1The Roman soldiers, bewildered by the unexpected terror and not knowing what best to do, ran about in confusion. 1The citadel of the town, where their standards and shields were, was held by an enemy guard; 1the gates, closed beforehand, prevented flight; 1besides this, women and boys on the roofs of the buildings were hurling down stones and whatever else the place supplied, vying with one another. 2So it was impossible to guard against the danger on both sides, or for the bravest men to resist the weakest sex: good and bad alike, the vigorous and the unwarlike, were cut down without being avenged. 3In this dreadful cruelty, with the Numidians at their most savage and the town shut in on every side, Turpilius the commander, alone of all the Italians, escaped unharmed.
3Whether this happened through the pity of his host, or by a bargain, or by chance, I have not found out for certain; but since in so great a disaster a shameful life meant more to him than an unblemished name, he seems a worthless and detestable man.