1Hannibal's soldiers meanwhile, having made fires in front of their tents, with oil sent round the maniples to make their limbs supple, and having taken their food at leisure, on the news that the enemy had crossed the river, take up their arms, eager in mind and body, and advance into line. 2He places the Balearians and the other light-armed troops in front of the standards, about eight thousand men, then the more heavily armed infantry, all the strength and the core of his army; 2on the wings he spread ten thousand cavalry, and beyond the wings he stationed the elephants, divided between the two sides. 3The consul, since his cavalry, pursuing in disorder, were caught off guard by the Numidians suddenly turning to resist, gave the signal for retreat, recalled them and placed them round the infantry.
4There were eighteen thousand Romans, twenty thousand allies of the Latin name, and in addition auxiliaries of the Cenomani; 4that was the only Gallic people that had remained loyal. 4With these forces they joined battle. 5The battle was begun by the Balearians; 5since the legions opposed them with greater strength, the light-armed troops were hastily drawn off to the wings, and this caused the Roman cavalry to be hard pressed at once. 6For since four thousand could scarcely hold out on their own against ten thousand cavalry, tired men against men mostly fresh, they were overwhelmed besides by what was like a cloud of javelins hurled by the Balearians. 7In addition the elephants, towering at the ends of the wings, caused widespread flight, the horses above all being terrified not only by their appearance but by their unfamiliar smell.
8The infantry fight was equal in spirit rather than in strength, which the Carthaginian had brought fresh into battle, having refreshed their bodies shortly before; 8the Romans, on the other hand, had bodies that were fasting and weary and numb, stiff with cold. 8Still, they would have held out by courage, if the fight had been with infantry alone; 9but the Balearians, having routed the cavalry, were hurling javelins at their flanks, the elephants had already thrust themselves into the middle of the infantry line, and Mago and the Numidians, as soon as the line had passed their hiding-place unawares, rose up behind it and caused huge confusion and terror.
10Yet amid so many evils surrounding it, the line stood unmoved for some time, most of all, contrary to everyone's expectation, against the elephants. 11The skirmishers, posted for this very purpose, turned them back by hurling darts, and pursuing them as they turned, stabbed them under their tails, where they take wounds most easily owing to the soft skin.