battles; whom yesterday you would not allow either to march or encamp.  I pass over those things in which you might be allowed to glory; I will mention a circumstance which of itself ought to fill you with shame and remorse.  Yesterday you separated from the enemy on equal terms.  What alteration has last night, what on this day, produced?  Have your forces been diminished by them, or theirs increased?  I verily do not seem to be talking to my own troops, or to Roman soldiers.  The bodies and the arms are the same.  Had you possessed the same spirit, would the enemy have seen your backs?  Would they have carried off a standard from any company or cohort?  Hitherto he was wont to boast of having cut to pieces the Roman legions, but yesterday you gave him the glory, for the first time, of having put to flight an army.”  On this many soldiers began to call upon him to pardon them for that day, and entreat that he would now, whenever he pleased, make trial of the courage of his soldiers.  “I will indeed make trial of you,” said he, “and to-morrow I will lead you into the field, that in the character of conquerors, rather than conquered men, you may obtain the pardon you seek.”  To the cohorts which had lost their standards, he ordered that barley should be given.  The centurions of the Campanians, whose standards were lost, he left to stand without their girdles and with their swords drawn; and gave orders that all, both horse and foot, should be ready under arms on the following day.  Thus the assembly was dismissed; the soldiers confessing that they had been justly and deservedly rebuked; and that there was no one in the whole Roman army who had acquitted himself like a man, except the general, to whom they were bound to make atonement, either by their death or a glorious victory.  The next day they appeared in readiness, according to the order, armed and equipped.  The general praised them, and gave out, that “he should lead into the first line those who had commenced the flight on the preceding day, and those cohorts which had lost their standards.  He now charged them all to fight and conquer, and exert every effort, one and all, that the intelligence of yesterday’s flight might not arrive at Rome before that of this day’s victory.”  They were then ordered to refresh themselves with food, in order that, if the fight should continue longer than might be expected, their strength might not fail.  After every thing had been done and said, by which the courage of the soldiers might be roused, they advanced into the field.

14.  Hannibal, on receiving intelligence of this, said, “surely the enemy we have to do with can neither bear good nor bad fortune.  If he is victorious, he fiercely pursues the vanquished.  If conquered, he renews the contest with the victors.”  He then ordered the signal to be given, and led out his forces.  The battle was fought on both sides with much more spirit than the day before.  The Carthaginians exerting themselves to the utmost, to