23.8
He
stayed with two brothers, Sthenius and Pacuvius, men distinguished for their
high birth and wealth. Pacuvius Calavius, whom we have already mentioned,
the leader of the party which brought the city over to the Carthaginians,
brought his young son to the house. The youth was closely attached to
Decius Magius, and had stood up most resolutely with him for the alliance
with Rome and against any terms with the Carthaginians, and neither the
changing over of the city to the other side nor the authority of his father had
been able to shake his resolution. Pacuvius dragged him away from Magius'
side and now sought to obtain Hannibal's pardon for the youth by
intercessions rather than by any attempts at exculpation. He was overcome
by the father's prayers and tears and went so far as to order him to be invited
to a banquet to which none were to be admitted but his hosts and Vibellius
Taureas, a distinguished soldier. The banquet began early in the day, and was
not at all in accordance with Carthaginian customs or military discipline, but
as was natural in a city, still more in a house full of wealth and luxury, the
table was furnished with every kind of dainty and delicacy. Young Calavius
was the only one who could not be persuaded to drink, though his hosts and
occasionally Hannibal invited him; he excused himself on the ground of
health, and his father alleged as a further reason his not unnatural excitement
under the circumstances. It was nearly sunset when the guests rose. Young
Calavius accompanied his father out of the banquet chamber and when they
had come to a retired spot in the garden behind the house, he stopped and
said: "I have a plan to propose to you, father, by which we shall not only
obtain pardon for the Romans for our offence in revolting to Hannibal, but
also possess much more influence and prestige in Capua than we have ever
done before." When his father asked him in great surprise what his plan was,
he threw his toga back from his shoulder and showed him a sword belted on
to his side. "Now," he said, "this very moment will I ratify our treaty with
Rome in Hannibal's blood. I wanted you to know first, in case you would
rather be away when the deed is done."
