Editing Battle of Zama (section)

===Decision===
The Romans recalled the pursuing {{lang|la|hastati}} by sounding bugles and reformed their line. The Carthaginian third line{{snd}}Hannibal's veterans supplemented by some of the survivors of the first and second lines{{snd}}was longer than the Roman formation and outflanked it on both sides. The {{lang|la|hastati}} formed up in the centre and the {{lang|la|principes}} and {{lang|la|triarii}} moved to each side to make a single, longer line. There was a prolonged pause while this was taking place. The Carthaginians took advantage of the hiatus to rally some of their first and second line troops, using them to extend the length of their own fighting line. This enabled Roman close-order infantry to match the length of the Carthaginian's third line, but correspondingly thinned their line, preventing them from using their habitual tactic of feeding new, less-fatigued men into the fighting line as a combat wore on.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=306}}{{sfn|Taylor|2019|pp=324–326}} The surviving heavy infantry of each side were roughly equal in numbers. Most of the original Carthaginian were equipped in the same manner as the Romans they faced. They were veterans of many years' experience and they were fresh, having not yet fought. Many of the Romans were veterans, some having fought at Cannae and almost all having taken part in the two, or for some three, major victories the previous year. Many of the Romans were tired from the two immediately preceding fierce combats, but their victories in both would have boosted their morale.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|pp=306–307}}

Having satisfactorily reorganised, the two lines charged each other, according to Polybius "with the greatest fire and fury".{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=294}} The fight continued for some time, neither side gaining the advantage.{{sfn|Carey|2007|p=125}} Lazenby describes this fighting as "a grim business".{{sfn|Lazenby|1998|p=225}} The cavalry commanded by Masinissa and Laelius then returned to the battlefield, apparently at more or less the same time.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=307}} Philip Sabin states that they arrived "in the nick of time".{{sfn|Sabin|1996|p=67 n. 52}} Being fiercely engaged to their front, the Carthaginian infantry were helpless to prevent the Roman cavalry from charging into their rear. Their line collapsed and there was a great massacre.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=307}} Hannibal was one of the few Carthaginians to escape.{{sfn|Bagnall|1999|p=295}}