24.13
While
Hannibal was at Lake Avernus he was visited by five young nobles from
Tarentum who had been made prisoners, some at Trasumennus and the
others at Cannae, and afterwards sent to their homes with the same
courteous treatment that the Carthaginian had shown to all the allies of
Rome. They told him that they had not forgotten his kindness, and out of
gratitude had persuaded most of the younger men in Tarentum to choose the
friendship and alliance of Hannibal in preference to that of the Romans; they
had been sent by their compatriots to ask him to march his army nearer to
Tarentum. "If only," they declared, "your standards and camp are visible at
Tarentum, there will be no hesitation in making the city over to you. The
populace is in the hands of the younger men, and the government of
Tarentum is in the hands of the populace." Hannibal expressed his warm
approval of their sentiments, loaded them with splendid promises, and bade
them return home to mature their plans. He would himself be with them at
the right time. With this hope the Tarentines were dismissed. Hannibal
himself was extremely anxious to gain possession of Tarentum; he saw that it
was a wealthy and famous city, and, what was more, it was a maritime city
on the coast opposite Macedonia, and as the Romans were holding
Brundisium, this would be the port that King Philip would make for if he
sailed to Italy. After performing the sacred rites which were the object of his
coming, and having during his stay laid waste the territory of Cumae as far
as the promontory of Misenum, he suddenly marched to Puteoli, hoping to
surprise the Roman garrison. There were 6000 troops there, and the place
was not only one of great strength, but had also been strongly fortified. The
Carthaginian spent three days there in attempting the fortress on every side,
and as he met with no success he proceeded to ravage the district round
Naples, more out of disappointed rage than in hopes of gaining possession of
the city. The populace of Nola, who had long been disaffected towards
Rome and at variance with their own senate, were greatly excited by his
presence in a territory so close to their own. Their envoys accordingly came
to invite Hannibal and brought him a positive assurance that the city would
be delivered up to him. Their design was forestalled by the consul Marcellus,
who had been summoned by the leading citizens. In one day he marched
from Cales to Suessula in spite of the delay involved in crossing the
Vulturnus, and the following night he threw into Nola 6000 infantry and 500
cavalry as a protection to the senate. While the consul was acting with the
utmost energy in making Nola safe against attack, Hannibal was losing time,
and after two unsuccessful attempts was less inclined to put faith in the
populace of Nola.
