§23.12.1ad fidem deinde tam laetarum rerum effundi in vestibulo curiae iussit anulos aureos, qui tantus acervus fuit, ut metientibus supra tris modios explesse sint quidam auctores;
Then, to confirm the credibility of such joyful news, he ordered golden rings to be poured out in the vestibule of the senate house; this heap was so great that some authors have recorded that they filled more than three modii for those who measured them.
§23.12.2fama tenuit, quae propior vero est, haud plus fuisse modio, adiecit deinde verbis, quo maioris cladis indicium esset, neminem nisi equites, atque eorum ipsorum primores, id gerere insigne.
The common report, which is closer to the truth, held that it was no more than a modius; he then added to his words, in order that it might be an indication of a greater disaster, that no one but knights, and indeed the foremost of them, wore this ornament.
§23.12.3summa fuit orationis, quo propius spem belli perficiendi sit, eo magis omni ope iuvandum Hannibalem esse; procul enim ab domo militiam esse, in media hostium terra; §23.12.4magnam vim frumenti, pecuniae absumi, et tot acies ut hostium exercitus delesse ita victoris etiam copias parte aliqua minuisse:
The sum of his speech was that, the closer they were to the hope of finishing the war, the more Hannibal should be assisted with all their might; for his military service was far from home, in the midst of the enemy's land; a great quantity of grain and money was being consumed, and just as so many battles had destroyed the enemy's armies, so they had also reduced the victor's forces in some part.
§23.12.5mittendum igitur supplementum esse, mittendam in stipendium pecuniam frumentumque tam bene meritis de nomine Punico militibus.
Therefore, reinforcements should be sent, and money and grain should be sent for the pay of soldiers who had deserved so well of the Punic name.
§23.12.6secundum haec dicta Magonis laetis omnibus Himilco, vir factionis Barcinae, locum Hannonis increpandi esse ratus, “quid est, Hanno?” inquit “etiam nunc paenitet belli suscepti adversus Romanos? iube dedi Hannibalem;
Following these words of Mago, while everyone was joyful, Himilco, a man of the Barcine faction, thinking it a fit opportunity to upbraid Hanno, said, "What is it, Hanno? Do you even now regret having undertaken the war against the Romans?
§23.12.7veta in tam prosperis rebus grates deis immortalibus agi; audiamus Romanum senatorem in Carthaginiensium curia. ” §23.12.8tum Hanno: “tacuissem hodie, patres conscripti, ne quid in communi omnium gaudio, minus laetum quod esset vobis, loquerer; §23.12.9nunc interroganti senatori, paeniteatne adhuc suscepti adversus Romanos belli, si reticeam, aut superbus aut obnoxius videar, quorum alterum est hominis alienae libertatis obliti, alterum suae.
Order Hannibal to be surrendered; forbid thanks to be rendered to the immortal gods in such prosperous circumstances; let us hear a Roman senator in the senate house of the Carthaginians!" Then Hanno said: "I would have kept silent today, conscript fathers, so that I might not speak anything less than joyful to you in the common joy of everyone; but now, to the senator who asks whether I still regret the war undertaken against the Romans, if I should remain silent, I would seem either proud or subservient, the former of which is characteristic of a man forgetful of another's liberty, the latter of his own.
§23.12.10respondeo” inquit “Himilconi, non desisse paenitere me belli neque desiturum ante invictum vestrum imperatorem incusare, quam finitum aliqua tolerabili condicione bellum videro; nec mihi pacis antiquae desiderium ulla alia res quam pax nova finiet.
I answer Himilco," he said, "that I have not ceased to regret the war, and I will not cease to accuse your 'invincible' general until I see the war ended on some tolerable condition; nor will any other thing than a new peace end my longing for the old peace.
§23.12.11itaque ista quae modo Mago iactavit, Himilconi ceterisque Hannibalis satellitibus iam laeta sint: mihi possunt laeta esse, quia res bello bene gestae, si volumus fortuna uti, pacem nobis aequiorem dabunt; §23.12.12nam si praetermittimus hoc tempus, quo magis dare quam accipere possumus videri pacem, vereor, ne haec quoque laetitia luxuriet nobis ac vana evadat.
Therefore, those things which Mago just boasted of may indeed be joyful to Himilco and the other satellites of Hannibal; to me they can be joyful, because successes in war, if we are willing to use our fortune, will give us a more equitable peace; for if we let pass this time, in which we can appear to give rather than to receive peace, I fear lest this joy also may become excessive for us and turn out to be vain.
§23.12.13quae tamen nunc quoque qualis est? occidi exercitus hostium mittite milites mihi. quid aliud rogares, si esses victus?
Yet even now, what is its nature? 'I have slain the enemy's armies; send me soldiers.' What else would you ask if you had been defeated?
§23.12.14hostium cepi bina castra, praedae videlicet plena et commeatuum, — frumentum et pecuniam date. §23.12.15quid aliud, si spoliatus, si exutus castris esses, peteres? et ne omnia ipse mirer, — mihi quoque enim, quoniam respondi Himilconi, interrogare ius fasque est — velim seu Himilco seu Mago respondeat, cum ad internecionem Romani imperii pugnatum ad Cannas sit constetque in defectione totam Italiam esse, primum,
'I have captured two camps of the enemy,'—doubtless full of booty and provisions,—'give me grain and money.' What else would you ask if you had been despoiled, if you had been stripped of your camp? And so that I may not be the only one to wonder—for since I have answered Himilco, it is my right and law to ask too—I should like either Himilco or Mago to answer: since the battle of Cannae was fought to the destruction of the Roman empire, and it is agreed that all Italy is in revolt, first, has any people of the Latin name defected to us?
§23.12.16ecquis Latini nominis populus defecerit ad nos, deinde, ecquis homo ex quinque et triginta tribubus ad Hannibalem transfugerit?” §23.12.17cum utrumque Mago negasset, “Hostium quidem ergo” inquit “adhuc nimis multum superest.
And secondly, has any man from the thirty-five tribes deserted to Hannibal?" When Mago had denied both, he said: "Therefore, too many of the enemy indeed still remain.
sed multitudo ea quid animorum quidve spei habeat, scire velim. ”
But I should like to know what courage or what hope that multitude possesses."