§28.13.1Scipio, cum ad eum fama tanti comparati exercitus perlata esset, neque Romanis legionibus tantae se fore parem multitudini ratus, ut non in speciem saltem opponerentur barbarorum auxilia, neque in iis tamen tantum virium ponendum, §28.13.2ut mutando fidem, quae cladis causa fuisset patri patruoque magnum momentum facerent, §28.13.3praemisso Silano ad Culcham duodetriginta oppidis regnantem, ut equites peditesque ab eo, quos se per hiemem conscripturum pollicitus erat, §28.13.4acciperet, ipse ab Tarracone profectus protinus ab sociis, qui accolunt viam, modica contrahendo auxilia Castulonem pervenit.
Scipio, when the report of so great an army being prepared had been brought to him, thinking that he would not be a match for so great a multitude with the Roman legions alone, so that auxiliary troops of the barbarians had to be opposed to them at least for appearance's sake, but also thinking that not so much confidence should be placed in them that by changing their allegiance—which had been the cause of ruin to his father and uncle—they might exert a great influence, sent Silanus ahead to Culchas, who ruled over twenty-eight towns, to receive from him the cavalry and infantry which he had promised to enlist during the winter; he himself, having set out from Tarraco, arrived at Castulo, immediately gathering moderate auxiliary forces from the allies who lived along the road.
§28.13.5eo adducta ab Silano auxilia tria milia peditum et quingenti equites.
To that place, the auxiliary forces brought by Silanus were three thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry.
inde ad Baeculam urbem progressus omni exercitu civium sociorum, peditum equitumque quinque et quadraginta milibus.
From there, he advanced to the city of Baecula with the entire army of citizens and allies, consisting of forty-five thousand infantry and cavalry.
§28.13.6castra ponentes eos Mago et Masinissa cum omni equitatu adgressi sunt, turbassentque munientes, ni abditi post tumulum opportune ad id positum ab Scipione equites inproviso in effusos incurrissent.
While they were pitching camp, Mago and Masinissa attacked them with all their cavalry, and they would have thrown the builders into confusion, had not the cavalry, hidden by Scipio behind a hill opportunely situated for that purpose, unexpectedly charged upon the scattered enemy.
§28.13.7ei promptissimum quemque et proxime vallum atque in ipsos munitores primum invectum vixdum proelio inito fuderunt.
These cavalrymen, almost before the battle had begun, routed all the most forward who had ridden closest to the rampart and directly against the builders themselves.
cum ceteris, qui sub signis atque ordine agminis incesserant, longior et diu ambigua pugna fuit.
With the rest, who had advanced under their standards and in regular order of march, the fight was longer and for a long time undecided.
§28.13.8sed cum ab stationibus primum expeditae cohortes, deinde ex opere deducti milites atque arma capere iussi plures usque et integri fessis subirent, magnumque iam agmen armatorum a castris in proelium rueret, terga haud dubie vertunt Poeni Numidaeque.
But when first the light-armed cohorts from the outposts, and then the soldiers drawn off from the work and ordered to take up arms, came up in larger numbers and fresh to support the fatigued, and a large body of armed men was now rushing from the camp into the battle, the Carthaginians and Numidians without doubt turned their backs.
§28.13.9et primo turmatim abibant nihil propter pavorem festinationemve confusis ordinibus; dein, postquam acrius ultimis incidebat Romanus neque sustineri impetus poterat, nihil iam ordinum memores passim, qua cuique proximum fuit, in fugam effunduntur.
At first they retreated by squadrons, with their ranks not at all disordered by fear or haste; then, after the Roman fell more fiercely upon their rear and the onset could no longer be sustained, remembering their ranks no longer, they scattered in flight in every direction, wherever was nearest to each.
§28.13.10et quamquam eo proelio aliquantum et Romanis aucti et deminuti hostibus animi erant, tamen numquam per aliquot insequentes dies ab excursionibus equitum levisque armaturae cessatum est.
And although by that battle the spirits of the Romans were somewhat raised and those of the enemy diminished, nevertheless during the next few days there was never any cessation from excursions of the cavalry and light-armed troops.