The History of Rome; Books Nine to Twenty Six - Titus Livius
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6. After the consul had thus spoken, the ambassadors were dismissed;
and as they were returning home, one of them, named Vibius Virius,
observed, "that the time had arrived at which the Campanians might not
only recover the territory once injuriously taken away by the Romans,
but also possess themselves of the sovereignty of Italy. For they
might form a treaty with Hannibal on whatever terms they pleased; and
there could be no question but that after Hannibal, having put an end
to the war, had himself retired victorious into Africa, and had
withdrawn his troops, the sovereignty of Italy would be left to the
Campanians." All assenting to Vibius, as he said this, they framed
their report of the embassy so that all might conclude that the Roman
power was annihilated. Immediately the commons and the major part of
the senate turned their attention to revolt. The measure, however, was
postponed for a few days at the instigation of the elder citizens. At
last, the opinion of the majority prevailed, that the same ambassadors
who had gone to the Roman consul should be sent to Hannibal. I find in
certain annals, that before this embassy proceeded, and before they
had determined on the measure of revolting, ambassadors were sent by
the Campanians to Rome, requiring that one of the consuls should be
elected from Campania if they wished assistance to the Roman cause.
That from the indignation which arose, they were ordered to be removed
from the senate-house, and a lictor despatched to conduct them out of
the city and command them to lodge that day without the Roman
frontier. But as this request is too much like that which the Latins
formerly made, and as Coelius and other writers had, not without
reason, made no mention of it, I have not ventured to vouch for its
truth.
7. The ambassadors came to Hannibal and concluded a treaty of peace
with him on the terms, "That no Carthaginian commander should have any
authority over a Campanian citizen, nor any Campanian serve in war or
perform any office against his will: that Capua should have her own
laws and her own magistrates: that the Carthaginian should give to the
Campanians three hundred captives selected by themselves, who might be
exchanged for the Campanian horse who were serving in Sicily." Such
were the stipulations: but in addition to them, the Campanians
perpetrated the following atrocities; for the commons ordered that the
prefects of the allies and other citizens of Rome should be suddenly
seized, while some of them were occupied with military duties, others
engaged in private business, and be shut up in the baths, as if for
the purpose of keeping them in custody, where, suffocated with heat
and vapour, they might expire in a horrid manner. Decius Magius, a man
who wanted nothing to complete his influence except a sound mind on
the part of his countrymen, had resisted to the uttermost the
execution of these measures, and the sending of the embassy to
Hannibal, and when he heard that a body of troops was sent by
Hannibal, bringing back to their recollection, as examples, the
haughty tyranny of Pyrrhus and the miserable slavery of the
Tarentines, he at first openly and loudly protested that the troops
should not be admitted, then he urged either that they should expel
them when received, or, if they had a mind to expiate, by a bold and
memorable act, the foul crime they had committed in revolting from
their most ancient and intimate allies, that leaving slain the
Carthaginian troops they should give themselves back to the Romans.
These proceedings, having been reported to Hannibal, for they were not
carried on in secret, he at first sent persons to summon Magius into
his presence at his camp, then, on his vehemently refusing to come, on
the ground that Hannibal had no authority over a Campanian, the
Carthaginian, excited with rage, ordered that the man should be seized
and dragged to him in chains, but afterwards, fearing lest while force
was employed some disturbance might take place, or lest, from
excitement of feeling, some undesigned collision might occur, he set
out himself from the camp with a small body of troops, having sent a
message before him to Marius Blosius, the praetor of Campania, to the
effect, that he would be at Capua the next day. Marius calling an
assembly, issued an order that they should go out and meet Hannibal in
a body, accompanied by their wives and children. This was done by all,
not only with obedience, but with zeal, with the full agreement of the
common people, and with eagerness to see a general rendered
illustrious by so many victories. Decius Magius neither went out to
meet him, nor kept himself in private, by which course he might seem
to indicate fear from a consciousness of demerit, he promenaded in the
forum with perfect composure, attended by his son and a few
dependants, while all the citizens were in a bustle to go to see and
receive the Carthaginian. Hannibal, on entering the city, immediately
demanded an audience of the senate; when the chief men of the
Campanians, beseeching him not to transact any serious business on
that day, but that he would cheerfully and willingly celebrate a day
devoted to festivity in consequence of his own arrival, though
naturally extremely prone to anger, yet, that he might not deny them
any thing at first, he spent a great part of the day in inspecting the
city.
8. He lodged at the house of the Ninii Celeres, Stenius and Pacuvius,
men distinguished by their noble descent and their wealth. Thither
Pacuvius Calavius, of whom mention has already been made, who was the
head of the party which had drawn over the state to the Carthaginian
cause, brought his son, a young man, whom he had forced from the side
of Decius Magius, in conjunction with whom he had made a most
determined stand for the Roman alliance in opposition to the league
with the Carthaginians; nor had the leaning of the state to the other
side, or his father's authority, altered his sentiments. For this
youth his father procured pardon from Hannibal, more by prayers than
by clearing him. Hannibal, overcome by the entreaties and tears of his
father, even gave orders that he should be invited with his father to
the banquet; to which entertainment he intended to admit no Campanian
besides his hosts, and Jubellius Taurea, a man distinguished in war.
They began to feast early in the day, and the entertainment was not
conformable to the Carthaginian custom, or to military discipline, but
as might be expected in a city and in a house both remarkable for
luxury, was furnished with all the allurements of voluptuousness.
Perolla, the son of Calavius, was the only person who could not be won
either by the solicitations of the masters of the house, or those
which Hannibal sometimes employed. The youth himself pleaded ill
health as an apology, while his father urged as an excuse the
disturbed state of his mind, which was not surprising. About sunset,
Calavius, who had gone out from the banquet, was followed by his son;
and when they had arrived at a retired place, (it was a garden at the
back part of the house,) he said, "I have a plan to propose to you, my
father, by which we shall not only obtain pardon from the Romans for
our crime, in that we revolted from them to the Carthaginian, but
shall be held in much higher esteem, than we Campanians ever have
been." When the father inquired with surprise what that plan could be,
he threw back his gown off his shoulder and exposed to view his side,
which was girt with a sword. "Forthwith will I ratify the alliance
with Rome with the blood of Hannibal. I was desirous that you should
be informed of it first, in case you might prefer to be absent while
the deed is performing."
9. On hearing and seeing which the old man, as though he were actually
present at the transactions which were being named to him, wild with
fear, exclaimed, "I implore, I beseech you, my son, by all the ties
which unite children to parents, that you will not resolve to commit
and to suffer every thing that is horrible before the eyes of a
father. Did we but a few hours ago, swearing by every deity, and
joining right hands, pledge our fidelity to Hannibal, that immediately
on separating from the conference we should arm against him the hands
which were employed as the sacred pledges of our faith? Do you rise
from the hospitable board to which as one of three of the Campanians
you have been admitted by Hannibal, that you may ensanguine that very
board with the blood of your host. Could I conciliate Hannibal to my
son, and not my son to Hannibal? But let nothing be held sacred by
you, neither our pledges, nor the sense of religion, nor filial duty;
let the most horrid deeds be dared, if with guilt they bring not ruin
upon us. Will you singly attack Hannibal? What will that numerous
throng of freemen and slaves be doing? What the eyes of all intent on
him alone? What those so many right hands? Will they be torpid amidst
your madness? Will you be able to bear the look of Hannibal himself,
which armed hosts cannot sustain, from which the Roman people shrink
with horror? And though other assistance be wanting, will you have the
hardihood to strike me when I oppose my body in defence of Hannibal's?
But know that through my breast you must strike and transfix him.
Suffer yourself to be deterred from your attempt here, rather than to
be defeated there. May my entreaties prevail with you, as they did for
you this day." Upon this, perceiving the youth in tears, he threw his
arms around him, and kissing him affectionately, ceased not his
entreaties until he prevailed upon him to lay aside his sword and give
his promise that he would do no such thing. The young man then
observed, "I will indeed pay to my father the debt of duty which I owe
to my country, but I am grieved for you on whom the guilt of having
thrice betrayed your country rests; once when you sanctioned the
revolt from the Romans; next when you advised the alliance with
Hannibal; and thirdly, this day, when you are the delay and impediment
of the restoration of Capua to the Romans. Do thou, my country,
receive this weapon, armed with which in thy behalf I would fain have
defended this citadel, since a father wrests it from me." Having thus
said, he threw the sword into the highway over the garden wall, and
that the affair might not be suspected, himself returned to the
banquet.
10. The next day an audience of a full senate was given to Hannibal,
when the first part of his address was full of graciousness and
benignity, in which he thanked the Campanians for having preferred his
friendship to an alliance with the Romans, and held out among his
other magnificent promises "that Capua should soon become the capital
of all Italy, and that the Romans as well as the other states should
receive laws from it. That there was, however, one person who had no
share in the Carthaginian friendship and the alliance formed with him,
Decius Magius, who neither was nor ought to be called a Campanian. Him
he requested to be surrendered to him, and that the sense of the
senate should be taken respecting his conduct, and a decree passed in
his presence." All concurred in this proposition, though a great many
considered him as a man undeserving such severe treatment; and that
this proceeding was no small infringement of their liberty to begin
with. Leaving the senate-house, the magistrate took his seat on the
consecrated bench, ordered Decius Magius to be apprehended, and to be
placed by himself before his feet to plead his cause. But he, his
proud spirit being unsubdued, denied that such a measure could be
enforced agreeably to the conditions of the treaty; upon which he was
ironed, and ordered to be brought into the camp before a lictor. As
long as he was conducted with his head uncovered, he moved along
earnestly haranguing and vociferating to the multitude which poured
around him on all sides. "You have gotten that liberty, Campanians,
which you seek; in the middle of the forum, in the light of day,
before your eyes, I, a man second to none of the Campanians, am
dragged in chains to suffer death. What greater outrage could have
been committed had Capua been captured? Go out to meet Hannibal,
decorate your city to the utmost, consecrate the day of his arrival,
that you may behold this triumph over a fellow-citizen." As the
populace seemed to be excited by him, vociferating these things, his
head was covered, and he was ordered to be dragged away more speedily
without the gate. Having been thus brought to the camp, he was
immediately put on board a ship and sent to Carthage, lest if any
commotion should arise at Capua on account of the injustice of the
proceeding, the senate also should repent of having given up a leading
citizen; and lest if an embassy were sent to request his restoration,
he must either offend his new allies by refusing their first petition,
or, by granting it, be compelled to retain at Capua a promoter of
sedition and disturbance. A tempest drove the vessel to Cyrenae, which
was at that time under the dominion of kings. Here flying for refuge
to the statue of king Ptolemy, he was conveyed thence in custody to
Alexandria to Ptolemy; and having instructed him that he had been
thrown into chains by Hannibal, contrary to the law of treaties, he
was liberated and allowed to return to whichever place he pleased,
Rome or Capua. But Magius said, that Capua would not be a safe place
for him, and that Rome, at a time when there was war between the
Romans and Capuans, would be rather the residence of a deserter than a
guest. That there was no place that he should rather dwell in, than in
the dominions of him whom he esteemed an avenger and the protector of
his liberty.
11. While these things were carrying on, Quintus Fabius Pictor, the
ambassador, returned from Delphi to Rome, and read the response of the
oracle from a written copy. In it both the gods were mentioned, and in
what manner supplication should be made. It then stated, "If you do
thus, Romans, your affairs will be more prosperous and less perplexed;
your state will proceed more agreeably to your wishes; and the victory
in the war will be on the side of the Roman people. After that your
state shall have been restored to prosperity and safety, send a
present to the Pythian Apollo out of the gains you have earned, and
pay honours to him out of the plunder, the booty, and the spoils.
Banish licentiousness from among you." Having read aloud these words,
translated from the Greek verse, he added, that immediately on his
departure from the oracle, he had paid divine honours to all these
deities with wine and frankincense; and that he was ordered by the
chief priest of the temple, that, as he had approached the oracle and
performed the sacred ceremonies decorated with a laurel crown, so he
should embark wearing the crown, and not put it off till he had
arrived at Rome. That he had executed all these injunctions with the
most scrupulous exactness and diligence, and had deposited the garland
on the altar of Apollo at Rome. The senate decreed that the sacred
ceremonies and supplications enjoined should be carefully performed
with all possible expedition. During these events at Rome and in
Italy, Mago, the son of Hamilcar, had arrived at Carthage with the
intelligence of the victory at Cannae. He was not sent direct from the
field of battle by his brother, but was detained some days in
receiving the submission of such states of the Bruttii as were in
revolt. Having obtained an audience of the senate he gave a full
statement of his brother's exploits in Italy: "That he had fought
pitched battles with six generals, four of whom were consuls, two a
dictator and master of the horse, with six consular armies; that he
had slain above two hundred thousand of the enemy, and captured above
fifty thousand. That out of the four consuls he had slain two; of the
two remaining, one was wounded, the other, having lost his whole army,
had fled from the field with scarcely fifty men; that the master of
the horse, an authority equal to that of consul, had been routed and
put to flight; that the dictator, because he had never engaged in a
pitched battle, was esteemed a matchless general; that the Bruttii,
the Apulians, part of the Samnites and of the Lucanians had revolted
to the Carthaginians. That Capua, which was the capital not only of
Campania, but after the ruin of the Roman power by the battle of
Cannae, of Italy also, had delivered itself over to Hannibal. That in
return for these so many and so great victories, gratitude ought
assuredly to be felt and thanks returned to the immortal gods."
12. Then, in proof of this such joyful news, he ordered the golden
rings to be poured out in the vestibule of the senate-house, of which
there was such a heap that some have taken upon themselves to say that
on being measured they filled three pecks and a half. The statement
has obtained and is more like the truth, that there were not more than
a peck. He then added, by way of explanation, to prove the greater
extent of the slaughter, that none but knights, and of these the
principal only, wore that ornament. The main drift of his speech was,
"that the nearer the prospect was of bringing the war to a conclusion,
the more should Hannibal be aided by every means, for that the seat of
war was at a long distance from home and in the heart of the enemy's
country. That a great quantity of corn was consumed and money
expended; and that so many pitched battles, as they had annihilated
the armies of the enemy, had also in some degree diminished the forces
of the victor. That a reinforcement therefore ought to be sent; and
money for the pay, and corn for the soldiers who had deserved so well
of the Carthaginian name." After this speech of Mago's, all being
elated with joy, Himilco, a member of the Barcine faction, conceiving
this a good opportunity for inveighing against Hanno, said to him,
"What think you now, Hanno? do you now also regret that the war
against the Romans was entered upon? Now urge that Hannibal should be
given up; yes, forbid the rendering of thanks to the immortal gods
amidst such successes; let us hear a Roman senator in the senate-house
of the Carthaginians." Upon which Hanno replied, "I should have
remained silent this day, conscript fathers, lest, amid the general
joy, I should utter any thing which might be too gloomy for you. But
now, to a senator, asking whether I still regret the undertaking of
the war against the Romans, if I should forbear to speak, I should
seem either arrogant or servile, the former of which is the part of a
man who is forgetful of the independence of others, the latter of his
own. I may answer therefore to Himilco, that I have not ceased to
regret the war, nor shall I cease to censure your invincible general
until I see the war concluded on some tolerable terms; nor will any
thing except a new peace put a period to my regret for the loss of the
old one. Accordingly those achievements, which Mago has so boastingly
recounted, are a source of present joy to Himilco and the other
adherents of Hannibal; to me they may become so; because successes in
war, if we have a mind to make the best use of fortune, will afford us
a peace on more equitable terms; for if we allow this opportunity to
pass by, on which we have it in our power to appear to dictate rather
than to receive terms of peace, I fear lest even this our joy should
run into excess, and in the end prove groundless. However, let us see
of what kind it is even now. I have slain the armies of the enemy,
send me soldiers. What else would you ask if you had been conquered? I
have captured two of the enemy's camps, full, of course, of booty and
provisions; supply me with corn and money. What else would you ask had
you been plundered and stripped of your camp? And that I may not be
the only person perplexed, I could wish that either Himilco or Mago
would answer me, for it is just and fair that I also should put a
question, since I have answered Himilco. Since the battle at Cannae
annihilated the Roman power, and it is a fact that all Italy is in a
state of revolt; in the first place, has any one people of the Latin
confederacy come over to us? In the next place, has any individual of
the five and thirty tribes deserted to Hannibal?" When Mago had
answered both these questions in the negative, he continued: "there
remains then still too large a body of the enemy. But I should be glad
to know what degree of spirit and hope that body possesses."
13. Mago declaring that he did not know; "Nothing," said he, "is
easier to be known. Have the Romans sent any ambassadors to Hannibal
to treat of peace? Have you, in short, ever heard that any mention has
been made of peace at Rome?" On his answering these questions also in
the negative: "We have upon our hands then, said he, a war as entire
as we had on the day on which Hannibal crossed over into Italy. There
are a great many of us alive now who remember how fluctuating the
success was in the former Punic war. At no time did our affairs appear
in so prosperous a condition as they did before the consulship of
Caius Lutatius and Aulus Posthumius. In the consulship of Caius
Lutatius and Aulus Posthumius we were completely conquered at the
islands Aegates. But if now, as well as then, (oh! may the gods avert
the omen!) fortune should take any turn, do you hope to obtain that
peace when we shall be vanquished which no one is willing to grant now
we are victorious. I have an opinion which I should express if any one
should advise with me on the subject of proffering or accepting terms
of peace with the enemy; but with respect to the supplies requested by
Mago, I do not think there is any necessity to send them to a
victorious army; and I give it as my opinion that they should far less
be sent to them, if they are deluding us by groundless and empty
hopes." But few were influenced by the harangue of Hanno, for both the
jealousy which he entertained towards the Barcine family, made him a
less weighty authority; and men's minds being taken up with the
present exultation, would listen to nothing by which their joy could
be made more groundless, but felt convinced, that if they should make
a little additional exertion the war might be speedily terminated.
Accordingly a decree of the senate was made with very general
approbation, that four thousand Numidians should be sent as a
reinforcement to Hannibal, with four hundred elephants and many
talents of silver. Moreover, the dictator was sent forward into Spain
with Mago to hire twenty thousand foot and four thousand horse, to
recruit the armies in Italy and Spain.
14. But these resolutions, as generally happens in the season of
prosperity, were executed in a leisurely and slothful manner. The
Romans, in addition to their inborn activity of mind, were prevented
from delaying by the posture of their affairs. For the consul was not
wanting in any business which was to be done by him; and the dictator,
Marcus Junius Pera, after the sacred ceremonies were concluded, and
after having, as is usual, proposed to the people that he might be
allowed to mount his horse; besides the two legions which had been
enlisted by the consuls in the beginning of the year, and besides the
cohorts collected out of the Picenian and Gallic territories,
descended to that last resort of the state when almost despaired of,
and when propriety gives place to utility, and made proclamation, that
of such persons as had been guilty of capital crimes or were in prison
on judgment for debt, those who would serve as soldiers with him, he
would order to be released from their liability to punishment and
their debts. These six thousand he armed with the Gallic spoils which
were carried in the procession at the triumph of Caius Flaminius. Thus
he marched from the city at the head of twenty-five thousand men.
Hannibal, after gaining Capua, made a second fruitless attempt upon
the minds of the Neapolitans, partly by fear and partly by hope: and
then marched his troops across into the territory of Nola: not
immediately in a hostile attitude, for he did not despair of a
voluntary surrender, yet intending to omit nothing which they could
suffer or fear, if they delayed the completion of his hopes. The
senate, and especially the principal members of it, persevered
faithfully in keeping up the alliance with the Romans; the commons, as
usual, were all inclined to a change in the government and to espouse
the cause of Hannibal, placing before their minds the fear lest their
fields should be devastated, and the many hardships and indignities
which must be endured in a siege; nor were there wanting persons who
advised a revolt. In this state of things, when a fear took possession
of the senate, that it would be impossible to resist the excited
multitude if they went openly to work, devised a delay of the evil by
secret simulation. They pretended that they were agreeable to the
revolt to Hannibal; but that it was not settled on what terms they
should enter into the new alliance and friendship. Thus having gained
time, they promptly sent ambassadors to the Roman praetor, Marcellus
Claudius, who was at Casilinum with his army, and informed him what a
critical situation Nola was in; that the fields were already in the
possession of Hannibal and the Carthaginians, and that the city soon
would be, unless succour were sent; that the senate, by conceding to
the commons that they would revolt when they pleased, had caused them
not to hasten too much to revolt. Marcellus, after bestowing high
commendations on the Nolans, urged them to protract the business till
his arrival by means of the same pretences; in the mean time, to
conceal what had passed between them, as well as all hope of succour
from the Romans. He himself marched from Casilinum to Calatia, and
thence crossing the Vulturnus, and passing through the territories of
Saticula and Trebula, pursuing his course along the mountains above
Suessula, he arrived at Nola.