Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 39
William A. McDevitte, Sen. Class. Mod. Ex. Schol. A.B.T.C.D., Ed.

31. When the Spaniards saw the two bodies of Romans, on [p. 1825]their side of the river, they rushed suddenly out of the camp, and advanced to battle at full speed, that they might fall upon them before they should unite and put themselves in order. [2] The fight, in the beginning, was urged with great fury; the Spaniards being elated by their late success, and the Roman soldiery inflamed to rage, by a discomfiture to which they were unaccustomed. [3] The centre, consisting of two legions of the greatest bravery, fought with the utmost vigour. The enemy, seeing that they could not be forced from their ground by any other means, resolved to make their attack in form of a wedge; and this body, becoming continually more numerous and more compact, pressed hard on them. [4] When the praetor, Calpur- nius, perceived that his line was distressed in this part, he hastily despatched two [5??] lieutenants-general, Titus Quintilius Varus and Lucius Juventius Thalna, to animate the courage of the two legions, who were ordered to say, that “all hopes of victory, and of retaining possession of Spain, depended entirely on them. If they should give ground, not a man in that whole army would ever see Italy, no, nor even the farther bank of the Tagus.” [6] He himself, at the head of the cavalry of the two legions, making a small circuit, charged the flank of the wedge, which was pressing upon his centre. [7] Quintius, likewise, with his cavalry, charged the enemy on the other flank; but the horsemen of Calpurnius fought with far greater spirit, while the praetor himself exceeded all others. [8] He was the first that struck down one of the enemy, and he pushed in among the troops in the centre, in such a manner that it was hard to distinguish to which side he belonged. [9] Thus the horse were animated by the extraordinary valour of the praetor, and the infantry by that of the horse. Shame, because they saw the praetor in the midst of the enemy's weapons, inspired the foremost centurions. They all, therefore, earnestly pressed the standard-bearers, urging them to carry forward the ensigns, and the soldiers to follow with speed. [10] All set up the shout anew, and made an attack as violent as if it were made from the higher ground. Like a flood, therefore, they broke and bore down the enemy in dismay, nor could they be resisted, pouring in one after another. [11] The cavalry pursued the fugitives to their camp, and mixing with the crowd of the runaways, penetrated within the rampart. Here the fight was renewed by the troops left to guard [p. 1826]the camp, and the Roman horsemen were obliged to dismount. [12] While they were engaged, the fifth legion came up, and afterwards the rest of the troops joined them with all the speed they could. [13] The Spaniards were cut to pieces in all parts of the camp; not more than four thousand men made their escape. Of these about three thousand, who kept their arms, took possession of a mountain in the neighbourhood, and one thousand, who were in general but half armed, dispersed through the country. This army of the enemy had contained thirty-five thousand men, of whom that very small number survived the battle. [14] One hundred and thirty-three standards were taken. [15] Of the Romans and allies, a few more than six hundred fell; and of the provincial auxiliaries, about one hundred and fifty. [16] The loss of five military tribunes, and a few Roman horsemen, served principally to give the victory the appearance of being a bloody one. The army lodged in the enemy's camp, as they had not had time to fortify one of their own. [17] Next day the cavalry was praised by Calpurnius in an assembly, and presented with trappings; and he declared publicly, that through their bravery, principally, the enemy had been defeated, and their camp stormed and taken. Quinctius, the other praetor, presented his cavalry also with chains and clasps. [18] A great many centurions also, of both the armies, received gratuities, especially those who were in the centre.