§25.22.1hae clades super aliam alia Romam cum essent nuntiatae, ingens quidem et luctus et pavor civitatem cepit; sed tamen, quia consules, ubi summa rerum esset, ad id locorum prospere rem gererent, minus his cladibus commovebantur.
When these disasters, one after another, were reported to Rome, a huge grief indeed and panic seized the state; but nevertheless, because the consuls, where the main issue of the war lay, had been conducting affairs successfully up to that time, they were less moved by these disasters.
§25.22.2legatos ad consules mittunt C. Laetorium M. Metilium, §25.22.3qui nuntiarent, ut reliquias duorum exercituum cum cura colligerent darentque operam, ne per metum ac desperationem hosti se dederent, id quod post Cannensem accidisset cladem, et ut desertores de exercitu volonum conquirerent.
They sent Gaius Laetorius and Marcus Metilius as envoys to the consuls, to instruct them to collect the remnants of the two armies with care and to take care that they did not surrender themselves to the enemy through fear and despair—as had happened after the disaster of Cannae—and to search out the deserters from the army of the volunteer slaves.
§25.22.4idem negotii P. Cornelio datum, cui et dilectus mandatus erat, isque per fora conciliabulaque edixit, ut conquisitio volonum fieret iique ad signa reducerentur.
The same task was given to Publius Cornelius, to whom the levy also had been entrusted, and he proclaimed through the forums and meeting-places that a search for the volunteer slaves should be made and that they should be brought back to the standards.
haec omnia intentissima cura acta.
All these things were done with the most intense care.
Ap. Claudius consul D. Iunio ad ostium Vulturni, §25.22.5M. Aurelio Cotta Puteolis praeposito, qui, ut quaeque naves ex Etruria ac Sardinia accessissent, extemplo in castra mitterent frumentum,
Appius Claudius the consul, having placed Decimus Junius at the mouth of the Vulturnus, and Marcus Aurelius Cotta at Puteoli, in order that, as each ship arrived from Etruria and Sardinia, they might immediately send grain to the camp.
§25.22.6ipse ad Capuam regressus Q. Fulvium collegam invenit Casilino omnia deportantem molientemque ad oppugnandam Capuam.
He himself, having returned to Capua, found his colleague Quintus Fulvius bringing everything away from Casilinum and making preparations to besiege Capua.
tum ambo circumsederunt urbem §25.22.7et Claudium Neronem praetorem ab Suessula ex Claudianis castris exciverunt.
Then both invested the city, and summoned Claudius Nero, the praetor, from Suessula from the Claudian camp.
§25.22.8is quoque modico ibi praesidio ad tenendum locum relicto ceteris omnibus copiis ad Capuam descendit.
He also, having left a moderate garrison there to hold the place, descended to Capua with all his remaining forces.
ita tria praetoria circa Capuam erecta; tres exercitus diversis partibus opus adgressi fossa valloque circumdare urbem parant et castella excitant modicis intervallis multisque simul locis cum prohibentibus opera Campanis eo eventu pugnant, §25.22.9ut postremo portis muroque se contineret Campanus.
Thus three headquarters were established around Capua; three armies, having begun the work from different directions, prepared to surround the city with a ditch and a rampart, and raised forts at moderate intervals, and fought in many places at once with the Campanians who tried to prevent the works, with such success that at last the Campanians confined themselves within their gates and walls.
§25.22.10prius tamen, quam haec continuarentur opera, legati ad Hannibalem missi, qui quererentur desertam ab eo Capuam ac prope redditam Romanis obtestarenturque, ut tunc saltem opem non circumsessis modo sed etiam circumvallatis ferret.
Before these works were completed, however, envoys were sent to Hannibal to complain that Capua had been abandoned by him and almost delivered to the Romans, and to entreat him that even then at least he should bring help to men who were not only besieged but even enclosed by ramparts.
§25.22.11consulibus litterae a P. Cornelio praetore missae, ut, priusquam clauderent Capuam operibus, potestatem Campanis facerent, ut, qui eorum vellent, exirent a Capua suasque res secum inde ferrent.
Letters were sent to the consuls by Publius Cornelius the praetor, suggesting that, before they closed Capua with their works, they should give permission to the Campanians that those of them who wished might depart from Capua and carry their property away with them.
§25.22.12liberos fore suaque omnia habituros qui ante idus Martias exissent; post eam diem quique exissent quique ibi mansissent, hostium futuros numero.
Those who left before the Ides of March would be free and keep all their property; those who left after that day, as well as those who remained there, would be counted as enemies.
§25.22.13ea pronuntiata Campanis atque ita spreta, ut ultro contumelias dicerent minarenturque.
This was announced to the Campanians, and was so despised that they even went so far as to utter insults and threats.
§25.22.14Hannibal ab Herdonea Tarentum duxerat legiones spe aut vi aut dolo arcis Tarentinae potiundae; quod ubi parum processit, ad Brundisium flexit iter prodi id oppidum ratus.
Hannibal had led his legions from Herdonea to Tarentum in the hope of gaining possession of the citadel of Tarentum either by force or by stratagem; when this made little progress, he turned his march toward Brundisium, thinking that this town would be betrayed.
§25.22.15ibi quoque cum frustra tereret tempus, legati Campani ad eum venerunt querentes simul orantesque.
While he was wasting time there also in vain, Campanian envoys came to him, both complaining and entreating.
quibus Hannibal magnifice respondit et antea se solvisse obsidionem et nunc adventum suum consules non laturos.
To them Hannibal magnificently replied that he had raised the siege before, and that now the consuls would not withstand his arrival.
§25.22.16cum hac spe dimissi legati vix regredi Capuam iam duplici fossa valloque cinctam potuerunt.
Dismissed with this hope, the envoys were scarcely able to return to Capua, which was already surrounded by a double ditch and a rampart.