1After the capture of Saguntum Hannibal had withdrawn to New Carthage for the winter, and there, having heard what had been done and decreed at Rome and at Carthage, and that he was not only the leader but also the cause of the war, he divided and sold off the rest of the plunder, and thinking that there should be no further delay, he calls together the soldiers of Spanish race. 3'I believe, allies,' he said, 'that you yourselves also see that, now all the peoples of Spain have been pacified, we must either end our service and disband our armies or carry the war into other lands; 4for only so will these nations flourish with the blessings not only of peace but also of victory, if we seek plunder and glory from other nations.
5And so, since a campaign far from home lies ahead and it is uncertain when you will see your homes and what is dear to each of you there, if any of you wishes to visit his family, I grant leave. 6I order you to be here at the beginning of spring, so that with the gods' kind help we may begin a war that will bring immense glory and plunder.' 7To almost all the opportunity of visiting home, offered unasked, was welcome, both to those who already missed their families and to those who foresaw a longer separation in the future. 8Rest throughout the whole of the winter, between labours either already endured or soon to be endured, renewed their bodies and minds to bear everything afresh.
8At the beginning of spring they assembled in accordance with the order. 9When Hannibal had reviewed the auxiliaries of all the nations, he set out for Gades, paid his vows to Hercules, and binds himself with new vows if the rest should turn out well. 10Then, dividing his cares between waging war and warding it off at the same time, so that Africa should not be left bare and open to the Romans from Sicily while he himself was making for Italy by land through Spain and the Gauls, he decided to strengthen it with a strong garrison. 11In its place he himself asked for reinforcements from Africa, chiefly javelin-men with light arms, so that Africans should serve in Spain and Spaniards in Africa, each likely to be a better soldier far from home, bound as it were by mutual hostages.
12He sent to Africa thirteen thousand eight hundred and fifty light-shielded infantry and eight hundred and seventy Balearic slingers, and twelve hundred cavalry drawn from many nations. 13He orders these forces partly to serve as a garrison for Carthage and partly to be distributed through Africa. 13At the same time, sending recruiting officers to the communities, he orders four thousand picked young men who had been enlisted to be brought to Carthage, to serve both as a garrison and as hostages.