§23.20.1Casilinum oppidum redditum Campanis est, firmatur septingentorum militum de exercitu Hannibalis praesidio, ne, ubi Poenus inde abscessisset, Romani oppugnarent.
The town of Casilinum was restored to the Campanians, and was strengthened by a garrison of seven hundred soldiers from Hannibal's army, lest, when the Carthaginian had departed from there, the Romans should attack it.
§23.20.2Praenestinis militibus senatus Romanus duplex stipendium et quinquennii militiae uacationem decrevit; civitate cum donarentur ob virtutem, non mutaverunt.
The Roman senate decreed double pay and a five-year exemption from military service for the Praenestine soldiers; when they were presented with Roman citizenship because of their valor, they did not change it.
§23.20.3Perusinorum casus obscurior fama est, quia nec ipsorum monumento ullo est inlustratus nec decreto Romanorum.
The fate of the Perusines is less known by report, because it was not illustrated by any monument of their own, nor by any decree of the Romans.
§23.20.4eodem tempore Petelinos qui uni ex Bruttiis manserant in amicitia Romana, non Carthaginienses modo, qui regionem obtinebant, sed Bruttii quoque ceteri ob separata ab se consilia oppugnabant.
At the same time, the Petelini, who alone of the Bruttians had remained in friendship with Rome, were being attacked not only by the Carthaginians, who held the region, but also by the rest of the Bruttians on account of their separate counsels from them.
§23.20.5quibus cum obsistere malis nequirent Petelini, legatos Romam ad praesidium petendum miserunt.
Since the Petelini could not resist these evils, they sent ambassadors to Rome to ask for protection.
quorum preces lacrimaeque in questus enim flebiles, cum sibimet ipsi consulere iussi sunt, sese in vestibulo curiae profuderunt — ingentem misericordiam patribus ac populo moverunt.
Their prayers and tears—for, when they were ordered to consult for themselves, they poured themselves out in mournful complaints in the vestibule of the Senate House—excited great pity in both the senators and the people.
§23.20.6consultique iterum a M. Aemilio praetore patres circumspectis omnibus imperii viribus fateri coacti, nihil iam longinquis sociis in se praesidii esse, redire domum fideque ad ultimum expleta consulere sibimet ipsos in reliquum pro praesenti fortuna iusserunt.
The senators, being consulted again by the praetor M. Aemilius, having surveyed all the resources of the empire, were forced to confess that there was no longer any protection for distant allies in them; and they ordered them to return home and, since their loyalty had been fulfilled to the last, to consult for themselves for the future in accordance with their present fortune.
§23.20.7haec postquam renuntiata legatio Petelinis est, tantus repente maeror pavorque senatum eorum cepit, ut pars profugiendi, qua quisque posset, §23.20.8ac deserendae urbis auctores essent, pars, quando deserti a veteribus sociis essent, adiungendi se ceteris Bruttiis ac per eos dedendi Hannibali.
After this embassy was reported back to the Petelini, so great a grief and fear suddenly seized their senate, that one party was in favor of fleeing, wherever each one could, and of abandoning the city; another party, since they had been deserted by their ancient allies, was in favor of joining themselves to the rest of the Bruttians, and of surrendering to Hannibal through them.
§23.20.9vicit tamen ea pars quae nihil raptim nec temere agendum consulendumque de integro censuit.
Nevertheless, that party prevailed which judged that nothing should be done hastily or rashly, and that they should deliberate anew.
§23.20.10relata postero die per minorem trepidationem re tenuerunt optimates, ut convectis omnibus ex agris urbem ac muros firmarent.
On the following day, when the matter was brought up again amid less panic, the aristocrats carried their point, that they should strengthen the city and the walls, having gathered everything from the fields.