40.26
Baebius' despatch created considerable
alarm in Rome, which was increased by the arrival of Marcellus a few days
later. He had handed over his army to Fabius, and he told the senate that
there was no hope of the army in Gaul being transferred to Liguria because it
was engaged with the Histri, who were trying to prevent the formation of the
colony at Aquileia. Fabius, he explained, had marched thither, and could not
retrace his steps now that war had begun. There was one chance of sending
help, though that would be later than the emergency demanded, namely, if
the consuls hastened their departure for the province. All the senators were
loud in their demand that they should go. The consuls declared that they
would not go until the enrolment of troops was completed, and it was not
through remissness on their part but through the violence of the epidemic
that the completion was delayed. They were unable, however, to hold out
against the unanimous determination of the senate, and left the City wearing
the paludamentum, having appointed a day for the men whom they had
enrolled to assemble at Pisae. The consuls were empowered to raise men
indiscriminately as they went on, and take them with them. The praetors Q.
Petilius and Q. Fabius received orders to raise fresh troops; Petilius to enrol
two emergency legions of Roman citizens and to require all under fifty years
of age to take the military oath; Fabius to demand from the Latin allies
15,000 infantry and 800 cavalry. C. Matienus and C. Lucretius were
appointed to the naval command and ships were fitted out for them.
Matienus, who was to command it in the Gulf of Gaul, was also ordered to
bring his fleet as soon as possible down to the coast of Liguria in case it
could be of any assistance to L. Aemilius and his army.
