s the
news, that, whilst he lay encamped at one of the gates of Rome, the Romans
had sent out recruits for the army in Spain at another gate; and that the
ground, whereon his camp was pitched, had been sold, notwithstanding that
circumstance, for its full value. So barefaced a contempt stung Hannibal
to the quick; he, therefore, on the other side, put up to auction the
shops of the goldsmiths round the Forum. After this bravado he retired,
and, in his march, plundered the rich temple of the goddess Feronia.(789)

Capua, thus left to itself, held out but very little longer. After that
such of its senators as had the chief hand in the revolt, and consequently
could not expect any quarter from the Romans, had put themselves to a
truly tragical death,(790) the city surrendered at discretion. The success
of this siege, which, by the happy consequences wherewith it was attended,
proved decisive, and fully restored to the Romans their superiority over
the Carthaginians; displayed, at the same time, how formidable the power
of the Romans was,(791) when they undertook to punish their perfidious
allies; and the feeble protection which Hannibal could afford his friends
at a time when they most wanted it.

(M127) _The Defeat and Death of the two Scipios in Spain._(_792_)--The face
of affairs was very much changed in Spain. The Carthaginians had three
armies in that country; one commanded by Asdrubal, the son of Gisgo; the
second by Asdrubal, son of Hamilcar; and a third under Mago, who had
joined the first Asdrubal. The two Scipios, Cneus and Publius, were for
dividing their forces, and attacking the enemy separately, which was the
cause of their ruin. They agreed that Cneus, with a small number of
Romans, and thirty thousand Celtiberians, should march against Asdrubal,
the son of Hamilcar; whilst Publius, with the remainder of the forces,
composed of Romans and the Italian allies, should advance against the
other two generals.

Publius was vanquished first. To the two leaders whom he had to oppose,
Masinissa, elate with the victories he had lately gained over Syphax,
joined himself; and was to be soon followed by Indibilis, a powerful
Spanish prince. The armies came to an engagement. The Romans, being thus
attacked on all sides at once, made a brave resistance as long as they had
their general at their head; but the moment he fell, the few troops which
had escaped the slaughter, secured themselves by flight.

The three victorio