§26.7.1ceterum Hannibal ut nec hostis elici amplius ad pugnam vidit neque per castra eorum perrumpi ad Capuam posse, §26.7.2ne suos quoque commeatus intercluderent novi consules, abscedere inrito incepto et movere a Capua statuit castra.
But Hannibal, when he saw that the enemy could not be enticed any further into battle, nor could they break through their camp to Capua, lest the new consuls should also cut off his own supplies, decided to depart, leaving his attempt unaccomplished, and to move his camp from Capua.
§26.7.3multa secum, quonam inde ire pergeret, volventi subiit animum impetus caput ipsum belli Romam petendi, cuius rei semper cupitae praetermissam occasionem post Cannensem pugnam et alii vulgo fremebant et ipse non dissimulabat: §26.7.4necopinato pavore ac tumultu non esse desperandum aliquam partem urbis occupari posse; §26.7.5et, si Roma in discrimine esset, Capuam extemplo omissuros aut ambo imperatores Romanos aut alterum ex iis, et, si divisissent copias, utrumque infirmiorem factum aut sibi aut Campanis bene gerendae rei fortunam daturos esse.
As he revolved many things in his mind as to where he should proceed from there, the impulse came upon his mind to seek Rome itself, the very capital of the war—an opportunity for which, always desired, both others had commonly murmured and he himself did not conceal had been neglected after the battle of Cannae: that they ought not to despair, amid sudden panic and confusion, that some part of the city could be captured; and that, if Rome were in danger, either both Roman commanders or one of them would immediately abandon Capua, and if they divided their forces, both, having been made weaker, would give the opportunity of success either to himself or to the Campanians.
§26.7.6una ea cura angebat ne, ubi abscessisset, extemplo dederentur Campani.
One anxiety alone troubled him, lest, when he had departed, the Campanians should immediately surrender.
Numidam promptum ad omnia audenda agendaque donis perlicit, ut litteris acceptis specie transfugae castra Romana ingressus altera parte clam Capuam pervadat.
He enticed with gifts a Numidian ready to dare and do anything, so that, having received a letter, he might enter the Roman camp in the guise of a deserter and secretly make his way to Capua from the other side.
§26.7.7litterae autem erant adhortatione plenae: profectionem suam, quae salutaris illis foret, abstracturam ad defendendam Romam ab oppugnanda Capua duces atque exercitus Romanos.
Now the letter was full of encouragement: his departure, which would be salutary to them, would draw away the Roman generals and armies from the siege of Capua to defend Rome.
desponderent animos; §26.7.8tolerando paucos dies totam soluturos obsidionem.
They should not lose heart; by enduring for a few days, they would completely raise the siege.
§26.7.9inde navis in flumine Vulturno conprehensas subigi ad id, quod iam ante praesidii causa fecerat, castellum iussit.
Then he ordered the ships seized on the river Volturnus to be brought up to the fort which he had already constructed before for the purpose of a garrison.
§26.7.10quarum ubi tantam copiam esse, ut una nocte traici posset exercitus, allatum est, cibariis decem dierum praeparatis deductas nocte ad fluvium legiones ante lucem traiecit.
When it was reported that there was so great a supply of them that the army could be ferried over in a single night, having prepared provisions for ten days, he marched the legions down to the river by night and ferried them across before dawn.