coast of Africa, but is obliged to retire to Sicily. The new consuls Atilius and Geminus Servilius now assume the command against Hannibal, and continue the policy of Fabius. Deputies arrive at Rome from Neapolis with offers of a large amount of treasure, but only a very small sum is accepted. Ambassadors are sent to Philip king of Macedon to demand the surrender of Demetrius of Pharos: others also are sent to Liguria and Illyria. There is now an interregnum, during which C. Terentius Varro and L. Æmilius Paullus are elected consuls. Deputies arrive from Hiero king of Syracuse, offering supplies of men and money to the Roman people: thanks are voted to him, and the reinforcements and a statue of Victory accepted. XXXVIII-LVI. The new consuls disagree, Æmilius adopting the policy of Fabius, Varro that of Minucius. Hannibal retreats to Cannæ, a town on the borders of Apulia, and is followed by the consuls. Varro rashly brings on an engagement when it is his day to command: Æmilius tries to save him, but is killed, and the whole Roman army cut to pieces, Varro escaping with only a few horsemen to Venusia. On the following day Hannibal captures the two Roman camps, but wishing to rouse the allies of Rome in the South of Italy refuses to march on the city. LVII-LXI. Two vestal virgins being convicted of unchastity, extraordinary sacrifices are made to avert the anger of the gods. A general arming being proclaimed, even the slaves are enrolled. Carthalo, a noble Carthaginian, being sent to offer terms of peace is ordered to quit the Roman territory instantly. Deputies arrive from the Roman prisoners in the hands of Hannibal to beg the senate to ransom them; but on the motion of T. Manlius Torquatus, their request is rejected: and the deputies are ordered to rejoin their fellow-prisoners. A general revolt of the Roman allies: the Senate remains immoveable and passes a vote of thanks to the consul C. Terentius Varro because he had not despaired of the republic.

T. LIVII. LIBER XXII.

I. JAM ver appetebat,' quum Hannibal ex hibernis movit, et nequicquam ante conatus transcendere Apenninum intolerandis frigoribus, et cum' ingenti periculo moratus ac metu. Galli, quos prædæ populationumque conciverat spes, postquam pro eo, ut ipsi ex alieno agro raperent agerentque, suas terras sedem belli esse, premique utriusque partis exercituum hibernis, viderunt, verterunt retro ad Hannibalem ab Romanis odia: petitusque sæpe principum insidiis, ipsorum inter se fraude, eâdem levitate, quâ consenserant, consensum indicantium, servatus erat; et, mutando nunc vestem, nunc tegumenta capitis, errore 5 etiam sese ab insidiis munierat. Ceterum hic quoque ei timor causa fuit maturius movendi ex hibernis. Per idem tempus Cn. Servilius consul Romæ Idibus Martiis magistratum iniit. Ibi quum de republica retulisset, redintegrata in C. Flaminium invidia est: Duos se consules creâsse, unum habere. quod enim illi justum imperium, quod auspicium esse? Magistratus id a domo,

6

Appetebat. Neuter: "Was coming on.” Cf. ενισταμένης τῆς ἐαρινῆς ώρας, Polybius. It was the year B.C. 217.

2 Movit. Sc. castra. Transitive. 3 Pro eo ut ipsi....rap. "Instead of themselves plundering."

4 Eadem levitate....indicant. "Betraying their plots with the same fickleness with which they had begun them." 5 Errore. Transitive: By misguiding them." Cf. Verg. Æn. II. 48: Aut aliquis latet error.

6 Idibus Martiis. March 15th.

7 Quum de rep. ret. "When he had brought before the senate the state of public affairs."

8 Redintegrata. His former unpopularity with the aristocracy arose from his having proposed an agrarian law when tribune.

Auspicium. "Right of taking auspices," a power vested during the campaign in the commander-in-chief only. A place was set apart on the right of his tent for this purpose.

B

5

publicis privatisque penatibus, Latinis feriis1actis, sacrificio in monte perfecto, votis rite in Capitolio nuncupatis, secum ferre nec privatum auspicia sequi, nec sine auspiciis profectum in externo ea solo nova atque integra concipere posse. Augebant metum prodigia, ex pluribus simul locis nunciata: in Sicilia militibus aliquot spicula, in Sardinia autem in muro circumeunti vigilias equiti scipionem, quem manu tenuerat, arsisse, et littora crebris ignibus fulsisse, et scuta duo sanguine sudâsse, et milites quosdam ictos fulminibus, et solis orbem 2 minui visum et Præneste ardentes lapides cœlo cecidisse: et Arpis parmas in cœlo visas, pugnantemque cum luna solem: et Capena duas interdiu lunas ortas et aquas Cæretes sanguine mixtas fluxisse; fontemque ipsum Herculis cruentis manâsse sparsum maculis: et Antii metentibus cruentas in corbem spicas cecidisse: et Faleriis cœlum findi velut magno hiatu visum ; quâque patuerit, ingens lumen effulsisse: sortes suâ sponte attenuatas, unamque excidisse, ita scriptam: MAVORS TELUM SUUM CONCUTIT: et per idem tempus Romæ signum Martis Appiâ viâ ad simulacra luporum sudâsse: et Capuæ 10 speciem cœli ardentis fuisse, lunæque inter imbrem cadentis.11 Inde minoribus etiam dictu prodigiis fides habita: capras lanatas quibusdam factas, et gallinam in marem, gallum