the army of Claudius had brought with them on their expedition scarcely any thing except their arms.  Claudius, on the very march, had augmented his numbers by volunteers; for not only veteran soldiers, who had completed their period of service, but young men also offered themselves without solicitation; and, as they vied with each other in giving in their names, he had enlisted those whose personal appearance and bodily strength seemed fit for military service.  The camp of the other consul was near Sena, and Hasdrubal’s position was about five hundred paces from it.  Nero, therefore, when he was now drawing near, halted under cover of the mountains, in order that he might not enter the camp before night.  Having entered when all was still, they were severally conducted into their tents by the men of their own description, where they were hospitably entertained with the utmost joy on the part of all.  The next day a council was held, at which Lucius Porcius Licinus, the praetor, was present.  He had his camp joined to that of the consuls, and before their arrival, by leading his army along the heights, sometimes occupying narrow defiles that he might intercept his passage, at other times harassing his troops while marching by attacking their flank or rear, he had baffled the enemy by all the arts of war.  This man was, on the present occasion, one of the council.  Many inclined to the opinion that an engagement should be deferred till Nero had recruited his soldiers, who were weary with marching and watching, and had employed a few days in acquiring a knowledge of his enemy.  Nero urged, not only by persuasion, but with the most earnest entreaties, “that they would not render rash by delay that measure of his which despatch had made safe.  That Hannibal, who lay in a state of torpid inactivity in consequence of a delusion which would not continue long, had neither attacked his camp, left as it was without a leader, nor had directed his course in pursuit of him.  That the army of Hasdrubal might be annihilated, and he might retire into Apulia before he stirred a step.  The man who by delay gave time to the enemy both betrayed the camp to Hannibal, and opened a way to him into Gaul, so that he might effect a junction with Hasdrubal at his leisure, and when he pleased.  That they ought to give the signal for battle instantly, and march out into the field, and take advantage of the delusion of their enemies present and absent, while neither those were aware that they had fewer, nor these that they had more and stronger forces to encounter.”  On the breaking up of the council the signal for battle was displayed, and the troops immediately led into the field.