§26.5.1cum in hoc statu ad Capuam res essent, Hannibalem diversum Tarentinae arcis potiundae Capuaeque retinendae trahebant curae.
While affairs at Capua were in this state, conflicting cares of gaining possession of the citadel of Tarentum and of retaining Capua pulled Hannibal in different directions.
§26.5.2vicit tamen respectus Capuae, in quam omnium sociorum hostiumque conversos videbat animos, documento futurae, qualemcumque eventum defectio ab Romanis habuisset.
However, regard for Capua prevailed, upon which he saw the minds of all allies and enemies turned, as it was destined to be a proof of whatever outcome defection from the Romans might have.
§26.5.3igitur magna parte impedimentorum relicta in Bruttiis et omni graviore armatu cum delectis peditum equitumque quam poterat aptissimus ad maturandum iter in Campaniam contendit.
Therefore, leaving a great part of the baggage in the territory of the Bruttii, along with all the heavier armed troops, he hastened into Campania with chosen infantry and cavalry, as lightly equipped as he possibly could be to quicken the march.
secuti tamen tam raptim euntem tres et triginta elephanti.
However, thirty-three elephants followed him as he went so rapidly.
§26.5.4in valle occulta post Tifata montem imminentem Capuae consedit.
He encamped in a hidden valley behind Mount Tifata, which overlooks Capua.
adveniens cum castellum Galatiam praesidio vi pulso cepisset, in circumsedentis Capuam se vertit,
Upon his arrival, when he had taken the fort of Galatia by force after expelling its garrison, he turned his attention against those besieging Capua.
§26.5.5praemissisque nuntiis Capuam, quo tempore castra Romana adgressurus esset, ut eodem et illi ad eruptionem parati portis omnibus sese effunderent, ingentem praebuit terrorem.
And having sent messengers ahead to Capua to announce at what time he was going to attack the Roman camp, so that they too, prepared for a breakout, might pour forth from all the gates at the same time, he caused immense terror.
§26.5.6nam alia parte ipse adortus est, alia Campani omnes, equites peditesque, et cum iis Punicum praesidium, cui Bostar et Hanno praeerant, erupit.
For on one side he himself attacked, and on the other all the Campanians, cavalry and infantry, broke out, and with them the Carthaginian garrison, which Bostar and Hanno commanded.
§26.5.7Romani ut in re trepida, ne ad unam concurrendo partem aliquid indefensi relinquerent, ita inter sese copias partiti sunt: §26.5.8Ap. Claudius Campanis, Fulvius Hannibali est oppositus; C. Nero propraetor cum equitibus sex legionum via, quae Suessulam fert, C. Fulvius Flaccus legatus cum sociali equitatu constitit e regione Volturni amnis.
The Romans, as is typical in a crisis, so as not to leave any part undefended by rushing to a single point, divided their forces among themselves as follows: Appius Claudius was opposed to the Campanians, Fulvius to Hannibal; Gaius Nero the propraetor, with the cavalry of six legions, stationed himself on the road that leads to Suessula; Gaius Fulvius Flaccus the legate, with the allied cavalry, took his stand opposite the Volturnus river.
§26.5.9proelium non solito modo clamore ac tumultu est coeptum, sed ad alium virorum, equorum armorumque sonum disposita in muris Campanorum inbellis multitudo tantum cum aeris crepitu, qualis in defectu lunae silenti nocte cieri solet, edidit clamorem, ut averteret etiam pugnantium animos.
The battle was not begun in the usual manner with shouting and clamor, but in addition to the extraordinary sound of men, horses, and armor, the non-combatant multitude of the Campanians, disposed along the walls, raised such a shout with the clashing of bronze, of the kind that is accustomed to be made in the silent night during an eclipse of the moon, that it distracted the minds even of the combatants.
§26.5.10Campanos facile a vallo Appius arcebat; maior vis ab altera parte Fulvium Hannibal
Appius easily kept the Campanians from the rampart; a greater force pressed Fulvius from the other side, namely Hannibal...
§26.5.11et Poeni urgebant.
and the Carthaginians were pressing.
legio ibi sexta loco cessit, qua pulsa cohors Hispanorum cum tribus elephantis usque ad vallum pervasit, ruperatque mediam aciem Romanorum et in ancipiti spe ac periculo erat, utrum in castra perrumperet an intercluderetur a suis.
There the sixth legion gave ground; when it was repulsed, a cohort of Spaniards with three elephants made its way all the way to the rampart, and had broken through the middle of the Roman line, and was in an state of uncertain hope and danger, whether it should break through into the camp or be cut off from its own men.
§26.5.12quem pavorem legionis periculumque castrorum Fulvius ubi vidit, Q. Navium primoresque alios centurionum hortatur, ut cohortem hostium sub vallo pugnantem invadant: in summo discrimine rem verti; §26.5.13aut viam dandam iis esse, et minore conatu, quam condensam aciem rupissent, in castra inrupturos, aut conficiendos sub vallo esse. nec magni certaminis rem fore: §26.5.14paucos esse et ab suis interclusos, et quae, dum paveat Romanus, interrupta acies videatur, eam, si se utrimque in hostem vertat, ancipiti pugna medios circumventuram.
When Fulvius saw this panic of the legion and the danger to the camp, he exhorted Quintus Navius and other chief centurions to attack the enemy cohort fighting under the rampart: that the matter turned upon the utmost crisis; either a way had to be given to them, and they would burst into the camp with less effort than they had broken the dense line, or they must be destroyed under the rampart; nor would it be a matter of great struggle: that they were few and cut off from their own, and that the line which, while the Roman is panicked, seems broken, if it should turn itself on the enemy from both sides, would surround those in the middle in a two-fronted fight.
§26.5.15Navius ubi haec imperatoris dicta accepit, secundi hastati signum ademptum signifero in hostis infert, iacturum in medios eos minitans, ni se propere sequantur milites et partem capessant pugnae.
When Navius received these words of the general, he snatched the standard of the second hastati from the standard-bearer and carried it against the enemy, threatening that he would throw it into their midst, unless the soldiers quickly followed him and took their part in the battle.
§26.5.16ingens corpus erat, et arma honestabant, et sublatum alte signum converterat ad spectaculum cives hostesque.
He was of huge stature, and his armor distinguished him, and the standard raised on high had turned both citizens and enemies to the spectacle.
§26.5.17ceterum postquam iam ad signa pervenerat Hispanorum, tum undique in eum tragulae coniectae et prope tota in unum acies versa; sed neque multitudo hostium neque telorum vis arcere impetum eius viri potuerunt.
But after he had now reached the standards of the Spaniards, then from all sides javelins were cast at him, and almost the entire line was turned against him alone; but neither the multitude of the enemy nor the force of the weapons could check the onset of that man.