§30.32.1in castra ut est ventum, pronuntiant ambo, arma expedirent milites animosque ad supremum certamen, non in unum diem sed in perpetuum, si felicitas adesset, victores.
When they arrived in the camps, both commanders proclaimed that the soldiers should prepare their weapons and their minds for the ultimate struggle, to be victors not for a single day but forever, if good fortune should attend them.
§30.32.2Roma an Carthago iura gentibus daret, ante crastinam noctem scituros; neque enim Africam aut Italiam, sed orbem terrarum victoriae praemium fore;
They would know before tomorrow's night whether Rome or Carthage would give laws to the nations; for neither Africa nor Italy, but the whole world would be the prize of victory.
§30.32.3par periculum praemio, quibus adversa pugnae fortuna fuisset.
The danger was equal to the prize for those to whom the fortune of battle should be adverse.
nam neque Romanis effugium ullum patebat in aliena ignotaque terra et Carthagini supremo auxilio effuso adesse videbatur praesens excidium.
For neither did any escape lie open to the Romans in a foreign and unknown land, and for Carthage, since their last resource had been poured out, instant ruin seemed to be at hand.
§30.32.4ad hoc discrimen procedunt postero die duorum opulentissimorum populorum duo longe clarissimi duces, duo fortissimi exercitus, multa ante parta decora aut cumulaturi eo die aut eversuri.
To this decisive struggle there advanced on the following day two by far the most famous generals of the two wealthiest nations, and two most valiant armies, who on that day were either to crown their many previously acquired honors or to overthrow them.
§30.32.5anceps igitur spes et metus miscebant animos; contemplantibusque modo suam modo hostium aciem, cum non oculis magis quam ratione pensarent vires, simul laeta simul tristia obversabantur.
Therefore, wavering hope and fear mingled in their minds; and as they contemplated now their own battle-line, now that of the enemy, when they weighed their strength no more with their eyes than with their reason, joyful and sad thoughts presented themselves at the same time.
quae ipsis sua sponte non succurrebant, ea duces admonendo atque hortando subiciebant.
What did not occur to the men of their own accord, their generals suggested by reminding and exhorting them.
§30.32.6Poenus sedecim annorum in terra Italia res gestas, tot duces Romanos, tot exercitus occidione occisos et sua cuique decora, ubi ad insignem alicuius pugnae memoria militem venerat, referebat;
The Carthaginian recalled their achievements of sixteen years in the land of Italy, so many Roman generals, so many armies utterly destroyed, and to each his own decorations whenever he came to a soldier distinguished by the memory of some battle.
§30.32.7Scipio Hispanias et recentia in Africa proelia et confessionem hostium, quod neque non petere pacem propter metum neque manere in ea prae insita animis perfidia potuissent.
Scipio recalled the Spanish campaigns, the recent battles in Africa, and the enemy's own confession that they had been unable either not to seek peace because of fear, or to remain in it because of the perfidy implanted in their minds.
§30.32.8ad hoc conloquium Hannibalis in secreto habitum ac liberum fingenti, qua vult, flectit;
In addition to this, he bent the conference with Hannibal, which had been held in secret and without witnesses, in whatever direction he wished, spinning it as he pleased.
§30.32.9ominatur, quibus quondam auspiciis patres eorum ad Aegates pugnaverint insulas, ea illis exeuntibus in aciem portendisse deos.
He prophesied that the same auspices with which their fathers had once fought at the Aegates Islands were portended by the gods to them as they marched out to battle.
§30.32.10adesse finem belli ac laboris. in manibus esse praedam Carthaginis, reditum domum in patriam ad parentes, liberos, coniuges penatesque deos.
He declared that the end of war and labor was at hand; that the plunder of Carthage was within their grasp, as well as the return home to their country, to parents, children, wives, and household gods.
§30.32.11celsus haec corpore vultuque ita laeto, ut vicisse iam crederes, dicebat.
Erect in body and with a countenance so joyful that you would believe him already to have conquered, he spoke these things.
instruit deinde primos hastatos, post eos principes, triariis postremam aciem clausit.
He then drew up the hastati first, behind them the principes, and closed the rear of the line with the triarii.