History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita)

...They were gathered. Before they could recover their senses from such panic, Hannibal marched his army across the river, routed them from the bank, and within a few days, after laying waste to their fields, he received the submission of the Carpentani as well.

And now all territory beyond the Ebro, except for Saguntum, belonged to the Carthaginians. VI. There was no war with the Saguntines yet, but the causes of war were already being sown through struggles with their neighbors, especially the Turdetani. Since the same person who was the author of the strife was present, and it was clear that not justice, but force was being sought, the Saguntines sent envoys to Rome begging for help against a war that was now undoubtedly imminent. The consuls at Rome were then Publius Cornelius Scipio and Tiberius Sempronius Longus. After the envoys were introduced to the Senate and they had reported the situation, it was decided that envoys should be sent to Spain to inspect the condition of the allies. If a worthy cause appeared, they were to warn Hannibal to refrain from harming the Saguntines, who were allies of the Roman people, and then cross to Carthage in Africa to deliver the complaints of the allies of the Roman people. While this embassy was decreed but not yet sent, news arrived that Saguntum was being attacked, sooner than anyone expected. Then the matter was referred back to the Senate. Some suggested assigning the provinces of Spain and Africa to the consuls to conduct the war by land and sea, while others directed the entire war toward Spain and Hannibal. There were those who thought such a great matter should not be moved rashly and that they should wait for the envoys from Spain. This opinion, which seemed the safest, prevailed. Envoys were sent as soon as possible: Publius Valerius Flaccus and Quintus Baebius Tamphilus. They were to go to Hannibal at Saguntum, and from there to Carthage, to demand the leader himself as punishment for breaking the treaty, if he did not desist from the war.

VII. While the Romans were preparing and consulting, Saguntum was already being besieged with the greatest force. That city was by far the most opulent beyond the Ebro, situated nearly one thousand paces from the sea. They are said to be descended from the island of Zacynthus, and some of the Rutulian race from Ardea were mixed in as well. However, they had grown to such great wealth, whether through maritime or land-based profits, or through the growth of their population, or by the sanctity of their discipline, by which they cultivated loyalty to their allies even to their own destruction. Hannibal entered their territory with a hostile army, laid waste to the fields in all directions, and attacked the city at three points. There was a corner of the wall sloping toward a valley that was flatter and more exposed than the areas around it; he decided to move siege sheds original: "vineas" toward this, through which a battering ram could be moved to the walls. But although the ground some distance from the wall was level enough for moving the sheds, the work did not succeed successfully once it came to the actual operation. A huge tower stood over it, and the wall, as in a suspicious location, had been reinforced beyond the height of the rest, and a picked force of youth resisted with greater strength wherever the greatest danger and fear were shown. At first, they kept the enemy at a distance with missiles and did not allow them to safely fortify their position. Then, they were not just throwing weapons from the walls and the tower, but had the spirit to sally forth against the stations and the enemy's works. In these skirmishes, the Saguntines lost no more men than the Carthaginians. When Hannibal himself, while approaching the wall too carelessly, was struck in the front of the thigh with a javelin and fell, there was such flight and panic around him that they were not far from abandoning their works and sheds.