cities, those whom they had vanquished
in war. Both the consuls, however, first proposed to the senate the
consideration of the state of the commonwealth, and the arrangements
respecting the provinces.

28. On this occasion Laevinus reported the state of Macedonia and
Greece, of the Aetolians, Acarnanians, and Locrians, and the services
he had himself performed there on sea and land. That "Philip, who was
bringing an army against the Aetolians, had been driven back by him
into Macedonia, and compelled to retire into the heart of his kingdom.
That the legion might therefore be withdrawn from that quarter, and
that the fleet was sufficient to keep the king out of Italy." Thus
much he said respecting himself and the province where he had
commanded. The consuls jointly proposed the consideration of the
provinces, when the senate decreed, that, "Italy and the war with
Hannibal should form the province of one of the consuls; that the
other should have the command of the fleet which Titus Otacilius had
commanded, and the province of Sicily, in conjunction with Lucius
Cincius, the praetor." The two armies decreed to them were those in
Etruria and Gaul, consisting of four legions. That the two city
legions of the former year should be sent into Etruria and the two
which Sulpicius, the consul, had commanded, into Gaul; that he should
have the command of Gaul, and the legions there whom the consul, who
had the province of Italy, should appoint. Caius Calpurnius, having
his command continued to him for a year after the expiration of his
praetorship, was sent into Etruria. To Quintus Fulvius also the
province of Capua was decreed, with his command continued for a year.
The army of citizens and allies was ordered to be reduced, so that,
out of two, one legion should be formed consisting of five thousand
foot and three hundred horse, those being discharged who had served
the greatest number of campaigns. That of the allies there should be
left seven thousand infantry and three hundred horse, the same rule
being observed with regard to the periods of their service in
discharging the old soldiers. With Cneius Fulvius, the consul of the
former year, no change was made touching his province of Apulia nor
his army; only he was continued in command for a year. Publius
Sulpicius, his colleague, was ordered to discharge the whole of his
army excepting the marines. It was ordered also, that the army which
Marcus Cornelius had commanded, shou