§23.28.1eae litterae quamquam primo admodum moverunt senatum, tamen, quia Italiae cura prior potiorque erat, nihil de Hasdrubale neque de copiis eius mutatum est;
Although this letter at first greatly moved the senate, yet, because concern for Italy was prior and more important, no change was made concerning Hasdrubal or his forces.
§23.28.2Himilco cum exercitu iusto et aucta classe ad retinendam terra marique ac tuendam Hispaniam est missus.
Himilco was sent with a regular army and an enlarged fleet to hold and protect Spain by land and sea.
§23.28.3qui ut pedestris navalisque copias traiecit, castris communitis navibusque subductis et vallo circumdatis, cum equitibus delectis ipse, quantum maxime adcelerare poterat, per dubios infestosque populos iuxta intentus ad Hasdrubalem pervenit.
When he had transported his land and naval forces, after fortifying the camp and drawing up the ships on shore and surrounding them with a rampart, he himself, with chosen horsemen, hastening as much as he possibly could, arrived at Hasdrubal through doubtful and hostile peoples, being equally on his guard.
§23.28.4cum decreta senatus mandataque exposuisset atque edoctus esset ipse in vicem, quem ad modum tractandum bellum in Hispania foret, retro in sua castra redit nulla re quam celeritate tutior, quod undique abierat, antequam consentirent.
When he had explained the decrees and instructions of the senate, and had been informed in his turn how the war in Spain was to be conducted, he returned back to his own camp, safer by nothing so much as by his speed, because he had departed from all sides before they could conspire.
§23.28.5Hasdrubal, priusquam moveret castra, pecunias imperat populis omnibus suae dicionis, §23.28.6satis gnarus Hannibalem transitus quosdam pretio mercatum nec auxilia Gallica aliter quam conducta habuisse; inopem tantum iter ingressum vix penetraturum ad Alpis fuisse: pecuniis igitur raptim exactis ad Hiberum descendit. decreta Carthaginiensium
Hasdrubal, before he moved his camp, demanded money from all the peoples under his sway, being well aware that Hannibal had purchased certain passages with money, and had not obtained Gallic auxiliaries otherwise than by hiring them; and that, if destitute, after entering upon so great a journey, he would scarcely have reached the Alps: therefore, having hastily exacted the money, he marched down to the Hiberus.
§23.28.7et Hasdrubalis iter ubi ad Romanos sunt perlata, omnibus omissis rebus ambo duces iunctis copiis ire obviam coeptis atque obsistere parant, §23.28.8rati, si Hannibali, vix per se ipsi tolerando Italiae hosti, Hasdrubal dux atque Hispaniensis exercitus esset iunctus, illum finem Romani imperii fore.
The decrees of the Carthaginians and the march of Hasdrubal, when they were reported to the Romans, leaving all other matters aside, both generals, with their forces joined, prepared to go to meet his undertakings and resist them, thinking that, if Hasdrubal as general and the Spanish army should be joined to Hannibal, an enemy of Italy who was himself scarcely to be tolerated on his own, that would be the end of the Roman empire.
§23.28.9his anxii curis ad Hiberum contrahunt copias et transito amne cum diu consultassent, utrum castra castris conferrent an satis haberent sociis Carthaginiensium oppugnandis morari ab itinere proposito hostem, §23.28.10urbem a propinquo flumine Hiberam appellatam, opulentissimam ea tempestate regionis eius, oppugnare parant.
Anxious with these cares, they concentrated their forces at the Hiberus, and having crossed the river, when they had long deliberated whether they should pit camp against camp, or deem it sufficient to delay the enemy from his proposed march by attacking the allies of the Carthaginians, they prepared to attack a city called Hibera from the neighboring river, the wealthiest of that region at that time.
§23.28.11quod ubi sensit Hasdrubal, pro ope ferenda sociis pergit ire ipse ad urbem deditam nuper in fidem Romanorum oppugnandam.
When Hasdrubal perceived this, instead of bringing aid to his allies, he proceeded to go himself to attack a city recently surrendered into the protection of the Romans.
§23.28.12ita iam coepta obsidio omissa ab Romanis est et in ipsum Hasdrubalem versum bellum.
Thus the siege already begun was abandoned by the Romans, and the war was turned against Hasdrubal himself.