27.40
The
consuls left for the front, each by a separate route, and their departure was
watched with feelings of painful anxiety. Men realised that the republic had
two wars on its hands simultaneously; they recalled the disasters which
followed upon Hannibal's appearance in Italy, and wondered what gods
would be so propitious to the City and the empire as to grant victory over
two enemies at once in widely distant fields. Up till now heaven had
preserved it by balancing victories against defeats. When the cause of Rome
had been brought to the ground in Italy at Thrasymenus and at Cannae, the
successes in Spain raised it up once more; when reverse after reverse had
been sustained in Spain and the State lost its two generals and the greater
part of both their armies, the many successes achieved in Italy and Sicily
stayed the collapse of the battered republic, whilst the distance at which that
unsuccessful war was waged in the remotest corner of the world afforded in
itself a breathing space. Now they had two wars on hand, both in Italy; two
generals who bore illustrious names were closing round Rome; the whole
weight of the peril, the whole burden of the conflict had settled down on one
spot. The one who was first victorious would in a few days unite his forces
with the other. Such were the gloomy forebodings, and they were deepened
by the recollections of the past year made so mournful by the death of both
consuls. In this depressed and anxious mood the population escorted the
consuls to the gates of the City, as they left for their respective provinces.
There is an utterance recorded of M. Livius which shows his bitter feeling
towards his fellow-citizens. When on his departure Q. Fabius warned him
against giving battle before he knew the sort of enemy he had to meet, Livius
is said to have replied that he would fight as soon as he caught sight of the
enemy. When asked why he was in such a hurry he said: "Either I shall win
special distinction from conquering such an enemy or a well-earned if not
very honourable pleasure from the defeat of my fellow-citizens." Before the
consul Claudius Nero arrived in his province, Hannibal, who was marching
just outside the frontiers of the territory of Larinum on his way to the
Sallentini, was attacked by C. Hostilius Tubulus. His light infantry created
considerable disorder amongst the enemy, who were not prepared for action;
4000 of them were slain, and nine standards captured. Q. Claudius had
quartered his troops in various cities in the Sallentine district, and on hearing
of the enemy's approach he quitted his winter quarters and took the field
against him. Not wishing to meet both armies at once, Hannibal left the
neighbourhood by night, and withdrew into Bruttium. Claudius marched
back into the Sallentine territory, and Hostilius while on his way to Capua
met the consul Claudius Nero near Venusia. Here a corps d'elite was
selected from both armies, consisting of 40,000 infantry and 2500 cavalry,
which the consul intended to employ against Hannibal. The rest of the troops
Hostilius was ordered to take to Capua and then hand them over to Q.
Fulvius the proconsul.
