ies returned to Hannibal, and the ten former remained, because
they had evaded their oath, having returned to Hannibal after having
set out, under pretence of learning afresh the names of the captives.
That a violent contest took place in the senate, on the question of
surrendering them, and that those who thought they ought to be
surrendered were beaten by a few votes, but that they were so branded
by every kind of stigma and ignominy by the ensuing censors, that some
of them immediately put themselves to death, and the rest, for all
their life afterwards, not only shunned the forum, but almost the
light and publicity. You can more easily wonder that authors differ so
much than determine what is the truth. How much greater this disaster
was than any preceding, even this is a proof, that such of the allies
as had stood firm till that day then began to waver, for no other
cause certainly but that they despaired of the empire. The people who
revolted to the Carthaginians were these: the Atellani, Calatini, the
Hirpini, some of the Apulians, the Samnites, except the Pentrians, all
the Bruttians, and the Lucanians. Besides these the Surrentinians, and
almost the whole coast possessed by the Greeks, the people of
Tarentum, Metapontum, Croton, the Locrians, and all Cisalpine Gaul.
Yet not even these losses and defections of their allies so shook the
firmness of the Romans, that any mention of peace was made among them,
either before the arrival of the consul at Rome, or after he came
thither, and renewed the memory of the calamity they had suffered. At
which very juncture, such was the magnanimity of the state, that the
consul, as he returned after so severe a defeat, of which he himself
was the principal cause, was met in crowds of all ranks of citizens,
and thanks bestowed because he had not despaired of the republic, in
whose case, had he been a Carthaginian commander, no species of
punishment would have been spared.

BOOK XXIII.

_The Campanians revolt to Hannibal. Mago is sent to Carthage to
announce the victory of Cannae. Hanno advises the Carthaginian senate
to make peace with the Romans, but is overborne by the Barcine
faction. Claudius Marcellus the praetor defeats Hannibal at Nola.
Hannibal's army is enervated in mind and body by luxurious living at
Capua. Casilinum is besieged by the Carthaginians, and the inhabitants
reduced to the last extremity of famine. A hundred and ninety-seven
senators elected fro