8.26
Nymphius at the same time approached the
Samnite praetor and persuaded him, now that the whole of the Roman
fighting force was either round Palaeopolis or engaged in Samnium, to allow
him to sail round with the fleet to the Roman seaboard and ravage not only
the coastal districts but even the country close to the city. But to ensure
secrecy he pointed out that it would be necessary to start by night, and that
the ships should be at once launched. To expedite matters the whole of the
Samnite troops, with the exception of those who were mounting guard in the
city, were sent down to the shore. Here they were so crowded as to impede
one another's movements and the confusion was heightened by the darkness
and the contradictory orders which Nymphius was giving in order to gain
time. Meantime Charilaus had been admitted by his confederates into the
city. When the Romans had completely occupied the highest parts of the
city, he ordered them to raise a shout, on which the Greeks, acting on the
instructions of their leaders kept quiet. The Nolans escaped at the other end
of the city and took the road to Nola. The Samnites, shut out as they were
from the city, had less difficulty in getting away, but when once out of
danger they found themselves in a much more sorry flight. They had no
arms, there was nothing they possessed which was not left behind with the
enemy; they returned home stripped and destitute, an object of derision not
only to foreigners but even to their own countrymen. I am quite aware that
there is another view of this transaction, according to which it was the
Samnites who surrendered, but in the above account I have followed the
authorities whom I consider most worthy of credit. Neapolis became
subsequently the chief seat of the Greek population, and the fact of a treaty
being made with that city renders it all the more probable that the
re-establishment of friendly relations was due to them. As it was generally
believed that the enemy had been forced by the siege to come to terms, a
triumph was decreed to Publilius. Two circumstances happened in
connection with his consulship which had never happened before -a
prolongation of command and a triumph after he had laid down his
command.