History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita)

to pay the Roman tribute and suffer other indignities. Much the same was said and heard in the other councils of Gaul; nor was anything heard that was hospitable or peaceful until they reached Massilia original: "Massiliam". There, having inquired with care and trust into everything from their allies, they learned that the minds of the Gauls had been preoccupied by Hannibal some time before: but that even they would not be a sufficiently mild people—to such a degree were their spirits fierce and untamed—unless the minds of their leaders were reconciled from time to time with gold, of which the race is most greedy. Thus, having traveled through the peoples of Spain and Gaul, the envoys returned to Rome not long after the consuls had set out for their provinces. They found the entire citizenry roused in expectation of war, with the rumor already sufficiently constant that the Carthaginians had crossed the Ebro.

XXI. Hannibal, having captured Saguntum, had retired to New Carthage for winter quarters, and having heard what had been acted and decreed at Rome and Carthage—and that he was not only the leader but also the cause of the war—thought that, with the remnants of the booty divided and sold, he should delay no longer; he summoned the soldiers of Spanish origin:

"I believe," he said, "allies, that you yourselves perceive that with all the peoples of Spain pacified, we must either end our military service and disband our armies, or transfer the war to other lands. For these tribes will flourish not only with the blessings of peace but also with those of victory, if we seek booty and glory from other nations. Therefore, since a campaign far from home is imminent, and it is uncertain when you will see your homes and those who are dear to you there, I grant leave to any of you who wish to visit your own people. I command you to be present at the first sign of spring, so that, with the gods’ favor, we may begin a war of immense glory and booty."

The power to visit their homes, offered of their own accord, was pleasing to almost everyone, both to those already longing for their own and to those anticipating such longing far into the future. Throughout the entire time of winter, rest renewed their bodies and spirits after labors already exhausted or soon to be exhausted, so that they might suffer everything anew. At the first sign of spring, they gathered according to the edict.

Hannibal, after reviewing the auxiliaries of all the nations, went to Gades original: "Gades" and fulfilled his vows to Hercules, and bound himself with new vows if the rest should turn out prosperously. Then, dividing his concerns at the same time between bringing on the war and warding it off, lest while he himself was seeking Italy by the terrestrial route through Spain and Gaul, Africa should be left naked and open to the Romans from Sicily, he decided to strengthen it with a strong garrison. In exchange for this, he himself requested from Africa, and especially from the slingers, light-armed troops, so that Africans might serve in Spain and Spaniards in Africa—each soldier likely to be better far from home, as if bound by mutual pledges. He sent thirteen thousand eight hundred and fifty infantrymen with bucklers cetratos soldiers armed with the caetra, a small leather shield to Africa, and eight hundred and seventy Balearic slingers, and one thousand two hundred cavalry mixed from many nations. He ordered these troops partly to be a garrison for Carthage and partly to be distributed throughout Africa. At the same time, having sent recruiters into the cities, he ordered four thousand of the picked youth to be enlisted, to be both a garrison and hostages, and led to Carthage. XXII. Not thinking Spain should be neglected—and this for the very reason that he was not