History of Rome

​When the spoils had been gathered far into the day, Hannibal led his forces to attack the smaller camp, and first of all, by throwing up a breastwork, cut them off from the river.

​However, as everyone was exhausted by labor, watchings, and also wounds, the surrender was made more quickly than his own expectation.

​Having agreed to hand over their arms and horses, and to pay three hundred quadrigati coins for each Roman citizen, two hundred for each ally, and one hundred for each slave, and that upon paying this price they should depart with a single garment each, they admitted the enemy into the camp, and all were delivered into custody, the citizens and allies separately.

​While time was being spent there, meanwhile, since about four thousand infantry and two hundred cavalry had fled from the larger camp (in which there was sufficient strength and courage) to Canusium—some in a body, others dispersing here and there through the fields, which was no less safe—the camp itself was surrendered to the enemy by the wounded and the fearful on the same terms as the other.

​Immense booty was secured; and except for the horses, the men, and whatever silver there was—most of which was on the trappings of the horses, for they used very little silver wrought for eating, especially when on service—all the rest of the booty was given up to be plundered.

​Then he ordered the bodies of his own men to be gathered into one place for burial. They are said to have been about eight thousand of his bravest men. Some authors state that the Roman consul also was searched for and buried.

​Those who had fled to Canusium, who had been received by the Canusians with only walls and roofs, were helped with grain, clothing, and even journey-money by an Apulian woman named Busa, noble in birth and wealth; for which munificence honors were afterwards paid to her by the senate, after the war was finished.