26.15
As to
the punishment to be meted out to the senators of Capua, Claudius and
Fulvius were anything but unanimous. Claudius was prepared to grant them
pardon, but Fulvius took a much sterner line. Appius Claudius wished to
refer the whole question to the senate at Rome. He maintained that it was
but right that the senators should have an opportunity of investigating all the
circumstances and finding out whether the Capuans had made any of the
allies or the Latins or the municipal burghs privy to their designs, and if so,
whether any of these had given them assistance in the war. Fulvius, on the
other hand, declared that the very last thing they ought to do was to harass
their faithful allies by vague charges and put them at the mercy of informers
who were perfectly indifferent as to what they said or what they did. Any
such investigation therefore he should stifle. After this interchange of views
they parted, Appius feeling no doubt that in spite of his violent language his
comrade would, in such an important matter, await instructions from Rome.
Fulvius, determined to forestall any such obstacle to his designs, dismissed
the council and ordered the military tribunes and the officers of the allies to
select 2000 horsemen and warn them to be in readiness by the time the third
watch was sounded. Starting with this force in the night, he reached Teanum
at day-break and rode straight into the forum. A crowd had collected at the
first entry of the cavalry, and Fulvius ordered the chief magistrate of the
district to be summoned, and on his appearance commanded him to produce
the Capuans who were in his custody. They were all brought forward and
then scourged and beheaded. Then putting spurs to his horse he rode to
Cales. When he had taken his seat on the tribunal and the Capuans who had
been brought out were being bound to the stake, a mounted messenger
arrived post-haste from Rome and handed Fulvius a despatch from the
praetor C. Calpurnius containing the decree of the senate. The spectators
guessed the nature of the contents, and those standing round the tribunal
expressed their belief -a belief which soon found expression throughout the
Assembly -that the whole question of the treatment of the Capuan prisoners
was to be left to the senate. Fulvius thought so too; he took the letter and
without opening it placed it in his breast and then ordered his marshal to tell
the lictor to carry out the law. Thus, those who were at Cales were also
executed. Now he read the despatch and the decree of the senate. But it was
too late to prevent a deed accomplished, which had been hurried on as
quickly as possible in order that it might not be prevented. Just as Fulvius
was leaving the tribunal a Capuan named Taurea Vibellius strode through the
middle of the crowd and addressed him by name. Fulvius resumed his seat,
wondering what the man wanted. "Order me too," he cried, to be put to
death so that you may boast of having caused the death of a braver man than
yourself." Fulvius declared that the man was certainly out of his mind, and
added that even if he wished to kill him he was prevented from doing so by
the decree of the senate. Then Vibellius exclaimed, "Now that my native city
has been taken, my friends and relations lost to me, my wife and children
slain by my own hand to save them from insult and outrage, and since even
the opportunity of dying as my fellow-countrymen here have died is refused
me, let me seek in courage a release from the life which has become so
hateful to me." With these words he drew out a sword which he had
concealed in his garment, and plunging it into his heart fell dying at the
general's feet.
