§28.20.1transfugae Afri, qui tum inter auxilia Romana erant, et oppidanis in ea tuenda, unde periculum videbatur, versis et Romanis subeuntibus contra, §28.20.2qua adire poterant, conspexerunt editissimam urbis partem, quia rupe praealta tegebatur, neque opere ullo munitam et ab defensoribus vacuam. §28.20.3levium corporum homines et multa exercitatione pernicium clavos secum ferreos portantes, qua per inaequaliter eminentia rupis poterant, scandunt. §28.20.4sicubi nimis arduum et leve saxum occurrebat, clavos per modica intervalla figentes cum velut gradus fecissent, §28.20.5primi insequentes extrahentes manu, postremi sublevantes eos, qui prae se irent, in summum evadunt; inde decurrunt cum clamore in urbem iam captam ab Romanis. §28.20.6tum vero apparuit ab ira et ab odio urbem oppugnatam esse.
The African deserters, who were then among the Roman auxiliaries, while the townsmen were turned to defending that part from which danger seemed to threaten, and the Romans were climbing up from the opposite side, noticed, where they could approach, the highest part of the city, which, because it was protected by a very high cliff, was neither fortified by any work nor occupied by defenders. Being men of light bodies and agile from much training, and carrying iron nails with them, they climbed up where they could through the unevenly projecting parts of the cliff. Wherever too steep and smooth a rock presented itself, driving in the nails at moderate intervals, when they had made as it were steps, the first pulling up those who followed with their hands, and the last pushing up those who went before them, they came out onto the summit; thence they ran down with a shout into the city which had already been captured by the Romans. Then indeed it became apparent that the city had been attacked out of anger and hatred.
nemo capiendi vivos, nemo patentibus ad direptionem omnibus praedae memor est; trucidant inermes iuxta atque armatos, feminas pariter ac viros; usque ad infantium caedem ira crudelis pervenit. §28.20.7ignem deinde tectis iniciunt ac diruunt quae incendio absumi nequeunt; adeo vestigia quoque urbis extinguere ac delere memoriam hostium sedis cordi est. §28.20.8Castulonem inde Scipio exercitum ducit quam urbem non Hispani modo convenae, sed Punici etiam exercitus ex dissipata passim fuga reliquiae tutabantur. §28.20.9sed adventum Scipionis praevenerat fama cladis Iliturgitanorum, terrorque inde ac desperatio invaserat; §28.20.10et in diversis causis cum sibi quisque consultum sine alterius respectu vellet, primo tacita suspicio, deinde aperta discordia secessionem inter Carthaginienses atque Hispanos fecit. §28.20.11his Cerdubelus, propalam deditionis auctor, Himilco Punicis auxiliaribus praeerat; quos urbemque clam fide accepta Cerdubelus Romano prodit. §28.20.12mitior ea victoria fuit; nec tantundem noxae admissum erat, et aliquantum irae lenierat voluntaria deditio.
No one thought of taking captives alive, no one was mindful of plunder, though all things lay open to pillage; they slaughtered the unarmed along with the armed, women as well as men; their cruel anger reached even to the slaughter of infants. Next, they threw fire onto the roofs and demolished what could not be consumed by fire; so much was it their heart's desire to extinguish even the ruins of the city and erase the memory of the enemy's seat. From there Scipio led his army to Castulo, a city which was defended not only by Spanish refugees but also by the remains of the Carthaginian army from their flight scattered everywhere. But the rumor of the disaster of the Iliturgitani had anticipated Scipio's arrival, and terror and despair therefrom had invaded them; and since their interests were diverse, and each wished to consult his own safety without regard for the other, first a silent suspicion, then open discord caused a separation between the Carthaginians and the Spaniards. Cerdubelus commanded the Spaniards, being an open advocate of surrender, while Himilco commanded the Carthaginian auxiliaries; Cerdubelus, having secretly received a guarantee of safety, betrayed them and the city to the Roman. That victory was milder; neither had so much guilt been committed, and their voluntary surrender had considerably softened the anger of the Romans.