§29.7.1Scipioni ut nuntiatum est in maiore discrimine Locris rem verti ipsumque Hannibalem adventare, §29.7.2ne praesidio etiam periclitaretur, haud facili inde receptu, et ipse a Messana L. Scipione fratre in praesidio ibi relicto, cum primum aestu fretum inclinatum est, naves mari secundo misit.
When Scipio was informed that the situation at Locri was turning into a greater crisis and that Hannibal himself was approaching, lest the garrison also should be endangered, from which retreat was not easy, he himself too, having left his brother Lucius Scipio in garrison there, as soon as the strait had turned with the tide and allowed navigation, sent the ships with a favorable sea from Messana.
§29.7.3et Hannibal a Buloto amni — haud procul is ab urbe Locris abest — nuntio praemisso, ut sui luce prima summa vi proelium cum Romanis ac Locrensibus consererent, dum ipse aversis omnibus in eum tumultum ab tergo urbem incautam adgrederetur, §29.7.4ubi luce coeptam invenit pugnam, ipse nec in arcem se includere, turba locum artum inpediturus, voluit, neque scalas, quibus scanderet muros, attulerat.
And Hannibal, having sent a messenger ahead from the river Bulotus — which is not far distant from the city of Locri — that his men should join battle with the Romans and Locrians at early dawn with their utmost strength, while he himself, while all attention was diverted to that tumult, should attack the unguarded city from the rear, when he found the battle begun at dawn, did not wish to shut himself in the citadel, lest he should block the narrow place with a crowd, nor had he brought ladders with which to scale the walls.
§29.7.5sarcinis in acervum coniectis cum haud procul muris ad terrorem hostium aciem ostendisset, cum equitibus Numidis circumequitat urbem, dum scalae quaeque alia ad oppugnandum opus erant parantur, ad visendum, qua maxime parte adgrederetur.
Having thrown the baggage into a heap, and having displayed his battle line not far from the walls to terrify the enemy, he rode around the city with his Numidian cavalry to observe at which part he might best make an attack, while ladders and other things necessary for an assault were being prepared.
§29.7.6progressus ad murum scorpione icto, qui proximus eum forte steterat, territus inde tam periculoso casu receptui canere cum iussisset, castra procul ab ictu teli communit.
Having advanced to the wall, when a man who happened to stand nearest to him was struck by a scorpion, terrified by so dangerous an occurrence, he ordered the retreat to be sounded and fortified his camp far out of range of missiles.
§29.7.7classis Romana a Messana Locros aliquot horis die superante accessit; expositi omnes e navibus et ante occasum solis urbem ingressi sunt.
The Roman fleet arrived from Messana at Locri with several hours of daylight remaining; all were landed from the ships and entered the city before sunset.
§29.7.8postero die coepta ex arce a Poenis pugna et Hannibal iam scalis aliisque omnibus ad oppugnationem paratis subibat muros, cum repente in eum nihil minus quam tale quicquam timentem patefacta porta erumpunt Romani.
On the following day, the battle was begun from the citadel by the Carthaginians, and Hannibal, with ladders and all other things now ready for the assault, was approaching the walls, when suddenly, a gate being opened, the Romans burst out upon him, who was fearing nothing less than such an occurrence.
§29.7.9ad ducentos improvidos cum invasissent occidunt; ceteros Hannibal, ut consulem adesse sensit, in castra recipit, nuntioque misso ad eos, qui in arce erant, ut sibimet ipsi consulerent, nocte motis castris abiit.
They killed about two hundred who were caught off guard; Hannibal, as soon as he perceived that the consul was present, withdrew the rest into the camp, and having sent a messenger to those in the citadel to look to their own safety, he decamped and departed during the night.
§29.7.10et qui in arce erant, igni iniecto tectis, quae tenebant, ut is tumultus hostem moraretur, agmen suorum fugae simili cursu ante noctem adsecuti sunt.
And those who were in the citadel, having set fire to the buildings they occupied so that the confusion might delay the enemy, overtook the column of their comrades before night with a march that resembled a flight.