The Cattle With the Burning Fagots
Fabius hoped when the Carthaginians came thither,
and encamped on the plain immediately under the foot
of the hill, that he would be able to snatch away their
plunder without any risk to himself; and, most of all, might
even put an end to the whole war by means of
the excellent situation for an attack in which
he now was.
He was accordingly wholly intent
on forming plans for this purpose, anxiously considering in
what direction and in what manner he should avail himself
of the advantages of the ground, and which of his men were
to be the first to attack the enemy. Whilst his enemies were
making these preparations for the next day, Hannibal, guessing
the truth, took care to give them no time or leisure for executing their design; but summoning Hasdrubal, the captain
of his pioneers, ordered him, with all speed, to make as
many fagots of dry wood of all sorts as possible, and selecting
two thousand of the strongest of the working oxen from the
booty, to collect them outside the camp. When this was done,
he summoned the pioneers, and pointed out to them a certain
ridge lying between the camp and the gorge by which he meant
to march. To this ridge they were to drive the oxen, when
the order was given, as actively and energetically as they could,
until they came to the top. Having given these instructions,
he bade them take their supper and go to rest betimes. Towards
the end of the third watch of the night he led the pioneers out of
the camp, and ordered them to tie the fagots to the horns of the
oxen. The men being numerous, this did not take long to do;
and he then ordered them to set the fagots all alight, and to
drive the oxen off and force them to mount the ridge; and
placing his light-armed troops behind them he ordered them
to assist the drivers up to a certain distance: but, as soon as
the beasts had got well started, to take open order and pass
them at the double, and, with as much noise as possible, make
for the top of the ridge; that, if they found any of the enemy
there, they might close with and attack them at once. At the
same time he himself led the main army towards the narrow
gorge of the pass,—his heavy-armed men in front, next to them
the cavalry, then the booty, and the Iberians and Celts bringing up the rear.