BOOK XIV.—­Pyrrhus crosses over into Sicily. [Y.  R. 475.  B. C. 277.] Many prodigies, among which, the statue of Jupiter in the Capitol is struck by lightning, and thrown down. [Y.  R. 476.  B. C. 276.] The head of it afterwards found by the priests.  Curius Dentatus, holding a levy, puts up to sale the goods of a person who refuses to answer to his name when called upon. [Y.  R. 477.  B. C. 275.] Pyrrhus, after his return from Sicily, is defeated, and compelled to quit Italy.  The censors hold a lustrum, and find the number of the citizens to be two hundred and seventy-one thousand two hundred and twenty-four. [Y.  R. 479.  B. c. 273.] A treaty of alliance formed with Ptolemy, king of Egypt.  Sextilia, a vestal, found guilty of incest, and buried alive.  Two colonies sent forth, to Posidonium and Cossa. [Y.  R. 480.  B. C. 272.] A Carthaginian fleet sails, in aid of the Tarentines, by which act the treaty is violated.  Successful operations against the Lucanians, Samnites, and Bruttians.  Death of king Pyrrhus.

BOOK XV.—­The Tarentines overcome:  peace and freedom granted to them. [Y.  R. 481.  B. C. 271.] The Campanian legion, which had forcibly taken possession of Rhegium, besieged there; lay down their arms, and are punished with death.  Some young men, who had ill-treated the ambassadors from the Apollonians to the senate of Rome, are delivered up to them.  Peace granted to the Picentians. [Y.  R. 484.  B. C. 268.] Two colonies established; one at Ariminum in Picenum, another at Beneventum in Samnium.  Silver coin now, for the first time, used by the Roman people. [Y.  R. 485.  B. C. 267.] The Umbrians and Sallentines subdued.  The number of quaestors increased to eight.

BOOK XVI.—­[Y.  R. 488.  B. C. 264.] Origin and progress of the Carthaginian state.  After much debate, the senate resolves to succour the Mammertines against the Carthaginians, and against Hiero, king of Syracuse.  Roman cavalry, then, for the first time, cross the sea, and engage successfully, in battle with Hiero; who solicits and obtains peace. [Y.R. 489.  B.C. 263.] A lustrum:  the number of the citizens amounts to two hundred and ninety-two thousand two hundred and twenty-four.  D. Junius Brutus exhibits the first show of gladiators, in honour of his deceased father. [Y.R. 490.  B.C. 262.] The Aesernian colony established.  Successful operations against the Carthaginians and Vulsinians. [Y.R. 491.  B.C. 261.]

BOOK XVII.—­[Y.R. 492.  B.C. 260.] Cneius Cornelius, consul, surrounded by the Carthaginian fleet; and, being drawn into a conference by a stratagem, is taken. [Y.R. 493.  B.C. 259.] C. Duilius, consul, engages with and vanquishes the Carthaginian fleet; is the first commander to whom a triumph was decreed for a naval victory; in honour of which, he is allowed, when returning to his habitation at night, to be attended with torches and music.  L. Cornelius, consul, fights and subdues the Sardinians and Corsicans, together with Hanno, the Carthaginian general, in the island of Sardinia. [Y.R. 494.  B.C. 258.] Atilius Calatinus, consul, drawn into an ambuscade by the Carthaginians, is rescued by the skill and valour of M. Calpurnius, a military tribune, who making a sudden attack upon the enemy, with a body of only three hundred men, turns their whole force against himself. [Y.R. 495.  B.C. 257.] Hannibal, the commander of the Carthaginian fleet which was beaten, is put to death by his soldiers.