§28.37.1Mago cum Gades repetisset, exclusus inde, ad Cimbios — haud procul a Gadibus is locus abest — classe adpulsa, mittendis legatis querendoque, quod portae sibi socio atque amico clausae forent, purgantibus iis multitudinis concursu factum, §28.37.2infestae ob direpta quaedam ab conscendentibus naves militibus, ad conloquium sufetes eorum, qui summus Poenis est magistratus, cum quaestore elicuit, laceratosque verberibus cruci adfigi iussit; §28.37.3inde navibus ad Pityusam insulam centum milia ferme a continenti Poeni tum eam incolebant — traiecit.
When Mago had returned to Gades and was shut out from there, he brought his fleet to Cimbii—this place is not far from Gades—and by sending envoys and complaining that the gates had been closed to him, an ally and friend, while they excused themselves on the ground that it had been done by a rush of the multitude, which was hostile because of certain things plundered by the soldiers embarking on the ships, he enticed their sufetes, which is the highest magistrate among the Carthaginians, along with the quaestor to a conference, and ordered them, torn with scourges, to be crucified; from there he crossed over with his ships to the island of Pityusa—about a hundred miles from the continent; Carthaginians were inhabiting it at that time.
§28.37.4itaque classis bona cum pace accepta est, nec commeatus modo benigne praebiti, sed in supplementum classis iuventus armaque data.
Therefore the fleet was received with good peace, and not only were provisions kindly supplied, but also youth and arms were given to reinforce the fleet.
quorum fiducia Poenus in Baliares insulas — quinquaginta inde milia absunt — tramisit.
Relying on these, the Carthaginian crossed over to the Balearic Islands—they are fifty miles distant from there.
duae sunt Baliares insulae; §28.37.5maior altera atque opulentior armis virisque; et portum habet, ubi commode hibernaturum se — et iam extremum autumni erat — credebat.
There are two Balearic Islands; the one is larger and richer in arms and men, and it has a harbor where he believed he would winter conveniently—and it was already the end of autumn.
§28.37.6ceterum haud secus, quam si Romani eam insulam incolerent, hostiliter classi occursum est.
But, just as if Romans were inhabiting that island, the fleet was met with hostility.
fundis ut nunc plurimum, ita tum solo eo telo utebantur, nec quisquam alterius gentis unus tantum ea arte quantum inter alios omnes Baliares excellunt.
As they now use slings for the most part, so then they used that weapon alone, nor did any single man of any other nation excel so much in that art as the Balearics excel among all others.
§28.37.7itaque tanta vis lapidum creberrimae grandinis modo in propinquantem iam terrae classem effusa est, ut intrare portum non ausi averterent in altum naves.
Therefore, so great a force of stones was poured like a very thick shower of hail upon the fleet as it was already approaching the land, that not daring to enter the harbor, they turned their ships out into the deep.
§28.37.8in minorem inde Baliarium insulam traiecerunt fertilem agro, viris armis haud aeque validam.
From there they crossed over to the smaller of the Balearic Islands, fertile in its soil, but not equally strong in men and arms.
§28.37.9itaque egressi navibus super portum loco munito castra locant; ac sine certamine urbe agroque potiti, duobus milibus auxiliarium inde conscriptis missisque Carthaginem, ad hibernandum naves subduxerunt.
Therefore, landing from the ships, they located their camp in a fortified place above the harbor; and having gained possession of the city and country without a struggle, and having enlisted two thousand auxiliaries from there and sent them to Carthage, they hauled up their ships for the winter.
§28.37.10post Magonis ab Oceani ora discessum Gaditani Romanis deduntur.
After Mago's departure from the coast of the Ocean, the citizens of Gades surrendered to the Romans.