At length the signal for battle was given out on both sides on one and the same day, as though by concert, and they marched down into the plain with all their forces.

The Roman army stood in triple line; a part of the light troops were stationed among the first line, the other half were received behind the standards, the cavalry covering the wings.

Hasdrubal formed his centre strong with Spaniards, and placed the Carthaginians in the right wing, the Africans and hired auxiliaries in the left.

His cavalry he placed before the wings, attaching the Numidians to the Carthaginian infantry, and the rest to the Africans.

Nor were all the Numidians placed in the right wing, but such as taking two horses each into the field are accustomed frequently to leap full armed, when the battle is at the hottest, from a tired horse upon a fresh one, after the manner of vaulters: such was their own agility, and so docile their breed of horses.