History of Rome

​On the day Hannibal crossed the Volturnus, he pitched his camp not far from the river;

​on the following day he passed by Cales and came into the Sidicine territory. Having delayed there for one day to ravage, he led his army along the Latin Way through the territory of Suessa, Allifae, and Casinum. Under Casinum a stationary camp was held for two days, and ravaging was carried on everywhere.

​Thence, passing by Interamna and Aquinum, they came into the Fregellan territory to the river Liris, where he found the bridge cut down by the Fregellans for the purpose of delaying his march.

​And the river Volturnus had held back Fulvius, who, since the boats had been burned by Hannibal, was with difficulty preparing rafts to transport his army in a great scarcity of timber.

​When the army had been ferried over on rafts, the remainder of the march was easy for Fulvius, as provisions had been kindly laid out not only in the cities but also along the road; and the eager soldiers encouraged one another to quicken their pace, mindful that they were marching to defend their country.

​A messenger from Fregellae, continuing his journey day and night, brought great terror to Rome; a gathering of people, exaggerating what they had heard with idle rumors, excited the whole city in a manner more tumultuous than the actual news warranted.

​The wailing of women was heard not only from private houses, but everywhere the matrons, pouring out into public, ran about the shrines of the gods, sweeping the altars with their disheveled hair, kneeling on their knees, ​stretching their upturned hands to heaven and the gods, and praying that they would snatch the Roman city from the hands of the enemy, and preserve the Roman mothers and little children unhurt.

​The senate was at hand for the magistrates in the forum, in case they wished to consult them. Some received commissions and departed to their respective duties, others offered themselves wherever there might be need of their service. Guards were stationed on the citadel, on the Capitol, on the walls, around the city, and even on the Alban mount and the fortress of Aefula.

​In the midst of this tumult, it was reported that the proconsul Quintus Fulvius had set out from Capua with his army; lest his authority should be diminished if he entered the city, the senate decreed that Quintus Fulvius should have power equal to that of the consuls.

​Hannibal, having ravaged the Fregellan territory more furiously because of the cut bridges, came through the Frusinate, Ferentinate, and Anagnian territories into the Labican.

​Thence from Algidus he sought Tusculum, and not being received within the walls, he went down below Tusculum to the right towards Gabii. Thence, marching his army down into Pupinia, he pitched his camp eight miles from Rome.

​The closer the enemy approached, the greater was the slaughter of the fugitives made by the Numidians who rode in advance, and more people of all ranks and ages were captured.