wonder that authors differ so much than determine what is the truth.  How much greater this disaster was than any preceding, even this is a proof, that such of the allies as had stood firm till that day then began to waver, for no other cause certainly but that they despaired of the empire.  The people who revolted to the Carthaginians were these:  the Atellani, Calatini, the Hirpini, some of the Apulians, the Samnites, except the Pentrians, all the Bruttians, and the Lucanians.  Besides these the Surrentinians, and almost the whole coast possessed by the Greeks, the people of Tarentum, Metapontum, Croton, the Locrians, and all Cisalpine Gaul.  Yet not even these losses and defections of their allies so shook the firmness of the Romans, that any mention of peace was made among them, either before the arrival of the consul at Rome, or after he came thither, and renewed the memory of the calamity they had suffered.  At which very juncture, such was the magnanimity of the state, that the consul, as he returned after so severe a defeat, of which he himself was the principal cause, was met in crowds of all ranks of citizens, and thanks bestowed because he had not despaired of the republic, in whose case, had he been a Carthaginian commander, no species of punishment would have been spared.

BOOK XXIII.

The Campanians revolt to Hannibal.  Mago is sent to Carthage to announce the victory of Cannae.  Hanno advises the Carthaginian senate to make peace with the Romans, but is overborne by the Barcine faction.  Claudius Marcellus the praetor defeats Hannibal at Nola.  Hannibal’s army is enervated in mind and body by luxurious living at Capua.  Casilinum is besieged by the Carthaginians, and the inhabitants reduced to the last extremity of famine.  A hundred and ninety-seven senators elected from the equestrian order.  Lucius Postumius is, with his army, cut off by the Gauls.  Cneius and Publius Scipio defeat Hasdrubal in Spain, and gain possession of that country.  The remains of the army, defeated at Cannae, are sent off to Sicily, there to remain until the termination of the war.  An alliance is formed between Philip, king of Macedon, and Hannibal.  Sempronius Gracchus defeats the Campanians.  Successes of Titus Manlius in Sardinia he takes Hasdrubal the general, Mago, and Hanno prisoners.  Claudius Marcellus again defeats the army of Hannibal at Nola, and the hopes of the Romans are revived as to the results of the war.

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1.  After the battle of Cannae, Hannibal, having captured and plundered the Roman camp, had immediately removed from Apulia into Samnium; invited into the territory of the Hirpini by Statius, who promised that he would surrender Compsa.  Tiebius, a native of Compsa, was conspicuous for rank among his countrymen; but a faction of the Mopsii kept him down—­a family of great influence through the favour of the