23.46
Neither his censures nor his promises had
any effect in strengthening the morale of his men. When they began to fall
back in all directions the spirits of the Romans rose, not only because of their
general's cheering words, but also because the Nolans raised encouraging
shouts and fired them with the glow of battle, until the Carthaginians fairly
turned to flee and were driven to their camp. The Romans were anxious to
storm the camp, but Marcellus marched them back to Nola amid the joyous
congratulations even of the populace who had before been more inclined to
the Carthaginians. More than 5000 of the enemy were killed that day and
600 made prisoners, 18 military standards were taken and two elephants;
four had been killed in the battle. The Romans had less than a thousand
killed. The next day was spent by both sides in burying those killed in battle,
under an informal truce. Marcellus burnt the spoils taken from the enemy in
fulfilment of a vow to Vulcan. Three days later, owing, I fancy, to some
disagreement or in hope of more liberal pay, 272 troopers, Numidians and
Spaniards, deserted to Marcellus. The Romans often availed themselves of
their brave and loyal help in the war. At its close a gift of land was made in
Spain to the Spaniards and in Africa to the Numidians as a reward for their
valour.
Hanno was sent back into Bruttium with the force he had brought,
and Hannibal went into winter quarters in Apulia and encamped in the
neighbourhood of Arpi. As soon as Q. Fabius heard that Hannibal had left
for Apulia, he had a quantity of corn from Nola and Neapolis conveyed into
the camp above Suessula, and after strengthening its defences and leaving a
force sufficient to hold the position through the winter months, he moved his
own camp nearer to Capua and laid waste its territory with fire and sword.
The Campanians had no confidence whatever in their strength, but they were
at last compelled to come out of their gates into the open and form an
entrenched camp in front of the city. They had 6000 men under arms, the
infantry were absolutely useless, but the mounted men were more efficient,
so they kept harassing the enemy by cavalry skirmishes. There were several
Campanian nobles serving as troopers, amongst them Cerrinus Vibellius,
surnamed Taurea. He was a citizen of Capua and by far the finest soldier in
the Campanian horse, so much so indeed that when he was serving with the
Romans there was only one Roman horseman that enjoyed an equal
reputation, and that was Claudius Asellus. Taurea had for a long time been
riding up to the enemy's squadrons to see if he could find this man, and at
last when there was a moment's silence he asked where Claudius Asellus
was. "He has often," he said, "argued with me about our respective merits,
let him settle the matter with the sword, and if he is vanquished yield me the
spolia opima, or if he is the victor take them from me."
