Hannibal, cum ad Trebiam in conspectu haberet Semproni Longi consulis castra, medio amne interfluente, saevissima hieme Magonem et electos in insidiis posuit. Deinde Numidas equites ad eliciendam Semproni credulitatem adequitare vallo eius {5} iussit, quibus praeceperat, ut ad primum nostrorum incursum per nota refugerent vada. Hos consul et adortus temere et secutus ieiunum exercitum in maximo frigore transitu fluminis rigefecit: mox torpore et inedia adfectis Hannibal suum militem {10} opposuit, quem ad id ignibus oleoque et cibo foverat; nec defuit partibus Mago, quin terga hostium in hoc ordinatus caederet. FRONTINUS, _Strategemata_, ii. 5. 23. [Linenotes: 1. +ad Trebiam+, a small tributary S. of the Padus, which it joins 2 miles W. of Placentia (Piacenza). 2. +castra.+ Ti. Sempronius Longus, with his army from Sicily, effected a junction with his colleague, Scipio, in his fortified camp on the W. or left bank of the Trebia. 8-9. +ieiunum ... rigefecit+, i.e. Sempronius _made stiff_ (+rigefecit+) with wading breast-high across the icy river his men _faint with hunger_ (+ieiunum+). 11. +oleoque+, i.e. _ut mollirent artus_ = _to make their limbs supple_. 12-13. +nec defuit ... caederet.+ The Romans kept their ground with the utmost courage till Mago burst out from his ambush and attacked them in rear.] B. _The River bars the Retreat._ Et iam, dispersis Romana per agmina signis, 570 Palantes agit, ad ripas, miserabile! Poenus Impellens trepidos, fluvioque immergere certat. Tum Trebia infausto nova proelia gurgite fessis Incohat, ac precibus Iunonis suscitat undas. Haurit subsidens fugientum corpora tellus, 575 Infidaque soli frustrata voragine sorbet. Nec niti lentoque datur convellere limo Mersa pedum penitus vestigia: labe tenaci Haerent devincti gressus, resolutaque ripa Implicat aut caeca prosternit fraude paludis. 580 SILIUS ITALICUS, iv. 570-580. [Linenotes: 574. +precibus ... undas.+ The poet, in his imitation of Vergil, makes Juno the devoted ally of Hannibal. 576. +soli frustrata+ = _prevented from reaching firm ground_. 577. +lento+ = _sticky_. 579. +resoluta+ = _crumbling_.] +References+. Livy, xxi. 52-56; Ihne, ii. 187-191. C17 SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C. _The Battle of Lake Trasimene, 217 B.C._ (1)