§27.43.1inter haec ab Hasdrubale, postquam a Placentiae obsidione abscessit, quattuor Galli equites, duo Numidae cum litteris missi ad Hannibalem cum per medios hostes totam ferme longitudinem Italiae emensi essent, §27.43.2dum Metapontum cedentem Hannibalem sequuntur, incertis itineribus Tarentum delati a vagis per agros pabulatoribus Romanis ad Q. Claudium propraetorem deducuntur.
In the meantime, four Gallic horsemen and two Numidians, who had been sent by Hasdrubal with a letter to Hannibal after he withdrew from the siege of Placentia, when they had traversed almost the entire length of Italy through the midst of the enemy, while they were following Hannibal as he retreated to Metapontum, having strayed to Tarentum by uncertain routes, were brought to the propraetor Quintus Claudius by Roman foragers wandering through the fields.
§27.43.3eum primo incertis inplicantes responsis, ut metus tormentorum admotus fateri vera coegit, edocuerunt litteras se ab Hasdrubale ad Hannibalem ferre.
At first they perplexed him with evasive answers, but when the fear of torture, being brought near, compelled them to confess the truth, they informed him that they were carrying a letter from Hasdrubal to Hannibal.
§27.43.4cum iis litteris sicut erant signatis L. Verginio tribuno militum ducendi ad Claudium consulem traduntur.
They were delivered, along with that letter, sealed just as it was, to Lucius Verginius, a military tribune, to be conducted to the consul Claudius.
§27.43.5duae simul turmae Samnitium praesidii causa missae.
At the same time, two troops of Samnites were sent for the sake of a guard.
qui ubi ad consulem pervenerunt, litteraeque lectae per interpretem sunt, et ex captivis percunctatio facta, §27.43.6tum Claudius non id tempus esse rei publicae ratus, quo consiliis ordinariis provinciae suae quisque finibus per exercitus suos cum hoste destinato ab senatu bellum gereret; §27.43.7audendum ac novandum aliquid inprovisum, inopinatum, quod coeptum non minorem apud cives quam hostes terrorem faceret, perpetratum in magnam laetitiam ex magno metu verteret, §27.43.8litteris Hasdrubalis Romam ad senatum missis simul et ipse patres conscriptos, quid pararet, edocet: §27.43.9ut, cum in Umbria se occursurum Hasdrubal fratri scribat, legionem a Capua Romam arcessant, dilectum Romae habeant, exercitum urbanum ad Narniam hosti opponant.
When they arrived at the consul's, and the letter was read by an interpreter, and an interrogation was made of the prisoners, then Claudius, thinking that it was not such a time for the republic in which each person, by ordinary plans, within the boundaries of his own province, should wage war through his own armies with the enemy assigned to him by the senate; that something unforeseen, unexpected, bold and novel must be dared, which, when begun, would create no less terror among the citizens than the enemy, but, when accomplished, would turn great fear into great joy; having sent Hasdrubal's letter to the senate at Rome, he at the same time informed the conscript fathers what he was preparing to do: namely, that since Hasdrubal wrote that he would meet his brother in Umbria, they should summon a legion from Capua to Rome, hold a levy in Rome, and oppose the city army to the enemy at Narnia.
§27.43.10haec senatui scripta.
These things were written to the senate.
praemissi item per agrum Larinatem Marrucinum Frentanum Praetutianum, qua exercitum ducturus erat, ut omnes ex agris urbibusque commeatus paratos militi ad vescendum in viam deferrent, equos iumentaque alia producerent, ut vehiculorum fessis copia esset.
Messengers were likewise sent ahead through the territory of Larinum, the Marrucini, the Frentani, and the Praetutii, where he was about to lead his army, so that all should bring down from the fields and cities to the road provisions ready for the soldiers to eat, and bring out horses and other beasts of burden, so that there might be an abundance of vehicles for those who were tired.
§27.43.11ipse de toto exercitu civium sociorumque quod roboris erat delegit, sex milia peditum, mille equites; pronuntiat occupare se in Lucanis proximam urbem Punicumque in ea praesidium velle: ut ad iter parati omnes essent.
He himself, from the entire army of citizens and allies, chose what was of strength, six thousand infantry and a thousand cavalry; he announced that he wished to seize the nearest city in Lucania and the Carthaginian garrison in it, so that all might be prepared for the march.
§27.43.12profectus nocte flexit in Picenum.
Setting out at night, he turned into Picenum.
et consul quidem quantis maximis itineribus poterat ad conlegam ducebat relicto Q. Catio legato, qui castris praeesset.
And the consul, indeed, led his men to his colleague by the greatest possible marches, leaving behind the legate Quintus Catius to command the camp.