22.47
When
the battle shout was raised the auxiliaries ran forward, and the battle began
with the light infantry. Then the Gauls and Spaniards on the left engaged the
Roman cavalry on the right; the battle was not at all like a cavalry fight, for
there was no room for maneuvering, the river on the one side and the
infantry on the other hemming them in, compelled them to fight face to face.
Each side tried to force their way straight forward, till at last the horses were
standing in a closely pressed mass, and the riders seized their opponents and
tried to drag them from their horses. It had become mainly a struggle of
infantry, fierce but short, and the Roman cavalry was repulsed and fled. Just
as this battle of the cavalry was finished, the infantry became engaged, and as
long as the Gauls and Spaniards kept their ranks unbroken, both sides were
equally matched in strength and courage. At length after long and repeated
efforts the Romans closed up their ranks, echeloned their front, and by the
sheer weight of their deep column bore down the division of the enemy
which was stationed in front of Hannibal's line, and was too thin and weak to
resist the pressure. Without a moment's pause they followed up their broken
and hastily retreating foe till they took to headlong flight. Cutting their way
through the mass of fugitives, who offered no resistance, they penetrated as
far as the Africans who were stationed on both wings, somewhat further
back than the Gauls and Spaniards who had formed the advanced centre. As
the latter fell back the whole front became level, and as they continued to
give ground it became concave and crescent-shaped, the Africans at either
end forming the horns. As the Romans rushed on incautiously between them,
they were enfiladed by the two wings, which extended and closed round
them in the rear. On this, the Romans, who had fought one battle to no
purpose, left the Gauls and Spaniards, whose rear they had been
slaughtering, and commenced a fresh struggle with the Africans. The contest
was a very one-sided one, for not only were they hemmed in on all sides, but
wearied with the previous fighting they were meeting fresh and vigorous
opponents.
