26.
Crassus, having exhorted the commanders of the horse to
animate their men by great rewards and promises, points out to them what he
wished to have done. They, as they had been commanded, having brought out the
four cohorts, which, as they had been left as a guard for the camp, were not
fatigued by exertion, and having led them round by a some what longer way, lest
they could be seen from the camp of the enemy, when the eyes and minds of all
were intent upon the battle, quickly arrived at those fortifications which we
have spoken of, and, having demolished these, stood in the camp of the enemy
before they were seen by them, or it was known what was going on. And then, a
shout being heard in that quarter, our men, their strength having been
recruited, (which usually occurs on the hope of victory), began to fight more
vigorously. The enemy surrounded on all sides, [and] all their affairs being
despaired of, made great attempts to cast themselves down over the ramparts and
to seek safety in flight. These the cavalry pursued over the very open plains,
and after leaving scarcely a fourth part out of the number of 50,000, which it
was certain had assembled out of Aquitania and
from the Cantabri, returned late at night to the camp.
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