§29.28.1expositis copiis Romani castra in proximis tumulis metantur.
Having landed their forces, the Romans laid out their camp on the nearest hills.
§29.28.2iam non in maritimos modo agros conspectu primum classis, dein tumultu egredientium in terram pavor terrorque pervenerat, sed in ipsas urbes.
Fear and panic had now reached not only the coastal fields, first at the sight of the fleet, then at the tumult of those landing, but even the cities themselves.
§29.28.3neque enim hominum modo turba mulierum puerorumque agminibus immixta, omnes passim compleverat vias, sed pecora quoque prae se agrestes agebant, ut relinqui subito Africam diceres.
For not only did a crowd of men, mingled with columns of women and children, fill all the roads everywhere, but the peasants also were driving their cattle before them, so that you would have said Africa was suddenly being abandoned.
§29.28.4urbibus vero ipsis maiorem quam quem secum attulerant, terrorem inferebant; praecipue Carthagini prope ut captae tumultus fuit.
Indeed, they brought into the cities themselves a greater terror than that which they had brought with them; especially in Carthage, there was a tumult almost as if it had been captured.
§29.28.5nam post M. Atilium Regulum et L. Manlium consules, annis prope quinquaginta, nullum Romanum exercitum viderant praeter praedatorias classes, quibus escensiones in agros maritimos factae erant, §29.28.6raptisque, quae obvia fors fecerat, prius recursum semper ad naves, quam clamor agrestes conciret, fuerat; §29.28.7eo maior tum fuga pavorque in urbe fuit.
For since the consulship of Marcus Atilius Regulus and Lucius Manlius, nearly fifty years before, they had seen no Roman army except predatory fleets, by which landings had been made on the coastal fields, and after plundering whatever fortune had thrown in their way, they had always retreated to their ships before the alarm could rouse the peasants; for this reason, the flight and panic in the city were all the greater.
et hercule neque exercitus domi validus neque dux, quem opponerent, erat.
And indeed, there was neither a strong army at home nor a general whom they could oppose to the enemy.
Hasdrubal Gisgonis filius genere, fama, divitiis, regia tum etiam adfinitate longe primus civitatis erat; §29.28.8sed eum ab ipso illo Scipione aliquot proeliis fusum pulsumque in Hispania meminerant, nec magis ducem duci parem quam tumultuarium exercitum suum Romano exercitui esse.
Hasdrubal, the son of Gisgo, was by far the first man of the state in birth, reputation, wealth, and at that time also by royal alliance; but they remembered that he had been routed and driven out in Spain in several battles by that very Scipio, and they felt that the general was no more a match for the general than their own tumultuary army was for the Roman army.
§29.28.9itaque, velut si urbem extemplo adgressurus Scipio foret, ita conclamatum ad arma est, portaeque raptim clausae et armati in muris vigiliaeque et stationes dispositae, ac nocte insequenti vigilatum est.
Therefore, just as if Scipio were about to attack the city immediately, there was a general cry to arms, the gates were hurriedly closed, armed men were stationed on the walls, watches and outposts were disposed, and they kept watch through the following night.
§29.28.10postero die quingenti equites, speculatum ad mare turbandosque egredientes ex navibus missi, in stationes Romanorum inciderunt.
On the following day, five hundred horsemen, sent to scout near the sea and to throw into confusion those landing from the ships, fell in with the outposts of the Romans.
§29.28.11iam enim Scipio classe Uticam missa ipse haud ita multum progressus a mari tumulos proximos ceperat; equites et in stationibus locis idoneis posuerat et per agros miserat praedatum.
For Scipio, having already sent the fleet to Utica, had himself advanced not so very far from the sea and had occupied the nearest hills; he had both placed horsemen in outposts in suitable locations and sent them through the fields to forage.