een or heard. However, when the
Romans saw themselves surrounded on all sides, either by the enemy or the
lake, the impossibility of saving their lives by flight roused their
courage, and both parties began the fight with astonishing animosity.
Their fury was so great, that not a soldier in either army perceived an
earthquake which happened in that country, and buried whole cities in
ruins. In this confusion, Flaminius being slain by one of the Insubrian
Gauls, the Romans began to give ground, and at last fairly fled. Great
numbers, endeavouring to save themselves, leaped into the lake; whilst
others, directing their course towards the mountains, fell into the
enemy's hands whom they strove to avoid. Six thousand only cut their way
through the conquerors, and retreated to a place of safety; but the next
day they were taken prisoners. In this battle fifteen thousand Romans were
killed, and about ten thousand escaped to Rome by different roads.
Hannibal sent back the Latins, who were allies of the Romans, into their
own country, without demanding the least ransom. He commanded search to be
made for the body of Flaminius, in order to give it burial; but it could
not be found. He afterwards put his troops into quarters of refreshment,
and solemnized the funerals of thirty of his chief officers who were
killed in the battle. He lost in all but fifteen hundred men, most of whom
were Gauls.

Immediately after, Hannibal despatched a courier to Carthage, with the
news of his good success hitherto in Italy. This caused the greatest joy
for the present, gave birth to the most promising hopes with regard to the
future, and revived the courage of all the citizens. They now prepared,
with incredible ardour, to send into Italy and Spain all necessary
succours.

Rome, on the contrary, was filled with universal grief and alarm, as soon
as the praetor had pronounced from the rostra the following words, "We have
lost a great battle." The senate, studious of nothing but the public
welfare, thought that in so great a calamity and so imminent a danger,
recourse must be had to extraordinary remedies. They therefore appointed
Quintus Fabius dictator, a person as conspicuous for his wisdom as his
birth. It was the custom at Rome, that the moment a dictator was
nominated, all authority ceased, that of the tribunes of the people
excepted. M. Minucius was appointed his general of horse. We are now in
the second year of the war.

_Hannibal's Con