Such was the result of the final battle between Scipio and Hannibal, the battle which decided the war in favour of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>.
The action over, Scipio after following up the enemy and plundering their camp returned to his own.
Hannibal accompanied by a few horsemen never stopped until he was in safety in Adrumetum. He had done in the battle and before it all that could be done by a good general of long experience.
For, in the first place, he had by his conference with Scipio attempted to terminate the dispute by himself alone;
showing thus that while conscious of his former successes he mistrusted Fortune and was fully aware of the part that the unexpected plays in war.
In the next place, when he offered battle he so managed matters that it was impossible for any commander with the same arms at his disposal to make better dispositions for a contest against the Romans than Hannibal did on that occasion.
The order of a Roman force in battle makes it very difficult to break through, for without any change it enables every man individually and in common with his fellows to present a front in any direction, the maniples which are nearest to the danger turning themselves by a single movement to face it.
Their arms also give the men both protection and confidence owing to the size of the shield and owing to the sword being strong enough to endure repeated blows. So that for these reasons they are formidable antagonists very difficult to overcome.
Walbank Commentary