History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita)

ignorant that it had been circled by Roman envoys to solicit the minds of the leaders—he designated that province for his brother Hasdrubal, a man of great energy, and strengthened him especially with African garrisons: eleven thousand eight hundred and fifty African infantry, three hundred Ligurians, and five hundred Balearics. To these infantry auxiliaries were added four hundred Libyphoenician cavalry—a race mixed from Punic and African—and one thousand eight hundred Numidians and Mauri, neighbors of the Ocean, and a small band of Ilergetes from Spain, two hundred horsemen; and, so that no type of terrestrial auxiliary should be missing, fourteen elephants. Besides these, a fleet was given to protect the maritime coast—because it could be believed that the Romans would conduct operations there, since that was the theater of war where they had previously been victorious—consisting of fifty quinqueremes, two quadriremes, and five triremes: but only thirty-two quinqueremes and five triremes were equipped and fitted with rowers.

He returned from Gades to Carthage to the army’s winter quarters. Setting out from there, he led his army past the city of Etovissa to the maritime coast of the Ebro. There, the story goes, he saw in his sleep a youth of divine appearance, who said he had been sent by Jupiter as a guide to Hannibal into Italy: he was to follow him and never turn his eyes away. At first, trembling, he followed without looking around or behind him; then, through the curiosity of the human mind, while he pondered in his spirit what it could be that he was forbidden to look back at, he could not restrain his eyes. He saw behind him a serpent of wondrous size, being carried along with immense destruction of trees and thickets, and following it, a storm with a great crash of the heavens. Then, asking what that mass was or what prodigy, he heard it was the devastation of Italy; he was to proceed further and inquire no more, and allow the fates to remain in darkness.

XXIII. Joyful at this vision, he crossed the Ebro with his troops in three divisions, having sent ahead those who were to win over the minds of the Gauls—through whose territory the army was to be led—with gifts, and to scout the passages of the Alps. He led ninety thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry across the Ebro. From there, he subdued the Ilergetes, the Bargusii, the Ausetani, and Lacetania, which lies at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains, and placed Hanno in charge of this entire coast, so that the passes which join the Spains to the Gauls might be in his power. Ten thousand infantry and one thousand cavalry were given to Hanno as a garrison to hold the region. After the army began to be led through the Pyrenees pass and the rumor of the Roman war flowed more certainly among the barbarians, three thousand Carpetani infantry turned their route away. It was clear that they were moved not so much by war as by the length of the journey and the insuperable passage of the Alps. Hannibal, because to recall them or retain them by force was uncertain—lest the fierce spirits of the others also be irritated—sent home over seven thousand men who he himself had sensed were burdened by military service, pretending that the Carpetani had also been dismissed by him. XXIV. Then, so that delay and idleness might not solicit their minds, he crossed the Pyrenees with the remaining troops and pitched camp near the town of Iliberri. Although the Gauls heard that war was being brought to Italy, still, because there was a rumor that the Spaniards beyond the Pyrenees had been subdued and strong garrisons imposed, they were stirred to arms by fear of servitude, and several tribes gathered at Ruscino. When this was announced to Hannibal...