§27.14.1quod ubi Hannibali nuntiatum est, “cum eo nimirum” inquit “hoste res est, qui nec bonam nec malam ferre fortunam possit! seu vicit, ferociter instat victis;
When this was reported to Hannibal, he said, "Surely our business is with an enemy who can bear neither good nor bad fortune!
seu victus est, §27.14.2instaurat cum victoribus certamen. ” signa inde canere iussit et copias educit.
If he conquers, he fiercely presses the vanquished; if he is conquered, he renews the struggle with the victors." Thereupon he ordered the signals to sound and led out his forces.
pugnatum utrimque aliquanto quam pridie acrius est, Poenis ad obtinendum hesternum decus adnitentibus, Romanis ad demendam ignominiam.
The battle was fought on both sides somewhat more fiercely than the day before, with the Carthaginians striving to maintain yesterday's glory, and the Romans to remove their disgrace.
§27.14.3sinistra ala ab Romanis et cohortes quae amiserant signa, in prima acie pugnabant, et legio vicensima ab dextro cornu instructa.
The left wing of the allies on the Roman side, and the cohorts which had lost their standards, were fighting in the front line, and the twentieth legion was drawn up on the right wing.
§27.14.4L. Cornelius Lentulus et C. Claudius Nero legati cornibus praeerant; Marcellus mediam aciem hortator testisque praesens firmabat.
Lucius Cornelius Lentulus and Gaius Claudius Nero, the legates, were in command of the wings; Marcellus, present in person as an encourager and a witness, strengthened the center.
§27.14.5ab Hannibale Hispani primam obtinebant frontem, et id roboris in omni exercitu erat.
On Hannibal's side, the Spaniards occupied the front line, and this was the main strength in the whole army.
§27.14.6cum anceps diu pugna esset, Hannibal elephantos in primam aciem induci iussit, si quem inicere ea res tumultum ac pavorem posset.
When the battle had been doubtful for a long time, Hannibal ordered the elephants to be led into the front line, to see if that action could strike any confusion and panic.
§27.14.7et prime turbarunt signa ordinesque, et partim occulcatis partim dissupatis terrore, qui circa erant, §27.14.8nudaverant una parte aciem, latiusque fuga manasset, ni C. Decimius Flavus tribunus militum signo arrepto primi hastati manipulum eius signi sequi se iussisset.
And at first they threw the standards and ranks into confusion, and since those who were around were partly trampled underfoot and partly dispersed by terror, they had laid bare the line in one part; and the flight would have spread wider, had not Gaius Decimius Flavus, a military tribune, seizing a standard, ordered the maniple of the first hastati of that standard to follow him.
duxit, ubi maxime tumultum conglobatae beluae faciebant, pilaque in eas conici iussit.
He led them to where the gathered beasts were causing the greatest confusion, and ordered javelins to be thrown at them.
§27.14.9haesere omnia tela haud difficili ex propinquo in tanta corpora ictu et tam conferta turba.
All the weapons stuck, with the blow being not difficult from close range against such huge bodies and in so dense a crowd.
sed ut non omnes vulnerati sunt, ita in quorum tergis infixa stetere pila, ut est genus anceps, in fugam versi etiam integros avertere.
But although not all were wounded, yet those in whose backs the javelins remained fixed, since it is a double-edged kind of beast, turning to flight, turned away even the unhurt ones.
§27.14.10tum iam non unus manipulus, sed pro se quisque miles, qui modo adsequi agmen fugientium elephantorum poterat, pila conicere.
Then indeed not just one maniple, but every soldier on his own part, whoever could only catch up with the line of fleeing elephants, threw javelins.
eo magis ruere in suos beluae tantoque maiorem stragem edere, quam inter hostes ediderant, quanto acrius pavor consternatam agit, quam insidentis magistri imperio regitur.
Therefore the beasts rushed all the more against their own men, and caused a slaughter as much greater than they had caused among the enemy, as the panic drives a frightened beast more fiercely than it is ruled by the command of the master sitting upon it.
§27.14.11in perturbatam transcursu beluarum aciem signa inferunt Romani pedites et haud magno certamine dissupatos trepidantesque avertunt.
Against the enemy's line, thrown into confusion by the passage of the beasts, the Roman infantry advanced, and with no great struggle turned them to flight as they were dispersed and trembling.
§27.14.12tum in fugientes equitatum inmittit Marcellus, nec ante finis sequendi est factus, quam in castra paventes conpulsi sunt.
Then Marcellus sent the cavalry against the fugitives, nor was there an end made of the pursuit until they were driven in panic into their camp.
§27.14.13nam super alia, quae terrorem trepidationemque facerent, elephanti quoque duo in ipsa porta corruerant, coactique erant milites per fossam vallumque ruere in castra.
For, in addition to other things which caused terror and panic, two elephants also had fallen in the gate itself, and the soldiers had been forced to rush into the camp over the ditch and the rampart.
ibi maxima hostium caedes facta: caesa ad octo milia hominum, quinque elephanti.
There the greatest slaughter of the enemy took place; about eight thousand men were slain, and five elephants.
§27.14.14nec Romanis incruenta victoria fuit: mille ferme et septingenti de duabus legionibus et sociorum supra mille et trecentos occisi; §27.14.15vulnerati permulti civium sociorumque.
Nor was the victory bloodless for the Romans: nearly one thousand seven hundred from the two legions and more than one thousand three hundred of the allies were killed; very many of the citizens and allies were wounded.
Hannibal nocte proxima castra movit; cupientem insequi Marcellum prohibuit multitudo sauciorum.
Hannibal moved his camp on the next night; the multitude of the wounded prevented Marcellus, who was desiring to pursue him.