This defeat kindled the anger of the barbarians, instead of diminishing their courage. [7] Consequently, not to appear daunted, they went out into battle-line at daybreak the next day. The valley being narrow, as stated above, had no room for all the forces. [8] About two-thirds of the infantry and all the cavalry came down into line. The remainder of their infantry they stationed on the slope of the hill. Scipio, who thought the limited space was to his advantage, both because a battle at close range seemed likely to be better [9??] suited to the Roman than to the Spanish soldier, also because the enemy's line had been enticed down into a position which did not have room for all of their multitude, turned his attention to a further new plan. He could not place his cavalry on the wings, he thought, in so limited a space, and the enemy would have no use of the cavalry they had brought down with their infantry. [10] Therefore he ordered Laelius to lead his cavalry about over the hills, taking the road that was best hidden, and [11??] to separate the cavalry battle, so far as he could, from that of the infantry. [12] As for himself, he made all his infantry units face the enemy; four cohorts he placed in the front line, since he was unable to extend his line to a greater length. [13] He did not delay [p. 137]beginning the engagement, in order to divert2 attention by the battle itself from the sight of the cavalry crossing over the hills; and they were not aware that the horsemen had outflanked them until they heard the din of a cavalry battle in their rear. [14] Thus there were two distinct battles; two infantry lines, two cavalry forces, were fighting down the length of the level ground, since the narrow space did not permit a battle that combined both arms. [15] On the Spanish side neither did infantry aid cavalry nor cavalry infantry; the foot-soldiers, who in reliance upon the cavalry had been rashly posted on the level ground, were cut to pieces; the cavalry, being outflanked, were neither withstanding Roman infantry in front —for their own infantry were already overwhelmed —nor Roman cavalry in the rear. Consequently the horsemen also, after they had formed a circle and with their horses at a standstill had defended themselves for a long time, were all slain to a man; and not one of their foot or horse that fought in the valley survived. [16] Only a third of them, having stood on the hill, to look on in safety rather than to take part in the battle, had both a suitable position and time for flight. [17] Among them the princes also fled, having slipped away in the confusion before the entire line should be surrounded.
