1There they saw a new and frightening sight, because the men came to the council armed — such was the custom of the nation. 2When, after extolling in words the glory and valour of the Roman people and the greatness of its empire, they had asked them not to grant the Carthaginian passage through their fields and cities as he brought war against Italy, such laughter mixed with uproar is said to have broken out that the young men could scarcely be quietened by the magistrates and elders; 4so stupid and shameless did the demand seem, to propose that, so that the Gauls should not let the war pass into Italy, they should turn it upon themselves and expose their own fields to be plundered instead of other men's.
5When the uproar had at last died down, the envoys were answered that the Gauls had received neither kindness from the Romans nor injury from the Carthaginians on account of which they should take up arms either for the Romans or against the Carthaginians; 6on the contrary, they heard that men of their own race were being driven from the land and territory of Italy by the Roman people, were paying tribute and suffering other indignities. 7Much the same was said and heard in the other councils of Gaul; 7nor did they hear anything hospitable or peaceful enough until they reached Massilia. 8There they learned everything, investigated by their allies with care and good faith: the minds of the Gauls had already been won over in advance by Hannibal; 8but even to him the nation would not be gentle enough — so fierce and untamed were their natures — unless the minds of the chiefs were won over again and again with gold, of which the nation is most greedy.
9So, having travelled among the peoples of Spain and Gaul, the envoys return to Rome not very long after the consuls had set out for their provinces. 9They found the whole state roused by the expectation of war, since the report was now fairly constant that the Carthaginians had crossed the Ebro.