§25.9.1ceterum postquam Tarentum ire constituit, decem milibus peditum atque equitum, quos in expeditionem velocitate corporum ac levitate armorum aptissimos esse ratus est, electis quarta vigilia noctis signa movit praemissisque octoginta fere Numidis equitibus praecepit, §25.9.2ut discurrerent circa vias perlustrarentque omnia oculis, ne quis agrestium procul spectator agminis falleret; §25.9.3praegressos retraherent, obvios occiderent, ut praedonum magis quam exercitus accolis species esset.
But after he decided to go to Tarentum, having selected ten thousand infantry and cavalry whom he judged to be most fit for the expedition because of the swiftness of their bodies and the lightness of their arms, he moved his standards at the fourth watch of the night and, having sent ahead about eighty Numidian cavalry, commanded them, to scour the roads and reconnoiter everything with their eyes, lest any of the rustics, as a distant spectator of the column, should escape notice; they should bring back those who had gone ahead and kill those they met, so that to the inhabitants of the neighborhood there might be the appearance of plunderers rather than of an army.
ipse raptim agmine acto quindecim ferme milium spatio castra ab Tarento posuit et ne ibi quidem denuntiato, §25.9.4quo pergerent, tantum, convocatos milites monuit, via omnes irent nec deverti quemquam aut excedere ordinem agminis paterentur et in primis intenti ad imperia accipienda essent neu quid nisi ducum iussu facerent; se in tempore editurum, quae vellet agi.
He himself, having pushed the column forward rapidly, pitched camp at a distance of about fifteen miles from Tarentum, and not even there did he announce where they were heading; he only warned the assembled soldiers that all should march along the road, and that they should not allow anyone to turn aside or leave the order of the column, and above all, that they should be intent on receiving orders and do nothing except by command of their leaders; he said that he would disclose in due time what he wished to be done.
§25.9.5eadem ferme hora Tarentum fama praevenerat Numidas equites paucos populari agros terroremque late agrestibus iniecisse.
At about the same hour, a rumor had preceded them to Tarentum that a few Numidian cavalry were plundering the fields and had struck terror far and wide among the rustics.
§25.9.6ad quem nuntium nihil ultra motus praefectus Romanus, quam ut partem equitum postero die luce prima iuberet exire ad arcendum populationibus hostem; §25.9.7in cetera adeo nihil ab eo intenta cura est, ut contra pro argumento fuerit illa procursatio Numidarum Hannibalem exercitumque e castris non movisse.
At this news, the Roman commander was moved no further than to order a part of the cavalry to go out at dawn on the following day to keep the enemy from plundering; in other respects so little attentive care was bestowed by him that, on the contrary, that inroad of the Numidians served as a proof that Hannibal and his army had not moved from their camp.
§25.9.8Hannibal concubia nocte movit.
Hannibal moved in the dead of night.
dux Philemenus erat cum solito captae venationis onere; ceteri proditores ea, quae composita erant, expectabant.
The guide was Philemenus, with his usual load of captured game; the other traitors were waiting for the things that had been agreed upon.
§25.9.9convenerat autem, ut Philemenus portula adsueta venationem inferens armatos induceret, parte alia portam Temenitida adiret Hannibal.
Now it had been agreed that Philemenus, bringing in his game by the customary postern, should introduce the armed men, while Hannibal from another side should approach the Temenitis gate.
§25.9.10ea mediterranea regio est orientem spectans, busta aliquantum intra moenia includunt.
That is an inland region facing the east; tombs occupy a certain amount of space inside the walls.
cum portae adpropinquaret, editus ex composito ignis ab Hannibale est refulsitque idem redditum ab Nicone signum; extinctae deinde utrimque flammae sunt.
When he approached the gate, a fire was raised by Hannibal according to agreement, and the same signal, returned by Nico, shone back; then the flames were extinguished on both sides.
§25.9.11Hannibal silentio ducebat ad portam.
Hannibal was leading his men in silence to the gate.
Nico ex improuiso adortus sopitos vigiles in cubilibus suis obtruncat portamque aperit.
Nico, having attacked unexpectedly, cut down the guards who were asleep in their beds and opened the gate.
§25.9.12Hannibal cum peditum agmine ingreditur, equites subsistere iubet, ut, quo res postulet, occurrere libero campo possint.
Hannibal entered with the column of infantry, ordering the cavalry to halt, so that they might be able to rush in over the open ground wherever the situation required.
et Philemenus portulae parte alia, qua commeare adsuerat, adpropinquabat.
And Philemenus was approaching the postern on the other side, where he had been accustomed to pass.
§25.9.13nota vox eius et familiare iam signum cum excitasset vigilem, dicente vix sustineri grandis bestiae onus, portula aperitur.
When his well-known voice and by now familiar signal had aroused the guard, as he said that the weight of a huge beast could scarcely be supported, the postern is opened.
§25.9.14inferentes aprum duos iuvenes secutus ipse cum expedito venatore vigilem incautius miraculo magnitudinis in eos, qui ferebant, versum venabulo traicit.
Following two young men carrying in a boar, he himself with a light-armed hunter pierced with a hunting spear the guard, who was rather off his guard, his attention turned toward those who were carrying it because of the wonder of its size.
§25.9.15ingressi deinde triginta fere armati ceteros vigiles obtruncant refringuntque portam proximam, et agmen sub signis confestim inrupit.
Then about thirty armed men, having entered, cut down the rest of the guards and broke open the nearest gate, and the column immediately rushed in under their standards.
inde cum silentio in forum ducti Hannibali sese coniunxerunt.
From there they were led in silence to the forum and joined Hannibal.
§25.9.16tum duo milia Gallorum Poenus in tres divisa partis per urbem dimittit Tarentinosque ducessinglis partibus addit binos.
Then the Carthaginian sent two thousand Gauls, divided into three parts, through the city, and added two Tarentine guides to each part.
itinera quam maxume frequentia occupari iubet, §25.9.17tumultu orto Romanos passim caedi, oppidanis parci.
He ordered them to occupy the most frequented streets, and that when the tumult arose, the Romans should be slaughtered everywhere, but the townsmen spared.
sed ut fieri id posset, praecipit iuvenibus Tarentinis, ut, ubi quem suorum procul vidissent, quiescere ac silere ac bono animo esse iuberent.
But that this might be done, he instructed the Tarentine youths that, whenever they saw any of their own people from afar, they should bid them to remain quiet and silent and to be of good courage.