§28.17.1L. Scipio cum multis nobilibus captivis nuntius receptae Hispaniae Romam est missus; §28.17.2et cum ceteri laetitia gloriaque ingenti eam rem vulgo ferrent, unus, qui gesserat, inexplebilis virtutis veraeque laudis, parvum instar eorum, quae spe ac magnitudine animi concepisset, receptas Hispanias ducebat: §28.17.3iam Africam magnamque Carthaginem et in suum decus nomenque velut consummatam eius belli gloriam spectabat.
L. Scipio was sent to Rome with many noble captives as a messenger of the recovery of Spain; and while others commonly reported that event with great joy and glory, the one who had achieved it, a man of insatiable virtue and true praise, considered the recovered Spains as a small fraction of those things which he had conceived in his hope and greatness of mind; he was already looking toward Africa and great Carthage, and regarded the glory of that war as if it were to be completed for his own honor and name.
§28.17.4itaque praemoliendas sibi ratus iam res conciliandosque regum gentiumque animos, Syphacem primum regem statuit temptare.
Therefore, thinking that he must prepare the way for his designs and win over the minds of kings and nations, he resolved to try King Syphax first.
§28.17.5Masaesuliorum is rex erat: Masaesulii, gens adfinis Mauris, in regionem Hispaniae maxime qua sita Nova Carthago est spectant.
He was the king of the Masaesulians; the Masaesulians, a people adjacent to the Moors, look toward that region of Spain where New Carthage is chiefly situated.
§28.17.6foedus ea tempestate regi cum Carthaginiensibus erat; §28.17.7quod haud gravius ei sanctiusque quam vulgo barbaris, quibus ex fortuna pendet fides, ratus fore, oratorem ad eum C. Laelium cum donis mittit.
At that time, the king had a treaty with the Carthaginians; but thinking that this treaty would be no more weighty or sacred to him than it commonly is to barbarians, whose loyalty depends on fortune, Scipio sent C. Laelius as an envoy to him with gifts.
§28.17.8quibus barbarus laetus, et quia res tum prosperae ubique Romanis, Poenis in Italia adversae, in Hispania nullae iam erant, amicitiam se Romanorum accipere annuit: firmandae eius fidem nec dare nec accipere nisi cum ipso coram duce Romano.
The barbarian was pleased with these, and because the Roman cause was then prosperous everywhere, while that of the Carthaginians was adverse in Italy and now non-existent in Spain, he agreed to accept the friendship of the Romans; but he declared that he would neither give nor receive a pledge to confirm it except face to face with the Roman general himself.
§28.17.9ita Laelius in id modo fide ab rege accepta, tutum adventum fore, ad Scipionem redit.
Thus Laelius, having received only this pledge from the king, that his arrival would be safe, returned to Scipio.
§28.17.10magnum in omnia momentum Syphax adfectanti res Africae erat, opulentissimus eius terrae rex, bello iam expertus ipsos Carthaginienses, finibus etiam regni apte ad Hispaniam, quod freto exiguo dirimuntur, positis.
Syphax was a of great importance in all respects for one who was aiming at the affairs of Africa, being the wealthiest king of that land, having already experienced in war the Carthaginians themselves, and having the boundaries of his kingdom advantageously situated in relation to Spain, as they are separated only by a narrow strait.
§28.17.11dignam itaque rem Scipio ratus, quae, quoniam aliter non posset, magno periculo peteretur, L. Marcio Tarracone, M. Silano Carthagine Nova, quo pedibus ab Tarracone itineribus magnis ierat, ad praesidium Hispaniae relictis, §28.17.12ipse cum C. Laelio duabus quinqueremibus ab Carthagine profectus tranquillo mari plurimum remis, interdum et leni adiuvante vento in Africam traiecit.
Therefore Scipio, thinking it a matter worthy to be sought at great risk, since it could not be done otherwise, left L. Marcius at Tarraco and M. Silanus at New Carthage, whither he had gone on foot from Tarraco by forced marches, for the protection of Spain, and he himself, setting out from Carthage with C. Laelius in two quinqueremes, crossed over into Africa on a calm sea, mostly by oars, but sometimes aided also by a gentle wind.
§28.17.13forte ita incidit, ut eo ipso tempore Hasdrubal pulsus Hispania, septem triremibus portum invectus,
It happened by chance that at that very time Hasdrubal, driven from Spain, entered the harbor with seven triremes, and having cast anchor, was bringing his ships to land, when two quinqueremes were sighted.
§28.17.14ancoris positis terrae adplicaret naves, cumconspectae duae quinqueremes, haud cuiquam dubio quin hostium essent opprimique a pluribus, priusquam portum intrarent, possent, nihil aliud quam tumultum actrepidationem simul militum ac nautarum nequiquam armaque et naves expedientium fecerunt.
Although no one doubted that they belonged to the enemy and could be overwhelmed by superior numbers before they entered the harbor, they caused nothing but a tumult and alarm among the soldiers and sailors, who were vainly preparing their arms and ships.
§28.17.15percussa enim ex alto vela paulo acriori vento prius in portum intulerunt quinqueremes, quam Poeni ancoras molirentur; §28.17.16nec ultra tumultum ciere quisquam in regio portu audebat.
For the sails, struck by a slightly stronger wind from the deep, carried the quinqueremes into the harbor before the Carthaginians could raise their anchors; and no one dared to raise a further tumult in the royal harbor.
ita in terram prior Hasdrubal, mox Scipio et Laelius egressi ad regem pergunt.
Thus Hasdrubal landed first, and soon afterward Scipio and Laelius, having disembarked, proceeded to the king.