1While time was being wasted on wrangling rather than on deliberation, Hannibal, withdrawing the rest of his forces into camp from the line which he had kept drawn up until late in the day, sends the Numidians across the river to attack the Romans fetching water from the smaller camp. 3When, scarcely yet out on the bank, they had routed this disorderly crowd with shouting and uproar, they rode on even against the outpost stationed before the rampart and almost up to the very gates. 4It truly seemed so outrageous that now even a Roman camp should be terrorised by an irregular auxiliary force, that one reason alone kept the Romans from crossing the river at once and drawing up their line: that the supreme command that day lay with Paulus.
5So the next day Varro, whose turn it was by lot to command that day, without consulting his colleague at all, displayed the signal and led his forces in battle order across the river, with Paulus following, since he could withhold his approval of the plan but not his support. 6Having crossed the river, they join to their own the forces they had kept in the smaller camp as well, and draw up their line thus: on the right wing (this was nearer the river) they place the Roman cavalry, then the infantry; 7the left wing was held by the allied cavalry at the far end, and inside them the allied infantry, joined at the centre to the Roman legions; 7the javelin-men, with the rest of the light-armed auxiliaries, formed the front line.
8The consuls held the wings, Terentius the left, Aemilius the right; 8to Geminus Servilius was given the centre of the battle to defend.