of that temple.* After this, hostilities were suspended in Spain for a long time, both parties being unwilling, after such severe shocks given and received, to risk an action which might be wholly destructive to one or both.

of the principal supports of the Carthaginian party. The Carthaginian general, therefore, and the Syracusan, who had hitherto remained shut up within the walls of Agrigentum, were induced not only by the advice of Mutines, but XL. During the time of these transactions by confidence in their strength, to venture out in Spain, Marcellus having, after the taking of the town; and they pitched their camp on of Syracuse, adjusted the other affairs of Sicily the bank of the river Himera. When Marwith such integrity and good faith as augmented cellus was informed of this he instantly put his not only his own glory, but likewise the ma- troops in motion; and sat down, at the distance jesty of the Roman people, carried off to Rome of about four miles from them, to observe their the ornaments of the city, the statues and motions and intentions. But Mutines left him pictures with which it abounded. These were neither room nor time for deliberation, for he no doubt the spoils of enemies, and acquired crossed the river, and charged his advanced by the right of war, yet they first gave rise to guards with such fury as to cause great terror a taste for the works of Grecian artists, and to and disorder. Next day, in a kind of regular the consequent unbounded rapacity with which engagement he drove the Romans back into all places, indiscriminately, both sacred and their fortifications. He was then called away profane, have been plundered; and which, at by a mutiny of the Numidians which broke out last, has been exercised even against the deities in the camp; and as about three hundred of of Rome, and that very temple itself, in the them had retired to a town called Heraclea of first instance which was decorated by Marcel- Minos, he went thither, in order to pacify and lus with peculiar elegance: for formerly, those bring them back. At his departure he is said which he dedicated near the Capuan gate were to have recommended earnestly to the other visited by foreigners on account of their exqui- generals not to come to an engagement with site ornaments, of which a very small portion the enemy during his absence. This gave remains. Supplicatory embassies came to much offence to both, particularly to Hanno, Marcellus from almost every state in Sicily as who was already jealous of his reputation : their cases were dissimilar, so were the terms "that Mutines shou'd dictate to him; a granted them. Such as either had not revolted, Mongrel African to a Carthaginian general, or had returned into any amity, before the commissioned by the senate and people." He reduction of Syracuse, were received as faithful|prevailed on Epicydes, who was disinclined to allies, and treated with kindness; while such as, after that event, had submitted through fear, being considered as conquered, had terms dictated to them by the victor. Still, however, the Romans had remaining, at Agrigentum, some enemies far from contemptible-Epicydes and Hanno, who had been commander in the late war, with a third and new one, sent by Hannibal in the room of Hippocrates, of a Lybophœnician race, a native of Hippo, called by his countrymen Mutines, an enterprising man, and instructed under no less a master than Hannibal himself in all the arts of war. To him Epicydes and Hanno assigned the auxiliary Numidians; with these he overran the lands of their enemies in such a manner, and was so active in visiting their allies for the purpose of securing their fidelity, and of giving them succour as occasion required, that, in a short time, he filled all Sicily with his fame, and was considered as one

* In the year of Rome 669.

the measure, to consent that they should cross the river, and offer battle; alleging, that if they waited for Mutines, and the issue of the battle should prove fortunate, the honour would all be ascribed to him.

XLI. Marcellus fired with indignation at the thought that he, who had beaten off from Nola, Hannibal, when elated with his victory at Cannæ, should give way to such adversaries as these, and whom he had repeatedly defeated on land and sea, ordered his men to take arms hastily, and march out to meet them. While he was arranging his troops, ten Numidians from the enemy's line came to him at full gallop, and told him, that their countrymen, influenced first by the same motive which caused the mutiny, in which three hundred of their number had retired to Heraclea, and secondly, by seeing their own commander, at the very eve of a battle. sent out of the way, by officers who wished to derogate from his merit, had resolved to remain inactive during the fight.

Contrary to the insidious character of their na- | This was the last battle fought by Marcellus in tion, they fulfilled their promise. This added new spirits to the Romans, for the intelligence was quickly conveyed along the ranks, that the enemy were forsaken by their horse, which had been considered as the most formidable part of their force. At the same time, it damped the courage of the Carthaginians, who besides seeing themselves deprived of the support of the principal part of their strength, became even apprehensive of being attacked by their own cavalry. There was therefore no great contest: the first onset decided the affair. The Numidians stood quiet, on the wings, during the action, and when they saw their confederates turning their backs, accompanied them only a short way on their flight; for, observing that all in confusion made towards Agrigentum, in order to avoid the hardships of a siege, they withdrew themselves into several of the neighbouring cities. Many thousands were killed, and many taken, together with eight elephants.

Sicily, after which he returned in triumph to Syracuse. The year was now near to a close. The Roman senate therefore decreed that Publius Cornelius, prætor, should write to the consuls at Capua, that while Hannibal was at a great distance, and no business of moment was going on there, one of them should, if they thought proper, come to Rome to elect new magistrates. On receiving the letter, the consuls settled between themselves, that Claudius should hold the elections, and Fulvius remain at Capua. Claudius elected consuls, Cneius Fulvius Centumalus, and Publius Sulpicius Galba, son of Servius, who had not before held any curule office. Then Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, Marcus Cornelius Cethegus, Caius Sulpicius, and Caius Calpurnius Piso were elected prætors. The city jurisdiction fell to Piso, Sicily to Sulpicius, Apulia to Cethegus, and Sardinia to Lentulus. The present consuls were continued in command for the ensur og year.

THE

HISTORY OF ROME.

BOOK XXVI.

Hannibal encamps upon the banks of the Anio, within three miles of Rome. Attended by two thousand horsemen, he advances close to the Colline gate, to take a view of the walls and situation of the city. On two successive days the hostile armies are hindered from engaging by the severity of the weather. Capua taken by Quintus Fulvius and Appius Claudius: the chief nobles die, voluntarily, by poison. Quintus Fulvius, having condemned the principal sena. tors to death, at the moment they are actually tied to the stakes, receives despatches from Rome, commanding him to spare their lives, which he postpones reading until the sentence is executed. Publius Scipio,offering himself for the service, is sent to command in Spain: takes New Carthage in one day. Successes in Sicily. Treaty of friendship with the Ætolians. War with Philip, king of Macedonia, and the Acarnanians.

lius and Marcus Valerius were ordered, with | except Cneius Fulvius, corrupted his legions the fleets and legions then under their com- with every kind of vice before he exposed them mand, to guard the coasts of Greece and Sicily. On the former station were employed fifty ships and one legion; on the latter, one hundred ships and two legions. Twenty-three Roman legions were, this year, employed in the war on land and sea.

spend his old age where he had spent his pital, an appeal was made to the tribunes of youth, in the stews and brothels, while his the commons. They declared, that" they soldiers, who were no otherwise culpable could not debar their colleague from prosecutthan in resembling their commander, were casting, as, by the practice of former times, he had out in a manner, into exile, condemned to a a right to do, either on the written laws, or the service of ignominy. So unequal was the dispensation of liberty at Rome to the rich and to the poor; to the man who had arrived at honours, and to those who still continued in obscurity."

general practice, until he should obtain judgment, either of capital punishment, or a fine, against the defendant a private person." Then Sempronius gave notice, that he demanded judgment of treason against Cneius Fulvius; III. Fulvius endeavoured to transfer the and he made a requisition to the city prætor, guilt from himself to the soldiers; asserting, Caius Calpurnius, to appoint a day for the asthat"in consequence of their insisting vio-sembly. The accused then rested his hopes lently on fighting, they were led out to the on another expedient, the procuring at his trial field, not on the same day on which they de- the support of his brother, Quintus Fulvius, sired it, because it was then evening, but on who, at this time, stood high in the public the day following, when both the time and the esteem, both on account of the merit of his past ground were favourable to them; but that they services, and the expectation of his speedily were so awed, either by the reputation or reducing Capua. But Fulvius having sent a the strength of the enemy, that they did not petition to this purpose, couched in terms calmake a stand. That in the hurry of the ge- culated to excite compassion, as in a case where neral flight, he was carried away by the crowds a brother's life was concerned, and the senate as had been the case of Varro, at the battle of answering, that his quitting Capua, would be Cannæ, and of many other generals. And injurious to the public interest, Cneius Fulvius how could he, by this single resistance, serve at the approach of the day appointed for the the cause of the commonwealth; unless, in-assembly, withdrew into exile to Tarquinii. deed, his death were considered as a remedy The commons passed an order confirming his for the public misfortune? He had not been banishment as legal. brought into any dangerous situation by want IV. In the mean time, the grand operations of provisions, or by want of caution; neither of the campaign were directed against Capua, was he, in consequence of marching unguarded- where, however, the siege was carried on, rather ly, surprised by an ambuscade, but defeated by by a close blockade than by vigorous assaults. open force, by dint of arms, in a fair engage- This caused so great a famine, that the popument; nor had he the power of determining the lace and the slaves could no longer endure it, degree of courage to be exerted either by his and yet there was no way of sending messenown men, or by the enemy: every man's own gers to Hannibal, the approaches were all so disposition supplied either courage or cowar- strictly guarded. At length a Numidian was dice." The matter came twice to a hearing, found, who, taking a letter, engaged to make and, at both times, the penalty was laid at a his way with it; and, going out by night, he fine. At the third hearing, witnesses were passed through the middle of the Roman camp. produced; and, besides his being loaded with This encouraged the Campanians to try, while charges of the most scandalous nature, great they had any remains of vigour, what might be numbers deposed on oath, that the prætor was done by sallies from all sides of the town. In the first who showed any symptoms of fear, many engagements which followed, their cavalry and began the flight; and that the soldiers, be- were generally successful, their infantry worsting abandoned by him, and supposing that the ed: but the besiegers were not nearly so much general's fears were not without grounds, fled pleased by the advantages which they had likewise; on which, the anger of the people gained, as mortified at being overcome, in any was inflamed to such a pitch, that the whole particular, by an enemy besieged, and on the assembly cried out that the prosecution ought point of being taken. At last the Romans to be capital. On this point a new contest adopted a method of supplying by art their dearose for, as the tribune had, on two former ficiency in strength. Out of all the legions occasions, prosecuted the offence as finable, were selected young men, who, from the and at a third, proposed to prosecute it as ca- power and lightness of their bodies, possessed