23.14
As
usual, however, in seasons of prosperity, these measures were executed with
great remissness and dilatoriness. The Romans, on the other hand, were kept
from being dilatory by their native energy and still more by the necessities of
their position. The consul did not fail in any single duty which he had to
perform, nor did the Dictator show less energy. The force now available
comprised the two legions which had been enrolled by the consuls at the
beginning of the year, a levy of slaves and the cohorts which had been raised
in the country of Picenum and Cisalpine Gaul. The Dictator decided to still
further increase his strength by adopting a measure to which only a country
in an almost hopeless state could stoop, when honour must yield to
necessity. After duly discharging his religious duties and obtaining the
necessary permission to mount his horse, he published an edict that all who
had been guilty of capital offences or who were in prison for debt and were
willing to serve under him would by his orders be released from punishment
and have their debts cancelled. 6000 men were raised in this way, and he
armed them with the spoils taken from the Gauls and which had been carried
in the triumphal procession of C. Flaminius. He then started from the City
with 25,000 men. After taking over Capua, and making another fruitless
appeal to the hopes and fears of Neapolis, Hannibal marched into the
territory of Nola. He did not at once treat it in a hostile manner as he was
not without hope that the citizens would make a voluntary surrender, but if
they delayed, he intended to leave nothing undone which could cause them
suffering or terror. The senate, especially its leading members, were faithful
supporters of the Roman alliance, the populace as usual were all in favour of
revolting to Hannibal; they conjured up the prospect of ravaged fields and a
siege with all its hardships and indignities; nor were there wanting men who
were actively instigating a revolt. The senate were afraid that if they openly
opposed the agitation they would not be able to withstand the popular
excitement, and they found a means of putting off the evil day by pretending
to go with the mob. They represented that they were in favour of revolting
to Hannibal, but nothing was settled as to the conditions on which they were
to enter into a new treaty and alliance. Having thus gained time, they sent
delegates in great haste to Marcellus Claudius the praetor, who was with his
army at Casilinum, to inform him of the critical position of Nola, how their
territory was in Hannibal's hand, and the city would be in the possession of
the Carthaginians unless it received succour. and how the senate, by telling
the populace that they might revolt when they pleased. had made them less
in a hurry to do so. Marcellus thanked the delegates and told them to adhere
to the same policy and postpone matters till he arrived. He then left
Casilinum for Caiatia and from there he marched across the Vulturnus,
through the districts of Saticula and Trebia, over the hills above Suessula,
and so arrived at Nola.
