§22.6.1tris ferme horas pugnatum est, et ubique atrociter; circa consulem tamen acrior infestiorque pugna est.
The battle was fought for nearly three hours, and everywhere fiercely; however, around the consul, the fight was sharper and more relentless.
§22.6.2eum et robora virorum sequebantur et ipse, quacumque in parte premi ac laborare senserat suos, inpigre ferebat opem; §22.6.3insignemque armis et hostes summa vi petebant et tuebantur cives, donec Insuber eques — Ducario nomen erat — facie quoque noscitans consulem “En” inquit “hic est,” popularibus suis “qui legiones nostras cecidit agrosque et urbem est depopulatus! iam ego hanc victimam manibus peremptorum foede civium dabo.
The flower of the men followed him, and he himself, in whatever part he perceived his men to be hard-pressed and struggling, vigorously brought aid; and the enemy with their utmost force sought him, who was conspicuous by his armor, while the citizens defended him, until an Insubrian horseman—his name was Ducarius—also recognizing the consul by his face, said to his countrymen, "Behold, this is he," he said, "who slaughtered our legions and laid waste our fields and city!
” subditisque calcaribus equo per confertissimam hostium turbam impetum facit, obtruncatoque prius armigero, qui se infesto venienti obviam obiecerat, consulem lancea transfixit; spoliare cupientem triarii obiectis scutis arcuere.
Now I will offer this victim to the shades of our foully slain fellow citizens." And spurring his horse, he made a charge through the thickest crowd of the enemy, and having first slain the armor-bearer who had thrown himself in his way as he came on with hostile intent, he ran the consul through with a lance; the triarii, opposing their shields, kept him off when he was eager to despoil him.
§22.6.4magnae partis fuga inde primum coepit; et iam nec lacus nec montes pavori obstabant: per omnia arta praeruptaque velut caeci evadunt, armaque et viri super alios alii praecipitantur.
From that point first the flight of a great part began; and now neither lake nor mountains stood in the way of their terror: through all narrow and steep places they escaped like blind men, and arms and men were precipitated one over another.
§22.6.5pars magna, ubi locus fugae deest, per prima vada paludis in aquam progressi, quoad capitibus umerisque extare possunt, sese inmergunt.
A great part, where there was no room for flight, having advanced into the water through the first shallows of the marsh, immersed themselves as far as they could keep their heads and shoulders above water.
fuere quos inconsultus pavor nando etiam capessere fugam inpulerit, §22.6.6quae ubi inmensa ac sine spe erat, aut deficientibus animis hauriebantur gurgitibus aut nequiquam fessi vada retro aegerrime repetebant atque ibi ab ingressis aquam hostium equitibus passim trucidabantur.
There were some whom inconsiderate fear impelled even to attempt escape by swimming, which, when it was boundless and hopeless, either they were swallowed up in the depths as their strength failed, or, exhausted in vain, they with great difficulty made their way back to the shallows, and were there slaughtered everywhere by the enemy's cavalry who had entered the water.
§22.6.7sex milia ferme primi agminis per adversos hostis eruptione inpigre facta, ignari omnium, quae post se agerentur, §22.6.8e saltu evasere, et cum in tumulo quodam constitissent, clamorem modo ac sonum armorum audientes, quae fortuna pugnae estet, neque scire nec perspicere prae caligine poterant.
About six thousand of the vanguard, having vigorously made a breakthrough through the opposing enemy, ignorant of all things that were being done behind them, escaped from the pass, and when they had halted on a certain hill, hearing only the clamor and the sound of arms, they could neither know nor discern, on account of the mist, what the fortune of the battle was.
§22.6.9inclinata denique re cum incalescente sole dispulsa nebula diem, tum liquida iam luce montes campique perditas res stratamque ostendere foede Romanam aciem.
At length, when the affair was decided, as the mist was dispersed by the warming sun and opened the day, then by the now clear light the mountains and plains showed the ruined state of affairs and the Roman army foully prostrated.
§22.6.10itaque, ne in conspectos procul inmitteretur eques, sublatis raptim signis quam citatissimo poterant agmine sese abripuerunt.
Therefore, lest the cavalry should be sent against them if they were seen from afar, hastily raising their standards, they withdrew themselves with as rapid a march as they could.
§22.6.11postero die, cum super cetera extrema fames etiam instaret, fidem dante Maharbale, qui cum omnibus equestribus copiis nocte consecutus erat, si arma tradidissent, abire cum singulis vestimentis passurum, sese dediderunt; §22.6.12quae Punica religione servata fides ab Hannibale est, atque in vincula omnes coniecti.
The next day, when besides other extremities extreme hunger also pressed upon them, Maharbal, who had overtaken them during the night with all the cavalry forces, giving his word that, if they delivered up their arms, he would suffer them to depart with a single garment each, they surrendered themselves; which promise was kept by Hannibal with Carthaginian faith, and they were all thrown into chains.