26.9
After
crossing the Volturnus Hannibal fixed his camp a short distance from the
river, and the next day he marched past Cales into the Sidicine territory. One
day was devoted to laying waste the district, and then he proceeded along
the Latin Road through the lands of Suessa, Allifae, and Casinum up to the
walls of the last-mentioned place. Here he remained encamped for two days
and ravaged the whole of the surrounding country. From there he went on
past Interamna and Aquinum into the territory of Fregellae as far as the Liris.
Here he found that the bridge had been destroyed by the people of Fregellae
in order to delay his advance. Fulvius too had been delayed at the Volturnus,
owing to Hannibal having burnt his boats, and he had considerable difficulty
in procuring rafts for the transport of his troops, owing to the lack of timber.
When, however, he had once crossed, the remainder of his march was
uninterrupted, as he found ample supplies of provisions waiting for him in
each city he came to, and also put out by the side of the road in the country
districts. His men, too, in their eagerness urged one another to march more
quickly, for they were going to defend their homes. A messenger who had
travelled from Fregellae for a day and a night without stopping created great
alarm in Rome, and the excitement was increased by people running about
the City with wildly exaggerated accounts of the news he had brought. The
wailing cry of the matrons was heard everywhere, not only in private houses
but even in the temples. Here they knelt and swept the temple-floors with
their dishevelled hair and lifted up their hands to heaven in piteous entreaty
to the gods that they would deliver the City of Rome out of the hands of the
enemy and preserve its mothers and children from injury and outrage. The
senators remained in session in the Forum so as to be at hand should the
magistrates wish to consult them. Some received orders and went off to
execute their commissions, others offered their services in case they could be
of use anywhere. Troops were posted at the Capitol, on the walls, round
about the City and even as far as the Alban Mount and the fortress of
Aesula. In the midst of all this excitement word was brought that the
proconsul Q. Fulvius was on his way from Capua with an army. As
proconsul he could not hold command in the City, the senate therefore
passed a decree conferring upon him consular powers. After completely
destroying the territory of Fregellae in revenge for the destruction of the
bridge over the Liris, Hannibal continued his march through the districts of
Frusinum, Ferentinum and Anagnia into the neighbourhood of Labicum. He
then crossed Algidus and marched on Tusculum, but he was refused
admittance, so he turned to the right below Tusculum towards Gabii, and
still descending, came into the district of Pupinia where he encamped, eight
miles from Rome. The nearer his approach the greater was the slaughter of
those who were fleeing to the City at the hands of the Numidians who rode
in front of the main body. Many, too, of all ages and conditions were made
prisoners.
