27.9
The
deportation of the soldiers to Sicily, most of whom belonged to the Latin
and the allied nationalities, very nearly caused a great rising; so often do
small occasions involve serious consequences. Meetings were held amongst
the Latins and the allied communities in which they complained loudly that
for ten years they had been drained by levies and war-taxes; every year they
fought only to sustain a great defeat, those who were not killed in battle
were carried off by sickness. A fellow-citizen who was enlisted by the
Romans was more lost to them than one who had been made prisoner by the
Carthaginians, for the latter was sent back to his home without ransom, the
former was sent out of Italy into what was really exile rather than military
service. There the men who had fought at Cannae had been for eight years
wearing out their lives, and there they would die before the enemy, who had
never been stronger than he was today, quitted Italian soil. If the old soldiers
were not to return, and fresh ones were always being enlisted, there would
soon be nobody left. They would be compelled therefore, before they
reached the last stage of depopulation and famine, to refuse to Rome what
the necessities of their situation would very soon make it impossible to grant.
If the Romans saw that this was the unanimous determination of their allies,
they would assuredly begin to think about making peace with Carthage.
Otherwise Italy would never be free from war as long as Hannibal was alive.
Such was the general tone of the meetings. There were at the time thirty
colonies belonging to Rome. Twelve of these announced to the consuls
through their representatives in Rome that they had no means from which to
furnish either men or money. The colonies in question were Ardea, Nepete,
Sutrium, Alba, Carseoli, Sora, Suessa, Cercei, Setia, Cales, Narnia and
Interamna.
The consuls, startled by this unprecedented step, wanted to frighten
them out of such a detestable course, and thought that they would succeed
better by uncompromising sternness than by adopting gentle methods. "You
colonists," they said, "have dared to address us, the consuls, in language
which we cannot bring ourselves to repeat openly in the senate, for it is not
simply a refusal of military obligations, but an open revolt against Rome.
You must go back to your respective colonies at once, while your treason is
still confined to words, and consult your people. You are not Capuans or
Tarentines, but Romans, from Rome you sprang, from Rome you have been
planted in colonies on land taken from the enemy, in order that you may
augment her dominion. Whatever duties children owe to their parents, you
owe to Rome, if indeed you feel a spark of affection for her or cherish any
memories of your mother country. So you must begin your deliberations
afresh, for what you are now so recklessly contemplating means the betrayal
of the sovereignty of Rome and the surrender of victory into the hands of
Hannibal." Such were the arguments which each of the consuls advanced at
considerable length, but they produced no impression. The envoys said that
there was no reply for them to take home, nor was there any other policy for
their senate to consider since there was not a man left for conscription nor
any money for his pay. As the consuls saw that their determination was
unshaken they brought the matter before the senate. Here such general
consternation and alarm were felt that most of the senators declared that the
empire was doomed, other colonies would take the same course, as would
also the allies; all had agreed together to betray the City of Rome to
Hannibal.