ring which the beasts of burden were dying
with hunger; there being no food for them on these mountains buried under
eternal snows. At last they came into cultivated and fruitful spots, which
yielded plenty of forage for the horses, and all kinds of food for the
soldiers.

_Hannibal enters Italy._--When Hannibal entered into Italy, his army was
not near so numerous as when he left Spain, where we have seen it amounted
to near sixty thousand men.(746) It had sustained great losses during the
march, either in the battles it was forced to fight, or in the passage of
rivers. At his departure from the Rhone, it still consisted of
thirty-eight thousand foot, and above eight thousand horse. The march over
the Alps destroyed near half this number; so that Hannibal had now
remaining only twelve thousand Africans, eight thousand Spanish foot, and
six thousand horse. This account he himself caused to be engraved on a
pillar near the promontory called Lacinium. It was five months and a half
since his first setting out from New Carthage, including the fortnight he
employed in marching over the Alps, when he set up his standards in the
plains of the Po, at the entrance of Piedmont. It might then be September.

His first care was to give his troops some rest, which they very much
wanted. When he perceived that they were fit for action, the inhabitants
of the territories of Turin(747) refusing to conclude an alliance with
him, he marched and encamped before their chief city; carried it in three
days, and put all who had opposed him to the sword. This expedition struck
the barbarians with so much dread, that they all came voluntarily, and
surrendered at discretion. The rest of the Gauls would have done the same,
had they not been awed by the terror of the Roman arms, which were now
approaching. Hannibal thought therefore that he had no time to lose; that
it was his interest to march up into the country, and attempt some great
exploit; such as might inspire those who should have an inclination to
join him with confidence.

The rapid progress which Hannibal had made, greatly alarmed Rome, and
caused the utmost consternation throughout the city. Sempronius was
ordered to leave Sicily, and hasten to the relief of his country; and P.
Scipio, the other consul, advanced by forced marches towards the enemy,
crossed the Po, and pitched his camp near the Ticinus.(748)

_Battle of the Cavalry near the Ticinus._--The armies being now in sight,
t