1Among the Romans there was nothing like such eagerness, for besides everything else they were also frightened by recent portents; 2for a wolf had entered the camp and, after mangling those it met, had got away untouched itself, and a swarm of bees had settled on a tree overhanging the general's tent. 3When these portents had been expiated, Scipio set out with his cavalry and light-armed javelin-men to reconnoitre at close range the enemy's camp and their forces, how large and of what kind they were, and runs into Hannibal, who had himself also come forward with his cavalry to explore the surrounding country. 4At first neither side could see the other; 4then the dust rising more thickly from the movement of so many men and horses was a sign that the enemy was approaching.
4Both columns halt, and they began to make ready for battle. 5Scipio places the javelin-men and the Gallic cavalry in front, the Romans — 5and whatever strength the allies had, in reserve; 5Hannibal takes the bridled cavalry into the centre and strengthens the wings with the Numidians. 6The shout had scarcely been raised when the javelin-men fled among the reserves to the second line. 6Then the cavalry fight was for some time evenly balanced; 6then, because the infantry mixed in among them were frightening the horses, and many riders were slipping off their mounts or leaping down whenever they saw their comrades surrounded and hard pressed, the battle had already largely become a fight on foot, until the Numidians, who were on the wings, rode round a little way and showed themselves in the rear.
7This panic struck the Romans, and the panic was increased by the consul's wound and by his danger, which was warded off by the intervention of his son, then just coming to manhood. 8This will be the young man to whom belongs the glory of finishing this war, named Africanus for his outstanding victory over Hannibal and the Carthaginians. 9The flight, however, was most headlong among the javelin-men, whom the Numidians attacked first; 9the rest of the cavalry, in close order, took the consul into their midst and, shielding him not only with their arms but with their own bodies, brought him back to camp, nowhere retreating in panic or disorder.
10Coelius assigns the credit for saving the consul to a slave, a Ligurian by birth; 10for my part I should prefer the story about the son to be true, which both more authorities have handed down and tradition has upheld.