conquer numbers, now scarce maintain your ground, the many against the few.  Brave in speech only, you were wont to boast that you would take Rome by storm if you could find a general to lead you.  Lo! here is a task of less difficulty.  I would have you try your strength and courage here.  Take Nola, a town situated on a plain, protected neither by river nor sea; after that, when you have enriched yourselves with the plunder and spoils of that wealthy town, I will either lead or follow you whithersoever you have a mind.”

46.  Neither praises nor reproaches had any effect in confirming their courage.  Driven from their ground in every quarter, while the Romans derived fresh spirits, not only from the exhortations of their general, but from the Nolans, who, by their acclamations in token of their good wishes, fed the flame of battle, the Carthaginians turned their backs, and were driven to their camp, which the Roman soldiers were eager to attack; but Marcellus led them back to Nola, amidst the great joy and congratulations even from the commons, who hitherto had been more favourable to the Carthaginians.  Of the enemy more than five thousand were slain on that day, six hundred made prisoners, with nineteen military standards and two elephants.  Four elephants were killed in the battle.  Of the Romans less than a thousand were killed.  The next day was employed by both parties in burying their dead, under a tacit truce.  Marcellus burnt the spoils of the enemy, in fulfilment of a vow to Vulcan.  On the third day after, on account of some pique, I suppose, or in the hope of more advantageous service, one thousand two hundred and seventy-two horsemen, Numidians and Spaniards, deserted to Marcellus.  The Romans had frequently availed themselves of their brave and faithful service in that war.  After the conclusion of the war, portions of land were given to the Spaniards in Spain, to the Numidians in Africa, in consideration of their valour.  Having sent Hanno back from Nola to the Bruttians with the troops with which he had come, Hannibal went himself into winter quarters in Apulia, and took up a position in the neighbourhood of Arpi.  Quintus Fabius, as soon as he heard that Hannibal was set out into Apulia, conveyed corn, collected from Nola and Naples, into the camp above Suessula; and having strengthened the fortifications and left a garrison sufficient for the protection of the place during the winter, moved his camp nearer to Capua, and laid waste the Campanian lands with fire and sword; so that at length the Campanians, though not very confident in their strength, were obliged to go out of their gates and fortify a camp in the open space before the city.  They had six thousand armed men, the infantry, unfit for action.  In their cavalry they had more strength.  They therefore harassed the enemy by attacking them with these.  Among the many distinguished persons who served in the Campanian cavalry was one Cerrinus Jubellius, surnamed Taurea.  Though of that extraction, he