IX, 4.—­In the course of the same period both Sicily and Sardinia had become openly hostile.  But the disturbance in these regions soon subsided. [Sidenote:  B.C. 215 (a.u. 539)] Hasdrubal, who was aiding them, was captured and Manlius Torquatus recovered almost the entire island.  For the time being affairs in Sicily were quiet, but afterward disturbance reigned anew.  King Philip of Macedonia showed himself a most open partisan of the Carthaginians.  In his desire to add Greece to his possessions he made an agreement with Hannibal that they should conduct the war in common, and that the Carthaginians should get Italy but he should have Greece and Epirus together with the islands.  The agreement was made on this basis, but through the capture of the herald who had been sent to Hannibal by Philip the Romans learned what was taking place and forthwith despatched the praetor Marcus Valerius Laevinus[30] against him.  They intended to make him anxious about internal affairs, so that he should stay at home.  The plan worked. [Sidenote:  B.C. 214 (a.u. 540)] Philip had progressed as far as Corcyca with the intention of sailing to Italy, but on learning that Laevinus was already at Brundusium he returned home.  When Laevinus had sailed as far as Corcyca, Philip set out against the Roman allies; he had captured Oricum and was besieging Apollonia.  Laevinus made an expedition against him anew, recovered Oricum and rescued Apollonia.  Then Philip after burning the ships which he had used retired homewards overland.

[Footnote 30:  Zonaras consistently spells this name Lavinius.]

The people of Rome chose Fabius and Marcellus consuls.  Hannibal was then traveling about in what is called Calabria and in adjacent regions, and they assigned the care of him to Gracchus, who had held office before them.  The latter routed Hanno (who had come from Bruttium and confronted him near Beneventum), and then going on he watched Hannibal closely, kept ravaging the possessions of rebels and won some cities safely back.  The consuls themselves turned their steps toward Campania, for they were anxious to subdue it and so leave no element of hostility behind their backs when they should march against Hannibal.  They then divided forces.  Fabius overran the districts of Campania and Samnium.  Marcellus crossed into Sicily and proceeded to besiege Syracuse.  The town had submitted to him, but then had revolted again through the treachery of some men by the use of a false message.  He would have subdued it very speedily,—­for he assaulted the wall by both land and sea at once,—­had not Archimedes with his inventions enabled the citizens to resist an extremely long time.  By his devices he suspended stones and heavy-armed soldiers in the air whom he would let down suddenly and soon draw up again.  Even ships that carried towers he would dash one upon another; he would pull them up and [Sidenote:  (FRAG. 56^31?)] LIFTING THEM HIGH WOULD LET GO ALL