Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor), 29.34

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[1]

The Carthaginians, having lost a squadron of cavalry with its commander ¹ and acquired other horse by a fresh levy, placed Hanno the son of Hamilcar ² in command.

[2] Again and again they summoned Hasdrubal and Syphax by letters and messengers, finally even by envoys. They bade Hasdrubal bring aid to his native city, now almost ³ invested; they entreated Syphax to come to the rescue of Carthage, to the rescue of all Africa.

[3] Scipio at that time had his camp near Utica, about a mile from the city, ⁴ having shifted it from the seashore, where for a few days the camp had been established close to the fleet.

[4] Hanno, who had received a cavalry force not strong enough even to prevent the devastation of farms, to say nothing of attacking the enemy, made it his very first task to increase the number of his horsemen by recruiting.

[5] And though he did not reject men from other tribes, it was nevertheless especially Numidians that he hired, they being easily the foremost type of cavalry in Africa.

[6] Already he had about four thousand horsemen when he seized a city named Salaeca, ⁵ some fifteen miles from the Roman camp. When this was reported to Scipio, he said

Cavalry summering under roofs!

[7]

Let them be even more numerous, provided they have that kind of a commander!

[8] Thinking that the more spiritless they were the less must he delay, he sent Masinissa forward with cavalry, ordering him to ride up to the gates and draw the enemy out into battle. When the whole multitude should have sallied out and in battle should then prove too powerful for them to withstand easily, he was gradually to retire. He would himself come into the battle at the right moment.

[9] After delaying only long enough to give time, as it seemed, for Masinissa, who had preceded him, to draw out the enemy, Scipio followed with the Roman cavalry and advanced unseen under cover of ⁶ the hills, which were most conveniently placed on both sides of a winding road.

[10] Masinissa according to plan, now as inspirer of terror, now as the terror-stricken, would either ride up to the very gates, or retiring would tempt them to reckless pursuit whenever his pretence of fear added to the enemy's boldness.

[11] Not yet had all sallied out, and the commander was exerting himself in various ways, as he compelled some men heavy with wine and sleep to take up their arms and bridle their horses, and stood in the way of others, to prevent their dashing out of all the gates, scattering and unformed, with no order, no standards.

[12] At first, as they rashly charged, Masinissa would meet their attack. Later larger numbers, dashing out of a gate in a mass, had made it an even combat.

[13] Finally, when all their cavalry was engaged, they could no longer be withstood. Yet Masinissa did not flee in disorder, but retiring gradually would meet their attacks until he drew them to the hills which concealed the Roman cavalry.

[14] Thereupon the horsemen dashing out, themselves with undiminished strength and their horses fresh, surrounded Hanno and the Africans, who were exhausted by fighting and pursuit; and Masinissa, suddenly turning his horses about, went into battle again.

[15] About a thousand men who had been at the head of the column, finding retreat difficult, were cut off and slain along with Hanno himself, their commander.

[16] As for the rest, who were terrified especially by the death of their commander, the victors pursuing them in headlong flight for thirty miles either captured or slew about two thousand more horsemen.

[17] Among these it was well established that ⁷ there were not less than two hundred Carthaginian horsemen, some of them distinguished both for wealth and noble blood.

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor). Medford, MA. .

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

History of Rome (English) (Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Sage, Evan T.; Schlesinger, Alfred C., translators. Cambridge, Mass.; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959. (Loeb Classical Library))

Editions (3)

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.) — 29.34 focus

[1] Carthaginienses ala equitum cum praefecto amissa, alio equitatu per novum dilectum comparato, Hannonem Hamilcaris filium praeficiunt.

[2] hasdrubalem subinde ac Syphacem per litteras nuntiosque, postremo etiam per legatos arcessunt; Hlasdrubalem Hasdrubalem opem ferre prope circumsessae patriae iubent; Syphacem orant, ut Carthagini, ut universae Africae subveniat.

[3] ad Uticam tum castrt castra Scipio, mille ferme passus ab urbe, habebat, tralata a mari, ubi paucos dies stativa coniuncta classi fuerant.

[4] Hanno nequaquam satis valido non modo ad lacessendum hostem sed ne ad tuendos quidem a populationibus agros equitatu accepto, id omnium primum egit, ut per conquisitionem numerum equitum augeret;

[5] nee nec aliarum gentium aspernatus, maxime tamen Numidas — id longe primum equitum in Africa est genus — conducit.

[6] iam ad quattuor milia equitum habebat, cum Salaecam nomine urbem occupavit quindecim ferme milia ab Romanis castris.

[7] quod ubi Scipioni relatum est, “aestiva sub tectis equitatus!” inquit: “sint vel plures, dum talem ducem habeant.”

[8] eo minus sibi cessandum ratus, quo illi segnius rem agerent, Masinissam cum equitatu praemissum portis obequitare atque hostem ad pugnam elicere iubet; ubi omnis multitudo se effudisset graviorque iam in certamine esset, quam ut facile sustineri posset, cederet paulatim; se in tempore pugnae obventurum.

[9] tantum moratus, quantum satis temporis praegresso visum ad eliciendos hostes, cum Romano equitatu secutus, tegentibus tumulis, qui peropportune circa viae flexus oppositi erant, occultus processit.

[10] Masinissa ex composito nunc terrentis nunc timentis modo aut ipsis obequitabat portis aut cedendo, cum timoris simulatio audaciam hosti faceret, ad insequendum temere eliciebat.

[11] nondum omnes egressi erant, varieque dux fatigabatur alios vino et somno graves arma capere et frenare equos cogendo, aliis, ne sparsi et inconditi sine ordine, sine signis omnibus portis excurrerent, obsistendo.

[12] primo incaute se invehentes Masinissa excipiebat; mox plures simul conferti porta effusi aequaverant certamen; postremo iam omnis equitatus proelio cum adesset, sustineri ultra nequiere.

[13] non tamen effusa fuga Masinissa, sed cedendo sensim impetus eorum excipiebat, donec ad tumulos tegentes Romanum equitatum pertraxit.

[14] inde exorti equites et ipsi integris viribus et recentibus equis Hannoni Afrisque pugnando ac sequendo fessis se circumfudere; et Masinissa flexis subito equis in pugnam rediit.

[15] mille ferme, qui primi agminis fuerant, quibus baud haud facilis receptus fuit, cum ipso duce Hannone interclusi atque interfecti sunt;

[16] ceteros, ducis praecipue territos caede, effuse fugientes per triginta milia passuum victores secuti ad duo praeterea milia equitum aut ceperunt aut occiderunt.

[17] inter eos satis constabat non minus ducentos Carthaginiensium equites fuisse, et divitiis quosdam et genere inlustres.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 29.34 focus

[1]

Carthaginienses ala equitum cum praefecto amissa, alio equitatu per nouum dilectum comparato Hannonem Hamilcaris filium praeficiunt.

[2] Hasdrubalem subinde ac Syphacem per litteras nuntiosque, postremo etiam per legatos arcessunt; Hasdrubalem opem ferre prope circumsessae patriae iubent; Syphacem orant ut Carthagini, ut uniuersae Africae subueniat.

[3] ad Uticam tum castra Scipio ferme mille passus ab urbe habebat translata a mari, ubi paucos dies statiua coniuncta classi fuerant.

[4] Hanno nequaquam satis ualido non modo ad lacessendum hostem sed ne ad tuendos quidem a populationibus agros equitatu accepto id omnium primum egit ut per conquisitionem numerum equitum augeret;

[5] nec aliarum gentium aspernatus, maxime tamen Numidas—id longe primum equitum in Africa est genus —

[6] conducit. iam ad quattuor milia equitum habebat, cum Salaecam nomine urbem occupauit quindecim ferme milia ab Romanis castris.

[7] quod ubi Scipioni relatum est, 'aestiua sub tectis equitatus.' inquit 'sint uel plures, dum talem ducem habeant.'

[8] eo minus sibi cessandum ratus quo illi segnius rem agerent, Masinissam cum equitatu praemissum portis obequitare atque hostem ad pugnam elicere iubet: ubi omnis multitudo se effudisset grauiorque iam in certamine esset quam ut facile sustineri posset, cederet paulatim;

[9] se in tempore pugnae obuenturum. tantum moratus quantum satis temporis praegresso uisum ad eliciendos hostes, cum Romano equitatu secutus tegentibus tumulis, qui peropportune circa uiae flexus oppositi erant, occultus processit.

[10] Masinissa ex composito nunc terrentis, nunc timentis modo aut ipsis obequitabat portis aut cedendo, cum timoris simulatio audaciam hosti faceret, ad insequendum temere eliciebat.

[11] nondum omnes egressi erant uarieque dux fatigabatur, alios uino et somno graues arma capere et frenare equos cogendo, aliis ne sparsi et inconditi sine ordine sine signis omnibus portis excurrerent obsistendo.

[12] primo incaute se inuehentes Masinissa excipiebat; mox plures simul conferti porta effusi aequauerant certamen; postremo iam omnis equitatus proelio cum adesset, sustineri ultra nequiere;

[13] non tamen effusa fuga Masinissa sed cedendo sensim impetus eorum accipiebat donec ad tumulos tegentes Romanum equitatum pertraxit.

[14] inde exorti equites et ipsi integris uiribus et recentibus equis Hannoni Afrisque pugnando ac sequendo fessis se circumfudere; et Masinissa flexis subito equis in pugnam rediit.

[15] mille fere qui primi agminis fuerant, quibus haud facilis receptus fuit, cum ipso duce Hannone interclusi atque interfecti sunt:

[16] ceteros ducis praecipue territos caede effuse fugientes per triginta milia passuum uictores secuti ad duo praeterea milia equitum aut ceperunt aut occiderunt.

[17] inter eos satis constabat non minus ducentos Carthaginiensium equites fuisse, et diuitiis quosdam et genere inlustres.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Livy in Fourteen Volumes. Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Schlesinger, Alfred C., editors. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959 (printing).) — 29.34 focus

[1]

Carthaginienses ala equitum cum praefecto amissa, alio ¹ equitatu per novum dilectum comparato, Hannonem Hamilcaris filium praeficiunt.

[2] Hasdrubalem subinde ac Syphacem per litteras nuntiosque, postremo etiam per legatos arcessunt; Hasdrubalem opem ferre prope circumsessae patriae ² iubent; Syphacem orant ut Carthagini, ut ³ universae Africae subveniat.

[3] ad Uticam tum castra Scipio mille ferme passus ab urbe habebat, translata a mari, ubi paucos dies stativa coniuncta classi fuerant.

[4] Hanno nequaquam satis valido non modo ad lacessendum hostem, sed ne ad tuendos quidem a populationibus agros equitatu accepto, id omnium primum egit ut per conquisitionem numerum ⁴ equitum augeret;

[5] nec aliarum gentium aspernatus, maxime tamen Numidas—id longe primum equitum in Africa est genus—conducit.

[6] iam ad quattuor milia equitum habebat, cum Salaecam nomine nornine urbem occupavit quindecim ferme milia ab Romanis castris.

[7] quod ubi Scipioni relatum est,

aestiva sub tectis ⁵ equitatus!

inquit.

sint vel plures, dum talem ducem habeant.

[8] eo minus sibi cessandum ratus, quo illi segnius rem agerent, Masinissam cum equitatu praemissum portis obequitare atque hostem ad pugnam elicere iubet; ubi omnis multitudo se effudisset graviorque iam in certamine esset quam ut facile sustineri posset, cederet ⁶ paulatim; se in tempore pugnae obventurum. ⁷

[9] tantum moratus quantum satis temporis praegresso visum ad eliciendos hostes, cum Romano equitatu secutus, tegentibus ⁸ tumulis, qui peropportune ⁹ circa viae flexus oppositi ¹⁰ erant, occultus processit.

[10] Masinissa ex composito nunc terrentis, nunc timentis modo aut ipsis obequitabat portis aut cedendo, cum timoris simulatio audaciam hosti faceret, ad insequendum temere eliciebat.

[11] nondum omnes egressi erant, varieque dux fatigabatur alios vino et somno graves arma capere et frenare equos cogendo, allis, ne sparsi et inconditi sine ordine, sine signis omnibus portis excurrerent, obsistendo. primo¹¹ incaute se invehentes Masinissa excipiebat;

[12] mox plures simul conferti porta effusi aequaverant certamen; postremo iam omnis equitatus proelio cum adesset, sustineri ultra nequiere.

[13] non tamen effusa fuga Masinissa, sed cedendo sensim impetus eorum excipiebat, ¹² donec ad tumulos tegentes Romanum equitatum pertraxit.

[14] inde exorti equites et ipsi integris viribus et recentibus equis Hannoni Afrisque pugnando ac sequendo fessis se circumfudere; et Masinissa flexis subito equis in pugnam rediit.

[15] mille fere ¹³ qui primi agminis fuerant, quibus ¹⁴ haud facilis receptus fuit, cum ipso duce Hannone interclusi atque interfecti sunt;

[16] ceteros, ducis praecipue territos caede, effuse fugientes per triginta milia passuum victores secuti ad duo praeterea milia equitum aut ceperunt aut occiderunt.

[17] inter eos satis ¹⁵ constabat non minus ducentos Carthaginiensium equites fuisse, et divitiis quosdam et genere inlustres.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 29.34 focus

[1]

The Carthaginians having lost a detachment of cavalry, together with the commander, got together another body by means of a new levy, and gave the command of it to Hanno, son of Hamilcar.

[2] They frequently sent for Hasdrubal and Syphax by letters and messengers, and lastly even by ambassadors, ordering Hasdrubal to bring assistance to his almost besieged country, and imploring Syphax to bring relief to Carthage, nay to all Africa.

[3] At that time Scipio had his camp about five miles from the city of Utica, having removed it from the sea, where he had continued encamped for a few days near the fleet.

[4] Hanno, having received the body of horse, which was far from being strong enough, not only to attack the enemy, but even to protect the country from devastation, made it his first business to augment the number of his cavalry by pressing;

[5] and though he did not despise the men of other nations, he enlisted principally from the Numidians, who are by far the first horsemen in Africa.

[6] He had now as many as four thousand horsemen, when he took possession of a town named Salera, about fifteen miles from the Roman camp. When Scipio was told of this, he said,

What! cavalry lodging in houses during the summer!

[7]

Let them be even more in number while they have such a leader.

Concluding that the more dilatory they were in their operations, the more active he ought to be, he sent Masinissa forward with the cavalry, directing him to ride up to the gates of the enemy and draw them out to battle;

[8] and when their whole force had poured out and pressed upon him with such impetuosity in the contest that they could not easily be withstood, then to retire by degrees, and he would himself come up and join in the battle in time.

[9] Waiting only till he thought he had allowed sufficient time for the advanced party to draw out the enemy, he followed with the Roman cavalry, proceeding without being seen, as he was covered by some rising grounds, which lay very conveniently between him and the enemy, round the windings of the road.

[10] Masinissa, according to the plan laid down, at one time as if menacing the enemy, at another as if he had been afraid, either rode up to the gates, or else by retiring when his counterfeited fears had inspired them with courage, tempted them to pursue him with inconsiderate ardour.

[11] They had not as yet all gone out, and the general was wearying himself with various occupations, compelling some who were oppressed with sleep and wine to take arms and bridle their horses, and preventing others from running out at all the gates in scattered parties and in disorder, without keeping their ranks or following their standards.

[12] At first, those who incautiously rushed out were overpowered by Masinissa; but then a greater number pouring out of the gate at once in a dense body, placed the contest on an equal footing;

[13] and at last the whole of their cavalry coming up and joining in the battle, they could now no longer be withstood.

[14] Masinissa, however, did not receive their charge in hasty flight, but retired slowly, until he drew them to the rising grounds which covered the Roman cavalry. The Roman cavalry then rising up, their own strength unimpaired and their horses fresh, spread themselves round Hanno and the Africans, fatigued 'with the fight and the pursuit, and Masinissa, suddenly turning his horses round, came back to the battle.

[15] About a thousand who formed the first line and could not easily retreat, together with Hanno their general, were surrounded and slain.

[16] The victors pursuing the rest through a space of three miles, as they fled with the most violent haste, being terrified, principally on account of the death of their leader, either took or slew as many as two thousand horsemen more.

[17] It appeared that there were not less than two hundred Carthaginian horsemen among them, some of whom were distinguished by birth and fortune.

History of Rome Perseus (Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.) — 29.34 focus

[1]

After the loss of their cavalry corps and its commander, the Carthaginians raised a fresh force which they placed under Hamilcar's son Hanno.

[2] They had sent repeated messages to both Hasdrubal and Syphax and at last sent a special embassy to each of them, appealing to Hasdrubal to succour his native city which was all but invested, and imploring Syphax to come to the aid of Carthage and indeed of the whole of Africa.

[3] Scipio at the time was encamped about a mile from Utica, having moved up from the coast where for a few days he had occupied an intrenched position close to his fleet.

[4] The mounted troops which had been supplied to Hanno were by no means strong enough to harass the enemy or even to protect the country from his depredations, and his first and most pressing task was to increase its strength.

[5] Though he did not reject recruits from other tribes, his levy consisted mainly of Numidians, by far the finest cavalry in Africa.

[6] When he had brought his corps up to about 4000 men, he took possession of a town called Salaeca, about fifteen miles from the Roman camp. This was reported to Scipio, and he exclaimed, "What?

[7] Cavalry in houses in the summer! Let there be more of them as long as they have such a leader!"

[8] Realising that the less energy the enemy showed, the less hesitation ought he himself to show, he instructed Masinissa and his cavalry to ride up to the enemy's quarters and draw them into action: when their whole force was engaged and he was being outnumbered he was to retire slowly, and when the moment arrived Scipio would come to his support.

[9] The Roman general waited until Masinissa had had sufficient time to draw the enemy, and then followed with his cavalry, his approach being concealed by some low hills which fortunately flanked his route.

[10] Masinissa, in accordance with his instructions, rode right up to the gates and, when the enemy appeared, retired as though afraid to meet him; this simulated fear made the enemy all the more confident, until he was tempted into a rash pursuit.

[11] The Carthaginians had not yet all emerged from the city, and their general had more than enough to do in forcing some who were heavy with wine and sleep to seize their weapons and bridle their horses and preventing others from rushing out of the gates in scattered disorder, with no attempt at formation and even without their standards.

[12] The first who incautiously galloped out fell into Masinissa's hands, but they soon poured out in a compact body and in greater numbers, and the fighting became more equal. At last, when the whole of the Carthaginian cavalry were in the field, Masinissa could not longer bear the weight of their attack.

[13] His men did not, however, take to flight but retired slowly before the enemy's charges until their commander had brought them as far as the rising ground which concealed the Roman cavalry.

[14] Then these latter charged from behind the hill, horses and men alike fresh, and threw themselves, in front and flank and rear, upon Hanno and his Africans, who were tired out with the fight and the pursuit.

[15] Masinissa at the same time wheeled round and recommenced fighting.

[16] About 1000 who were in the front ranks, unable to effect a retreat, were surrounded and killed, amongst them Hanno himself; the rest, appalled at their leader's death, fled precipitately, and were pursued by the victors for more than thirty miles.

[17] As many as 2000 were either killed or made prisoners, and it is pretty certain that amongst them there were not less than 200 Carthaginians, including some of their wealthiest and noblest families

Notes on the current edition

Ab Urbe Condita With An English Translation, books 1-10, 21-45, with periochae 11-20

1. I.e. the Hanno named in xxix. 1 without further description than nobilem iuvenem.

2. According to Dio Cassius this Hanno was the son of Hasdrubal son of Gisgo; frag. 57. 65 f. See below, p. 343, n. 2.

3. B.C. 204

4. Evidently south-west of Utica and on the same long ridge. Not the same situation as that in xxxv. 7. Cf. Veith, op. cit. 579 f.

5. Mentioned only here and xxxv. 4. Possibly Henchir el Bey, west-south-west of Utica. Appian names a large town called Locha; Pun. 15.

6. B.C. 204

7. B.C. 204

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 29.34

Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor)

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