§40.48.1inde iam duxit ad Alcen urbem, ubi castra Celtiberorum erant, a quibus venerant nuper legati.
From there he at once led his army to the city of Alce, where the camp of the Celtiberians was, from whom the envoys had recently come.
eos cum per aliquot dies, §40.48.2armaturam levem immittendo in stationes, lacessisset parvis proeliis, in dies maiora certamina serebat, ut omnes extra munitiones eliceret.
When, for several days, he had harassed them, by throwing light-armed troops into their outposts in small skirmishes, he began to provoke larger contests day by day, in order to draw them all out of their fortifications.
ubi, §40.48.3quod petebat, satis sensit effectum, auxiliorum praefectis imperat, ut contracto certamine, tamquam multitudine superarentur, repente tergis datis ad castra effuse fugerent: ipse intra vallum ad omnes portas instruxit copias.
When, he felt that what he was seeking had been sufficiently achieved, he ordered the prefects of the auxiliaries that, having joined battle, as if they were being overcome by numbers, they should suddenly turn their backs and flee in disorder toward the camp; he himself drew up his forces inside the rampart at all the gates.
§40.48.4haud multum temporis intercessit, cum ex composito refugientium suorum agmen, post effuse sequentes barbaros conspexit.
Not much time had elapsed when, according to the plan, he saw the column of his fleeing men, and behind them the barbarians pursuing in disorder.
§40.48.5instructam ad hoc ipsum intra vallum habebat aciem.
He had his line of battle drawn up inside the rampart for this very purpose.
itaque tantum moratus, ut suos refugere in castra libero introitu sineret, clamore sublato simul omnibus portis erupit.
Therefore, delaying only long enough to allow his men to flee into the camp with an open entrance, he raised a shout and sallied out from all the gates at once.
non sustinuere impetum necopinatum hostes.
The enemy did not withstand the unexpected onslaught.
§40.48.6qui ad castra oppugnanda venerant, ne sua quidem tueri potuerunt: nam extemplo fusi fugati, mox intra vallum paventes compulsi, postremo exuuntur castris.
Those who had come to attack the camp could not even protect their own; for they were immediately routed and put to flight, soon driven trembling inside their rampart, and finally stripped of their camp.
§40.48.7eo die novem milia hostium caesa; capti vivi trecenti viginti, equi centum duodecim, signa militaria triginta septem.
On that day, nine thousand of the enemy were slain; three hundred and twenty were captured alive, with one hundred and twelve horses and thirty-seven military standards.
de exercitu Romano centum novem ceciderunt.
Of the Roman army, one hundred and nine fell.