BOOK pro-consul, that, retaining at Nola a garrison sufficient XXIII. for the defence of the place, he should send the rest of his force to Rome, lest they should be a burden B.C.215. to the allies, and an expence to the state.

Y.R.537.

In

another quarter, Tiberius Gracchus having led his legions from Cuma to Luceria in Apulia, detached thence the prætor, Marcus Valerius, to Brundusium, with the troops which he had commanded at Luceria, ordering him to guard the coast of the Sallentine territory, and carefully pursue all such measures as should be found requisite with respect to Philip, and the Macedonian war. Towards the close of that summer, in which happened those events which we have related, letters arrived from the Scipios, Publius and Cneius, setting forth the great importance and successful issue of their operations in Spain; but that they were in want of every thing, pay, clothing, and corn for the army, and the crews of the ships. With regard to the pay, they observed, that, if the treasury were low, they would themselves devise some method of procuring it from the Spaniards; but that the other articles must, at all events, be sent from Rome, otherwise, neither the army, nor the province, could be preserved. When the letters were read, both the truth of the facts represented, and the reasonableness of the demands, were universally acknowledged; but they were struck by the following considerations: "What "numerous forces on land and sea they were obliged to maintain; and, what a large ad"ditional fleet must soon be provided, in case "of a war with Macedonia breaking out. That

66

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"slaughter of the troops at the Trasimenus, and at BOOK "Cannæ; so the surviving few, if loaded with mul- XXIII. "tiplied impositions, must perish likewise, only by "a different malady. It was therefore concluded, B.C. 215. "that, if the state did not find support in credit, it "could find none in money; and it was judged "proper, that the prætor, Fulvius, should go out "to the assembly of the commons, and lay before the "people the necessitous situation of the country; "exhorting them, that such as had increased their "estates by farming the public revenues, should "now assist that government, to which they owed "their prosperity, with indulgence in respect of "time; and that they should engage to furnish, by "contract, the supplies necessary for the army in "Spain, on condition, when money should come "into the treasury, of being the first paid." These matters the prætor explained in the assembly, and gave public notice of the day on which he would contract for the supplying of clothing, and corn, for the army in Spain, and such other things as were necessary for the men on board the fleet.

XLIX. When the time came, three companies, consisting of nineteen men, attended in order to engage in the contract. Their demands were twofold: first, that they should be exempted from military service as long as they might be concerned in this business of the state; the other, that when they had sent goods on ship-board, any damage afterwards sustained either through the means of storms, or of the enemy, should be at the public loss. Both being complied with, they concluded the contract, and with the money of private persons: such were the habits of thinking, such the love of their country, which, with uniform influence, pervaded all ranks of men. As all engagements were entered into with

Y.R.537.

BOOK great spirit, so were they fulfilled with the most XXIII. faithful punctuality, and exactly in the same manner, as if the supplies were drawn, as formerly, out of an B.C. 215. opulent treasury. At this time, the town of Illiturgi, having revolted to the Romans, was besieged by Hasdrubal, Mago, and Hamilcar son of Bomilcar, Between these three camps, the Scipios, after a difficult struggle, and a great slaughter of their opponents, forced their way into the place, introducing a quantity of corn, of which there had been a scarcity. Then, after exhorting the townsmen to defend their walls with the same courage with which they had seen the Roman troops fight in their behalf, they marched to attack the largest of the camps, where Hasdrubal had the command. Thither also came up the two other Carthaginian generals, with their two armies, who perceived that on the issue of that attack the fate of all depended: the troops in camp therefore sallied out to the fight. There were in the engagement, of the enemy, sixty thousand; of the Romans about sixteen thousand; yet so far was the victory from being doubtful, that the Romans slew a greater number of the Carthaginians than they themselves had in the field; took above three thousand prisoners; somewhat less than one thousand horses; fifty-nine military standards; killed five elephants in the battle; and took possession of the three camps on one and the same day. When the siege of Illiturgi was thus raised, the Carthaginian armies marched to lay siege to Intibili; recruiting their forces out of that province, which was above, all others, fond of war, provided either plunder or hire was in view, and which, at that time, abounded with young men. A second general engagement took place, attended with the same event on both

sides: upwards of thirteen thousand of the enemy BOOK were killed, and more than two thousand taken, XXIII. with forty-two standards and nine elephants. On Y.R.537. this, almost every state in Spain joined the party of B.C.215. the Romans; and, during this campaign, the events of the war there were much more important than those in Italy.

THE

HISTORY OF ROME.

Y.R.537.

BOOK XXIV.

Hieronymus, king of Syracuse, takes part with the Carthaginians; is put to death by his subjects, on account of his tyranny and cruelty. Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, proconsul, with an army composed mostly of slaves, defeats the Carthaginian army under Hanno, at Beneventum; gives the slaves liberty. Most of the States in Sicily go over to the side of the Carthaginians. Claudius Marcellus, consul, besieges Syracuse. War declared against Philip king of Macedonia, who is surprised by night, and routed at Apollonia. Operations of the Scipios, against the Carthaginians, in Spain. Treaty of friendship with Syphax king of Numidia; he is defeated by Massinissa king of the Massylians. The Celtiberians join the Romans, and their troops are taken into pay: the first instance of mercenaries serving in a Roman army.

BOOK ON his return from Campania into Bruttium, XXIV. Hanno, assisted by the Bruttians, who served him also as guides, endeavoured to gain possession B.C. 215. of the Greek cities, which were the more inclined to adhere to their alliance with Rome, for the very reason that they saw the Bruttians whom they both hated and feared, taking part with the Carthagi

B.C.215.