cavalry to go out the following day at sunrise to
check the depredations of the enemy; and so far was
he from directing his attention to any thing else
on this account, that on the contrary, this excursion
of the Numidians was a proof to him that Hannibal
and his army had not moved from his camp. Early
in the night Hannibal put his troops in motion, and
Philemenus, with his customary burden of prey taken
in hunting, was his guide. The rest of the conspirators
waited the accomplishment of what had been concerted;
and the agreement was, that Philemenus, while bringing
in his prey through the small gate by which he was
accustomed to pass, should introduce some armed men,
while Hannibal in another quarter approached the gate
called Temenis, which faced the east, in that quarter
which was towards the continent, near the tombs which
were within the walls. When he drew near to the
gate, Hannibal raised a fire according to agreement,
which made a blaze; the same signal was returned by
Nico, and the fires were extinguished on both sides.
Hannibal led his troops on in silence to the gate.
Nico suddenly fell upon the guards while asleep, slew
them in their beds, and opened the gate. Hannibal
then entered with his infantry, ordering his cavalry
to stay behind, that they might be able to bring their
assistance wherever it was required without obstruction.
Philemenus also in another quarter approached the
small gate by which he was accustomed to pass and re-pass.
His voice, which was well known, for he said he could
scarcely bear the weight of the huge beast he had
gotten, and his signal, which had now become familiar,
having roused the guard, the small gate was opened.
Two youths carrying in a boar, Philemenus himself
followed, with a huntsman, unencumbered, and while
the attention of the guard was incautiously turned
upon those who carried the boar, in consequence of
its astonishing size, he transfixed him with a hunting
spear. About thirty armed men then entering,
slew the rest of the guards, and broke open the adjoining
gate, when a body of troops, in regular array, instantly
rushed in. Being conducted hence in silence to
the forum, they joined Hannibal. The Carthaginian
then sent the Tarentines, with two thousand Gauls
formed into three divisions, in different directions
through the city, with orders to occupy the most frequented
streets. A confusion arising, the Romans were
put to the sword on all hands. The townsmen were
spared; but in order to insure this, he instructed
the Tarentine youths, when they saw any of their friends
at a distance, to bid them be quiet and silent, and
be of good courage.


