1Such terror at this disaster reached Rome that they believed the enemy would soon march on the city of Rome with hostile standards, and that there was no hope or help by which they could keep his assault from the gates and walls: one consul had been beaten at the Ticinus, the other recalled from Sicily; 2now that two consuls and two consular armies had been beaten, what other generals, what other legions were there to be summoned? 3While they were thus terrified, the consul Sempronius arrived, having passed at great danger through the enemy's cavalry, scattered everywhere for plunder, by boldness rather than by design or any hope of escaping notice, or of resisting if he did not escape it.
4Then, having held the consular elections, which was the one thing most needed at present, he returned to winter quarters. 4Gnaeus Servilius and Gaius Flaminius, for the second time, were elected consuls. 5But not even winter quarters were quiet for the Romans, as Numidian cavalry roamed everywhere and, where the ground was more difficult for them, Celtiberians and Lusitanians. 5All supplies from every direction were therefore cut off, except those that ships brought up the Po. 6There was a trading post near Placentia, both fortified with great works and strengthened by a strong garrison. 6Hannibal set out with his cavalry and light-armed troops in the hope of storming this stronghold, and since he had placed his chief hope of success in concealing the enterprise, he attacked by night, but did not elude the sentries.
7Such a shout was suddenly raised that it was heard even at Placentia. 7And so towards dawn the consul was there with the cavalry, having ordered the legions to follow in square formation. 8Meanwhile a cavalry battle was joined; 8and in it, because Hannibal was wounded and withdrew from the fight, panic was struck into the enemy and the post was splendidly defended. 9Then, having taken a few days' rest, and with his wound scarcely yet properly healed, he goes on to attack Victumulae. 10This had been a trading post for the Romans in the Gallic war; 10after that, settlers mixed from all the neighbouring peoples had thronged to the fortified place, and at that time fear of the raids had driven most people there from the countryside.
11A crowd of this kind, fired by the report of the vigorous defence of the post near Placentia, seizes its arms and goes out to meet Hannibal. 12They clashed on the road as columns on the march rather than as battle lines, and since on one side there was nothing but an undisciplined mob, while on the other the general trusted his soldiers and the soldiers their general, about thirty-five thousand men were routed by a few. 13The next day they surrendered and received a garrison within their walls; 13and when, ordered to hand over their arms, they had obeyed the command, a signal is suddenly given to the victors to plunder the city as if it had been taken by storm.
14Nor was any calamity omitted that writers usually think worth recording in such a case: so thoroughly was every example of lust, cruelty and inhuman arrogance displayed upon those wretched people. 14Such were Hannibal's winter campaigns.