Liv. 21.27.1Iamque omnibus satis conparātīs ad trāiciendum terrēbant ex adversō hostēs omnem rīpam equitēs virīque obtinentēs.And now, when everything was sufficiently prepared for the crossing, the enemy opposite were threatening them, holding the whole bank with horse and foot. Liv. 21.27.2Quōs ut āverteret, Hannōnem Bomilcaris fīlium vigiliā prīmā noctis cum parte cōpiārum, maximē Hispānīs, adversō flūmine īre iter ūnīus diēī iubet et, ubi prīmum possit, quam occultissimē trāiectō amnī circumdūcere agmen, ut, cum opus factō sit, adoriātur ab tergō hostēs.To draw them away, he orders Hanno, son of Bomilcar, to go at the first watch of the night with part of the forces, chiefly Spaniards, a day's march upstream, and, as soon as he could, to cross the river as secretly as possible and lead his column round, so that, when the moment came, he might attack the enemy from behind. Liv. 21.27.4Ad id datī ducēs Gallī ēdocent, inde mīlia quīnque et vīgintī ferme suprā parvae īnsulae circumfūsum amnem lātiōre, ubi dīvidēbātur, eōque minus altō alveō trānsitum ostendere.The Gauls who had been given to him as guides for this purpose inform him that about twenty-five miles upstream from there the river, flowing round a small island, offered a crossing where it divided, its channel being wider and therefore less deep.
Liv. 21.27.5Ibi raptim caesa māteriā ratēsque fabricātae, in quibus equī virīque et alia onera trāicerentur.There timber was hastily cut and rafts built, on which horses and men and other loads were to be carried across. Liv. 21.27.5Hispānī sine ūllā mōle in utrēs vestīmentīs coniectīs ipsī caetrīs superpositīs incubantēs flūmen trānāvēre.The Spaniards, without any trouble, threw their clothes into skins, and, lying on their shields placed on top of them, swam across the river themselves. Liv. 21.27.6Et alius exercitus ratibus iūnctīs trāiectus, castrīs prope flūmen positīs, nocturnō itinere atque operis labōre fessus quiēte ūnīus diēī reficitur, intentō duce ad cōnsilium opportūnē exsequendum.The rest of the army too was taken across on rafts joined together, and, having pitched camp near the river, weary from the night march and the toil of the work, it is refreshed by a single day's rest, while their leader was intent on carrying out the plan at the right moment. Liv. 21.27.7Posterō diē profectī ex compositō fūmō significant trānsīsse et haud procul abesse.On the following day, setting out, they signal by smoke, as had been agreed, that they had crossed and were not far away.
Liv. 21.27.7Quod ubi accēpit Hannibal, nē temporī dēesset, dat signum ad trāiciendum.When Hannibal learned this, so as not to miss the moment, he gives the signal for crossing. Liv. 21.27.8Iam parātās aptātāsque habēbat pedēs lintrēs, eques ferē propter equōs nāvēs.He already had the boats ready and fitted out, the infantry for themselves, the cavalry for the most part ships, because of the horses. Liv. 21.27.8Nāvium agmen ad excipiendum adversī impetum flūminis parte superiōre trānsmittēns tranquillitātem īnfrā trāicientibus lintribus praebēbat.The line of ships, crossing higher up to take the force of the current, provided calm water for the boats crossing below. Liv. 21.27.9Equōrum pars magna nantēs lōrīs ā puppibus trahēbantur praeter eōs, quōs īnstrātōs frēnātōsque, ut extemplō ēgressō in rīpam equitī ūsuī essent, inposuerant in nāvēs.A large part of the horses were towed swimming by reins from the sterns, apart from those which they had put on board saddled and bridled, so that they might be ready for use by the horsemen the moment they landed on the bank.