space in which the Romans, who
were already fatigued, had thrown themselves in disorder; and attacked
them vigorously on both sides, without allowing them time to recover
themselves, or leaving them ground to draw up. In the mean time, the two
wings of the cavalry, having defeated those of the Romans, which were much
inferior to them, and having left in the pursuit of the broken and
scattered squadrons, only as many forces as were necessary to keep them
from rallying, advanced and charged the rear of the Roman infantry, which
being surrounded at once on every side by the enemy's horse and foot was
all cut to pieces, after having fought with unparalleled bravery. AEmilius
being covered with the wounds he had received in the fight, was afterwards
killed by a body of the enemy to whom he was not known; and with him two
quaestors; one and twenty military tribunes; many who had been either
consuls or praetors; Servilius, one of the last year's consuls; Minucius,
the late general of horse to Fabius; and fourscore senators. Above seventy
thousand men fell in this battle;(769) and the Carthaginians, so great was
their fury,(770) did not give over the slaughter, till Hannibal, in the
very heat of it, called out to them several times; "Stop, soldiers, spare
the vanquished." Ten thousand men, who had been left to guard the camp,
surrendered themselves prisoners of war after the battle. Varro the consul
retired to Venusia, with only seventy horse; and about four thousand men
escaped into the neighbouring cities. Thus Hannibal remained master of the
field, he being chiefly indebted for this, as well as for his former
victories, to the superiority of his cavalry over that of the Romans. He
lost four thousand Gauls, fifteen hundred Spaniards and Africans, and two
hundred horse.

Maharbal, one of the Carthaginian generals, advised Hannibal to march
without loss of time directly to Rome, promising him, that within five
days they should sup in the Capitol. Hannibal answering, that it was an
affair which required mature deliberation; "I see," replies Maharbal,
"that the gods have not endowed the same man with all talents. You,
Hannibal, know how to conquer, but not to make the best use of a
victory."(771)

It is pretended that this delay saved Rome and the empire. Many authors,
and among the rest Livy, charge Hannibal, on this occasion, as being
guilty of a capital error. But others, more reserved, are not for
condemning, without eviden