§30.29.1iam Hadrumetum pervenerat Hannibal, unde, ad reficiendum ex iactatione maritima militem paucis diebus sumptis, excitus pavidis nuntiis omnia circa Carthaginem obtineri armis adferentium, magnis itineribus Zamam contendit.
Hannibal had already arrived at Hadrumetum, whence, having taken a few days to refresh his soldiers from the tossing of the sea, aroused by the trembling messengers who reported that everything around Carthage was held by arms, he hastened by forced marches to Zama.
§30.29.2Zama quinque dierum iter ab Carthagine abest.
Zama is five days' journey from Carthage.
inde praemissi speculatores cum excepti ab custodibus Romanis deducti ad Scipionem essent, traditos eos tribunos militum iussosque omisso metu visere omnia per castra, qua vellent, circumduci iussit;
When the spies sent ahead from there, having been caught by the Roman guards, were brought to Scipio, he ordered them to be handed over to the military tribunes and, with their fear dismissed, to be led around and shown everything throughout the camp wherever they wished.
§30.29.3percunctatusque, satin’ per commodum omnia explorassent, datis, qui prosequerentur, retro ad Hannibalem dimisit.
And having inquired whether they had reconnoitered everything sufficiently to their convenience, he sent them back to Hannibal, giving them escorts to accompany them.
§30.29.4Hannibal nihil quidem eorum, quae nuntiabantur — nam et Masinissam cum sex milibus peditum, quattuor equitum venisse eo ipso forte die adferebant —, laeto animo audivit, maxime hostis fiducia audaciaque, non de nihilo profecto concepta, perculsus est.
Hannibal indeed heard none of these things that were reported with a joyful mind—for they also reported that Masinissa had arrived on that very day by chance with six thousand infantry and four thousand cavalry—but he was especially struck by the confidence and audacity of the enemy, which was certainly not conceived without reason.
§30.29.5itaque quamquam et ipse causa belli erat et adventu sua turbaverat et pactas indutias et spem foederum, tamen, si integer quam si victus peteret pacem, aequiora impetrari posse ratus, nuntium ad Scipionem misit, ut conloquendi secum potestatem faceret.
Therefore, although he himself was both the cause of the war and by his arrival had disturbed both the agreed truce and the hope of treaties, yet, thinking that fairer terms could be obtained if he sought peace as one unimpaired than as one defeated, he sent a messenger to Scipio to grant him an opportunity for a conference.
§30.29.6id utrum sua sponte fecerit an publico consilio, neutrum cur adfirmem habeo.
Whether he did this of his own accord or by public counsel, I have no reason to affirm either.
§30.29.7Valerius Antias primo proelio victum eum ab Scipione, quo duodecim milia armatorum in acie sint caesa, mille et septingenti capti, legatum cum aliis decem legatis tradit in castra ad Scipionem venisse.
Valerius Antias relates that having been defeated by Scipio in a first battle, in which twelve thousand armed men were slain in the field and one thousand seven hundred captured, he came to Scipio's camp as an envoy with ten other envoys.
§30.29.8ceterum Scipio cum conloquium haud abnuisset, ambo ex composite duces castra protulerunt, ut coire ex propinquo possent.
But since Scipio had not refused a conference, both generals, by agreement, advanced their camps so that they could meet from a close distance.
§30.29.9Scipio haud procul Naraggara urbe, cum ad cetera loco opportuno tum quod aquatio intra teli coniectum erat, consedit.
Scipio took up a position not far from the city of Naraggara, which was convenient in other respects and especially because water supply was within a missile's throw.
§30.29.10Hannibal tumulum a quattuor milibus inde, tutum commodumque alioqui, nisi quod longinquae aquationis erat, cepit.
Hannibal occupied a hill four miles from there, safe and convenient in other respects, except that the water supply was far away.
ibi in medio locus conspectus undique, ne quid insidiarum esset, delectus.
There, in the middle, a place visible from all sides was chosen, so that there would be no danger of ambush.