§28.1.1cum transitu Hasdrubalis, quantum in Italiam declinaverat belli, tantum levatae Hispaniae viderentur, renatum ibi subito par priori bellum est.
Although by the passage of Hasdrubal, in proportion as the war had turned aside into Italy, Hispania seemed to have been relieved to that extent, a war equal to the former one suddenly broke out anew there.
§28.1.2Hispanias ea tempestate sic habebant Romani Poenique. Hasdrubal Gisgonis filius ad Oceanum penitus Gadesque concesserat; §28.1.3nostri maris ora omnisque ferme Hispania, qua in orientem vergit, Scipionis ac Romanae dicionis erat.
At that time, the Romans and Carthaginians held the Spains in this manner: Hasdrubal, the son of Gisgo, had retired far toward the Ocean and Gades; the coast of our sea and almost all of Hispania that slopes toward the east was under the dominion of Scipio and Rome.
§28.1.4novus imperator Hanno, in locum Barcini Hasdrubalis novo cum exercitu ex Africa transgressus Magonique iunctus, cum in Celtiberia, quae media inter duo maria est, brevi magnum hominum numerum armasset, §28.1.5Scipio adversus eum M. Silanum cum decem haud plus milibus militum, equitibus quingentis misit.
A new general, Hanno, having crossed over from Africa with a new army in place of the Barcine Hasdrubal and joined Mago, when in Celtiberia, which is midway between the two seas, he had in a short time armed a large number of men, Scipio sent against him Marcus Silanus with no more than ten thousand soldiers and five hundred cavalry.
§28.1.6Silanus quantis maximis potuit itineribus — inpediebant autem et asperitates viarum et angustiae saltibus crebris, ut pleraque Hispaniae sunt, inclusae —, tamen non solum nuntios sed etiam famam adventus sui praegressus, ducibus indidem ex Celtiberia transfugis ad hostem pervenit.
Silanus, advancing by the longest possible marches — although both the roughness of the roads and the narrow passes enclosed by frequent forests, as most parts of Hispania are, impeded him — yet, outstripping not only the messengers but even the rumor of his approach, arrived at the enemy, using deserters from Celtiberia itself as guides.
§28.1.7eisdem auctoribus conpertum est, cum decem circiter milia ab hoste abessent, bina castra circa viam, qua irent, esse: laeva Celtiberos, novum exercitum, supra novem milia hominum, dextra Punica tenere castra.
By the information of these same men, it was discovered, when they were about ten miles away from the enemy, that there were two camps around the road along which they were going: the Celtiberians, a new army of over nine thousand men, held the camp on the left, and the Carthaginians held the one on the right.
§28.1.8ea stationibus, vigiliis, omni iusta militari custodia tuta et firma esse, illa altera soluta neglectaque, ut barbarorum et tironum et minus timentium, quod in sua terra essent.
The former was safe and secure with outposts, watches, and all proper military vigilance; the other was relaxed and neglected, as is natural for barbarians and recruits who were less afraid because they were in their own land.
§28.1.9ea prius adgredienda ratus Silanus signa quam maxime ad laevam iubebat ferri, necunde ab stationibus Punicis conspiceretur; ipse praemissis speculatoribus citato agmine ad hostem pergit.
Silanus, thinking that the latter should be attacked first, ordered the standards to be directed as far as possible to the left, so that they might not be seen from any of the Carthaginian outposts; he himself, having sent scouts ahead, proceeded toward the enemy in a rapid march.