§26.8.1id priusquam fieret, ita futurum conpertum ex transfugis Fulvius Flaccus senatui Romam scripsisset, varie animi hominum pro cuiusque ingenio adfecti sunt.
Before this should happen, when Fulvius Flaccus had written to the senate at Rome that it had been learned from deserters that it would so happen, the minds of men were variously affected according to each one's character.
§26.8.2ut in re tam trepida senatu extemplo vocato P. Cornelius, cui Asinae cognomen erat, omnes duces exercitusque ex tota Italia neque Capuae neque ullius alterius rei memor ad urbis praesidium revocabat; §26.8.3Fabius Maximus abscedi a Capua terrerique et circumagi ad nutus comminationesque Hannibalis flagitiosum ducebat: §26.8.4qui ad Cannas victor ire tamen ad urbem ausus non esset, eum a Capua repulsum spem potiundae urbis Romae cepisse!
As is usual in so alarming a situation, the senate having been immediately summoned, Publius Cornelius, whose cognomen was Asina, was for recalling all commanders and armies from the whole of Italy for the protection of the city, mindful neither of Capua nor of any other matter; Fabius Maximus deemed it disgraceful to depart from Capua, to be terrified, and to be driven about at the beck and threats of Hannibal: that he who, as victor at Cannae, had nevertheless not dared to go to the city, should, having been repulsed from Capua, conceive the hope of capturing the city of Rome!
§26.8.5non ad Romam obsidendam, sed ad Capuae liberandam obsidionem ire.
[He argued] that he was marching not to besiege Rome, but to raise the siege of Capua.
Romam cum eo exercitu, qui ad urbem esset, Iovem foederum ruptorum ab Hannibale testem deosque alios defensuros esse.
Rome, together with that army which was at the city, Jupiter, the witness of the treaties broken by Hannibal, and the other gods would defend.
§26.8.6has diversas sententias media sententia P. Valerii Flacci vicit, qui utriusque rei memor imperatoribus, qui ad Capuam essent, scribendum censuit, quid ad urbem praesidii esset; quantas autem Hannibal copias duceret aut quanto exercitu ad Capuam obsidendam opus esset, ipsos scire.
These conflicting opinions were defeated by the middle opinion of Publius Valerius Flaccus, who, mindful of both matters, voted that they should write to the commanders who were at Capua, stating what protection there was for the city; but as to how great forces Hannibal was leading, or how large an army was needed for besieging Capua, they themselves knew.
§26.8.7si ita Romam e ducibus alter et exercitus pars mitti posset, ut ab reliquo et duce et exercitu Capua recte obsideretur, inter se compararent Claudius Fulviusque, §26.8.8utri obsidenda Capua, utri ad prohibendam obsidione patriam Romam veniundum esset.
If one of the generals and a part of the army could be sent to Rome in such a way that Capua might be properly besieged by the remaining general and army, Claudius and Fulvius should arrange between themselves which of them should besiege Capua, and which should come to Rome to prevent their country from being besieged.
§26.8.9hoc senatus consulto Capuam perlato Q. Fulvius proconsul, cui, collega ex vulnere aegro, digrediundum Romam erat, e tribus exercitibus milite electo, ad quindecim milia peditum, mille equites Vulturnum traducit.
When this decree of the senate was brought to Capua, the proconsul Quintus Fulvius, who, since his colleague was ill from a wound, had to depart for Rome, having selected soldiers from the three armies, led about fifteen thousand infantry and a thousand cavalry across the Volturnus.
§26.8.10inde cum Hannibalem Latina via iturum satis comperisset, ipse per Appiae municipia quaeque propter eam viam sunt, Setiam, Coram, Lauinium praemisit, §26.8.11ut commeatus paratos et in urbibus haberent et ex agris deviis in viam proferrent praesidiaque in urbes contraherent, ut sua cuique res publica in manu esset.
Then, when he had sufficiently ascertained that Hannibal would go by the Latin Way, he himself sent word ahead through the municipalities of the Appian Way and those which are near that road, namely Setia, Cora, and Lanuvium, that they should keep provisions prepared and in their cities, and bring them from the out-of-the-way fields into the road, and draw their guards into the cities, so that each one's state might be in his own hand.