several cohorts from the right wing, where he saw they would occupy an inactive station, rather than join in the fight, led them round the rear of the line, and, to the surprise not only of the enemy but his own party, charged their right flank; and such was their rapidity, that after showing themselves on their flank, they almost immediately made an attack on their rear.  Thus on all sides, in front, flank, and rear, the Spaniards and Ligurians were cut to pieces; and now the carnage had even reached the Gauls.  Here the least opposition was found; for a great number of them had quitted their standards, having slunk off during the night, and laid themselves down to sleep up and down the fields, while even those who were present, being tired with marching and watching, for their bodies are most intolerant of fatigue, could scarcely carry their arms upon their shoulders.  And now it was mid-day, and thirst and heat gave them over to the enemy to be killed or captured in multitudes.

49.  More elephants were killed by their guides than by the enemy.  They used to have with them a workman’s knife, with a mallet.  When these beasts began to grow furious, and attack their own party, the rider, placing this knife between the ears, just on the joint by which the neck is connected with the head, used to drive it in, striking it with all the force he could.  This was found to be the most expeditious mode of putting these bulky animals to death, when they had destroyed all hope of governing them.  This method was first practised by Hasdrubal, a general whose conduct both frequently on other occasions, and especially in this battle, deserved to be recorded.  By encouraging the men when fighting, and sharing equally in every danger, he kept up the battle.  Sometimes by entreating, at other times by rebuking, the troops, when tired and indisposed to fight from weariness and over-exertion, he rekindled their spirits.  He called back the flying, and restored the battle in many places when it had been given up.  At length, when fortune decidedly declared for the Romans, lest he should survive so great an army which had been collected under the influence of his name, he put spurs to his horse and rushed upon a Roman cohort, where he fell fighting, as was worthy of the son of Hamilcar and the brother of Hannibal.  At no time during that war were so many of the enemy slain in one battle; so that a defeat equal to that sustained at Cannae, whether in respect of the loss of the general or the troops, was considered to have been retorted upon him.  Fifty-six thousand of the enemy were slain, five thousand four hundred captured.  The other booty was great, both of every other kind, and also of gold and silver.  In addition to the rest, there were recovered above four thousand Roman citizens, who had been taken by the enemy, which formed some consolation for the soldiers lost in that battle.  For the victory was by no means bloodless.  Much about eight thousand of the Romans and the allies