§26.42.1hac oratione accensis militum animis, relicto ad praesidium regionis eius M. Silano cum tribus milibus peditum et trecentis equitibus, ceteras omnes copias — erant autem viginti quinque milia peditum, duo milia quingenti equites — Hiberum traiecit.
When the minds of the soldiers had been inflamed by this speech, leaving Marcus Silanus with three thousand infantry and three hundred cavalry for the protection of that region, he led all the remaining forces—which consisted of twenty-five thousand infantry and two thousand five hundred cavalry—across the Ebro.
§26.42.2ibi quibusdam suadentibus, ut, quoniam in tris tam diversas regiones discessissent Punici exercitus, proximum adgrederetur, periculum esse ratus, ne eo facto in unum omnes contraheret, nec par esset unus tot exercitibus, Carthaginem Novam interim oppugnare statuit, §26.42.3urbem cum ipsam opulentam suis opibus, tum hostium omni bellico apparatu plenam — ibi arma ibi pecunia, ibi totius Hispaniae obsides erant —, §26.42.4sitam praeterea cum opportune ad traiciendum in Africam, tum super portum satis amplum quantaevis classi et nescio an unum in Hispaniae ora, qua nostro adiacet mari.
There, although some advised that, since the Punic armies had departed into three such diverse regions, he should attack the nearest one, thinking that there was a danger lest by doing so he might draw them all together into one, and that one leader would not be a match for so many armies, he decided in the meantime to attack New Carthage, a city not only wealthy in its own resources but also full of all the enemy's military equipment—there were the arms, there the money, and there the hostages of all Spain—, situated, moreover, both conveniently for crossing into Africa and upon a harbor sufficiently ample for any fleet whatsoever, and, I incline to think, the only one on the coast of Spain where it adjoins our sea.
§26.42.5nemo omnium, quo iretur, sciebat praeter C. Laelium.
No one of them all, except Gaius Laelius, knew where they were going.
is classe circummissus ita moderari cursum navium iussus erat, ut eodem tempore Scipio ab terra exercitum ostenderet et classis portum intraret.
He, sent around with the fleet, had been ordered to regulate the course of the ships in such a manner that at the same time Scipio should show his army from the land and the fleet should enter the harbor.
§26.42.6septimo die ab Hibero Carthaginem ventum est simul terra marique.
On the seventh day from the Ebro, Carthage was reached simultaneously by land and sea.
castra ab regione urbis, qua in septentrionem versa est, posita; his ab tergo — nam frons natura tuta erat — duplex vallum obiectum.
The camp was pitched on that side of the city where it faces the north; to the rear of this—for the front was secure by nature—a double rampart was thrown up.
§26.42.7etenim sita Carthago sic est: sinus est maris media fere Hispaniae ora, maxime Africo vento oppositus, ad duomilia et quingentos passus introrsus retractus, paulo plus mille et ducentos passus in latitudinem patens.
For Carthage is situated thus: there is a gulf of the sea at about the middle of the coast of Spain, chiefly exposed to the southwest wind, receding inland to a distance of about two thousand five hundred paces, and extending in width a little more than one thousand two hundred paces.
§26.42.8huius in ostio sinus parva insula obiecta ab alto portum ab omnibus ventis praeterquam Africo tutum facit.
In the mouth of this gulf, a small island placed opposite from the deep sea makes the harbor secure from all winds except the southwest.
ab intimo sinu paeninsula excurrit, tumulus is ipse, in quo condita urbs est, ab ortu solis et a meridie cincta mari; ab occasu stagnum claudit paulum etiam ad septentrionem fusum, incertae altitudinis utcumque exaestuat aut deficit mare.
From the innermost part of the gulf a peninsula juts out, the very hill on which the city is built, surrounded by the sea on the east and on the south; on the west, a lagoon encloses it, spreading also a little to the north, of uncertain depth according as the sea ebbs or flows.
§26.42.9continenti urbem iugum ducentos fere et quinquaginta passus patens coniungit.
A ridge extending about two hundred and fifty paces connects the city with the mainland.
unde cum tam parvi operis munitio esset, non obiecit vallum imperator Romanus, §26.42.10seu fiduciam hosti superbe ostentans, sive ut subeunti saepe ad moenia urbis recursus pateret.
Since from this point a fortification would be of so small labor, the Roman general did not throw up a rampart, whether proudly displaying his confidence to the enemy, or in order that an opening for retreat might lie open to those who frequently advanced to the walls of the city.