepulerunt tamen iam paucos superantis et labore ac vulneribus fessos.
They did, however, finally drive back those who were now few surviving and exhausted by fatigue and wounds.
inde dissipati omnes sunt, equosque ad fugam qui poterant repetebant.
Then all were scattered, and those who could, sought their horses again for flight.
§22.49.6Cn. Lentulus tribunus militum cum praetervehens equo sedentem in saxo cruore oppletum consulem vidisset, §22.49.7“L. Aemili,” inquit “quem unum insontem culpae cladis hodiernae dei respicere debent, cape hunc equum, dum et tibi virium aliquid superest et comes ego te tollere possum ac protegere.
Gnaeus Lentulus, a military tribune, when riding past on his horse, saw the consul covered in blood sitting on a stone, and said, "Lucius Aemilius, the only one whom the gods ought to regard as innocent of the blame for today's disaster, take this horse while some strength remains to you and I can take you up and protect you as your companion.
§22.49.8ne funestam hanc pugnam morte consulis feceris; etiam sine hoc lacrimarum satis luctusque est. ” ad ea consul: §22.49.9“tu quidem, Cn. Corneli, macte virtute esto; sed cave frustra miserando exiguum tempus e manibus hostium evadendi absumas.
Do not make this disastrous battle even more fatal by the death of a consul; even without this, there is enough of tears and grief." To this the consul replied: "Indeed, Gnaeus Cornelius, may you be blessed for your courage; but beware lest you waste in vain pity the brief time you have to escape from the hands of the enemy.
§22.49.10abi, nuntia publice patribus, urbem Romanam muniant ac, priusquam victor hostis advenit, praesidiis firment; priuatim Q. Fabio, L. Aemilium praeceptorum eius memorem et vixisse adhuc et mori.
Go, announce publicly to the senators that they must fortify the city of Rome and secure it with garrisons before the victorious enemy arrives; and privately to Quintus Fabius, that Lucius Aemilius lived and now dies mindful of his precepts.
§22.49.11me in hac strage militum meorum patere expirare, ne aut reus iterum e consulatue sim aut accusator collegae existam, ut alieno crilatu sim aut accusator collegae existam, ut alieno crimine innocentiam meam protegam. ” §22.49.12haec eos agentis prius turba fugientium civium, deinde hostes oppressere; consulem ignorantes, quis esset, obruere telis, Lentulum inter tumultum abripuit equus.
Allow me to expire in this slaughter of my soldiers, so that I may neither again stand trial after my consulship nor stand forth as an accuser of my colleague, so as to protect my own innocence by another's crime." While they were discussing these matters, first a crowd of fleeing citizens and then the enemy came upon them; not knowing who the consul was, they overwhelmed him with weapons, while a horse carried Lentulus away in the confusion.
tum undique effuse fugiunt.
Then they fled in all directions in utter disorder.
§22.49.13septem milia hominum in minora castra decem in maiora, duo ferme in vicum ipsum Cannas; — perfugerunt, qui extemplo a Carthalone atque equitibus nullo munimento tegente vicum circumventi sunt.
Seven thousand men fled to the smaller camp, ten thousand to the larger, and about two thousand to the village of Cannae itself; these latter were immediately surrounded by Carthalo and his cavalry, as no fortification protected the village.
§22.49.14consul alter, seu forte seu consilio nulli fugientium insertus agmini, cum quinquaginta fere equitibus Uenusiam perfugit.
The other consul, whether by chance or design, joined to no body of fugitives, escaped to Venusia with about fifty horsemen.
§22.49.15quadraginta quinque milia quingenti pedites, duo milia septingenti equites et tantadem prope civium sociorumque pars caesi dicuntur; in his ambo consulum quaestores, §22.49.16L. Atilius et L. Furius Bibaculus, et undetriginta tribuni militum, consulares quidam praetoriique et aedilicii — inter eos Cn. Servilium Geminum et M. Minucium numerant, qui magister equitum priore anno, aliquot annis ante consul fuerat — §22.49.17, octoginta praeterea aut senatores aut qui eos magistratus gessissent, unde in senatum legi deberent, cum sua voluntate milites in legionibus facti essent.
Forty-five thousand five hundred infantry and two thousand seven hundred cavalry, and a nearly equal proportion of citizens and allies, are said to have been slain; among these were the quaestors of both consuls, Lucius Atilius and Lucius Furius Bibaculus, and twenty-nine military tribunes, some of consular, praetorian, or aedilician rank—among whom they count Gnaeus Servilius Geminus and Marcus Minucius, who had been master of the horse the previous year and consul some years before— and furthermore, eighty senators or those who had held offices which qualified them to be elected into the senate, who had of their own free will become soldiers in the legions.
§22.49.18capta eo proelio tria milia peditum et equites mille et quingenti dicuntur.
Three thousand infantry and fifteen hundred cavalry are said to have been captured in that battle.