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Show 432 -__ i eee ~~ThefifeBokeofsbefnfpat : = - eee m androdc along agreatyvay vader the vvalls, viewing the fite therof, and confidering how hemight beft approachit, But he either. went, or (as the Roman Story faith) yyas driven away, without doing or.receiuing any hurt...Manytumults rofe in this while a. mong the people; but were fuppreffedby care.anddiligence of the. Senators, Abou the ref one accident was both troublefome,and not. vvithout perill.Of Numidians that had thifted fide,and fallen(vpon fome difpleafures)from Haznibalto the Romans,there were fome tweluc hundredthen.in Rome : which vvere appoynted by the Conlils, to pafle through the Fowne, from the Mount Auentineto the Gate Collina, where itwas thought thattheir feruice might be vfefull, among broken wayes, and Gardenwalls] 5 ingin the fuburbs, The f:ces of thefe men, andthcir furniture, wherein they differed 10 not fromthefollowers ofHanwibel; bred fuch miftaking, as caufeda great vproare; a< mong the people: all crying out, that Auentine was taken, andthe enemygotten withs intheyvalls, Thenoyfe was fuch, that men could not be informed ofthe truth: and the ftrcets were fo full of cattell, and husbandmen, which were fled thitheront ofthe Vil. lages adioyning,that the paflage was ftopt vp:and the poore Numidians pitifully bea ten from the houfe toppes, with fQonesand other Weaponsthat camenext to hand, by the defperate multitude, that would haue run. ourat the gates, had it notbeen certaine who lay vader the walls. Toremedythe like inconueniences, it was ordained, That a/l which had beene Dictators, Confuls, or Cenfors, fooula kane authority as Magiftrates, till the Encmsy departed. The day following Harmibal pafled oucr Anien,and prefented bat-29 tell to the Romans, who did notwifely ifthey vndertook it. It is {aid, thata terrible fhowre ofraine, caufed both Romansand Carthaginians to returne intotheir feuerall Camps: artd that this happenedtwo dayes together, the weatherbreaking vp &clears ing as fooneas they were departed afunder: certain it is,that Haznibal,who had brought along with him no more than ten dayes prouifion, could notindure to ftay there, vntill hisvictuals were all {pent. In which regard the Romans, ifthey fuffered him to watt his time and pronifions, knowing that he could not abide there long, did as becamevvell aduifed men: ifthey ofited to fight with him, and either had the bettei, or were par ted (as is faid) by fome accident of weather, che commendations mint be given to their forcune. Theterror of Hannibals coming to the City,how great focuerit wasatthe firlt, yetafterfomeleifure, andbetter notice taken oftheir forces,vvhich appeared leflethan 30 the firftapprehenfion had formed them, was much and foone abated. Hereunto ithelped wel,that at the fame time,the fupply appointed for Spain,after the death ofthe two Cua P.3-9-14. ofthe Hifforie oftheWorld. fpoile he could inthe RomanTerritorie, without {paring religious . places, wherein wealth wasto be gotten,he paffed likea tempeft ouer the Country; and.ran toward the Eafterne'Sea fo faft,that he had almoft taken the Civic of Rhegiu m before his ariiual Was feared or fulpected. As for Capua,he gaueitloft:and is likely to haue, curfedt he whole faétion of Hasno,whichthus difabled himto relicuet hat faire Gitie, fince he had no other wayto venthis griefe, f Q.Falvins returning backe to Capua; made Proclamation anew, that whofo would yeeld, beforeacertaine day, might fately doe it. ‘This, and the very returne ofFaluius, without any more appearance of Hannibal, paue the Capuans to vnderftand, that they 1Owere abandoned, andtheir cafe defperate. Totruft the Roman pardon proclaimed;eue ry mans con{cience ofhis owne euill deferts, told him, that ic was a yanity : and fome faint hope was giuen, by Hanno and Boflar, Captaines ofthe Carthag inian Garrifon within the Towne, that Haasiba/{hould come againe; ifmeane s could onely-be found, howto conueyfuch Letters vnto him,as they would write. The carriage ofthe Letters was vndertaken,by fome Numidians: who running,as fugitiues, out ofthe Towne in- tothe Roman camp, waited fit Opportunity to makean efcape thencewith thei? packers, But it hapnedere they could conueigh thenifelues away,that one ofthem was dete@e d by an harlot following himout ofthe Towne;and the Letters of Boflar and Haazowere taken and opened, containing a vehement intréatieynto Hanzi at, that he would ‘nor 3 ° thus forfake the Capuans and them. For (faid they):we camenot hither to make watre againft Rhegium& Tarentum, but againft che Romans: whofe Legions wherefo eder they lye,thereal{o fhould the Carthaginian Armie be ready toattendthem and bytaking offuch courfe, haue we gotten thofe victories at Trebia, Thrifymene,and Canne, Infine,. they befoughthim, that he would not difhonour himfelfe, and' betray ‘them totheirenemies; by turning another way; asif' it were his onelycare, thar the Citie thould not betaken in hisful view: promifing to makea def{perate fally;ifhe wouldonce Moreaduenture to fet yponithe Roman Campe. Such werethe hopes ofBofar-and his fellow. But Hannibal had already donchis.beft : and now beganne to: faint vnder the bur 3° den ofthat warre, wherein(as afterward he protefted)"he was vanqduifhed: by ‘Ham: 5;5 26} #oand his. Partifans in the Carthaginian: Sengte; rather than by anyforce of Rome. Itmay well be; asa thingincident inlike cafes, chat {ome of thofe which were befieged Scipio's,wasfent out of the rown,& went forth at the gate, whilft one Carthaginianlay before another.Inall Punick terrors, as they are called, whereofthere is cither.no caule in Capua,hadbin fent ouer by the Hannonians, to obferue the doings: ofHaswibal, and to checke his proceedings, If this'werefo) inftly might: they curfetheir owne malice, remedy to doe fomwhat quite contrary to that whichthe danger would require,weteit fuch as men haue fafhioned it in theiramazed conceits, Thus did /exander caule his fouldicrs to difarme themfelues,vyhenthey wereallonafuddenina great feare ofthey ‘ tected vnto Hatiibalfell (as isfhewed) into the Roman Proconfuls hands ; who cutHag offthe hands of all fuch counterfeit fugitines,as'carried {uch meflages, whiptithem acke into the Town. This miferable {peétacle brake the hearts of the Campans,fo that knowne,orno caufe anfwerableto the greatnes ofthe fuddenconfternationsit is agood wiltnot what. Andthus did Clearchus pacifiea foolith vproarein his Army,byprocla-4? ming areward vato him,that could tell who had fent the Affe into the camp. Butin this prefent example ofthe Romans,appearswithalla great magnanimity: wherby theytus ftained their reputation,& augmentedit no leffe,than by this bold attempt ofHannibal itmight fceme to hauebin diminifhed. Neithercould they morefinely haue checked the glorious conceits oftheir enemies,and taken away the diferace of thatfeare,vvict cloudedtheir valour athis firtt comingsthan by making fuch demonttrations,when once : they had recouered fpirit,how littlethey eftcemed him. Tothis purpofe therfore that very piece ofgtound, on which the Carthaginian lay incamped) vvas foldein Rome: and {old itwas nothing ynder the vaiue, butatas gooda rate, as ific had bin in UME. ofpeace, This indignity comming to his eare,incenfed Hasnibal fo much,that he maee port-fale ofthe Siluer-{miths thoppes, vvhich were neerabout the Marker or Com mon placein Rome 38 ifhis owne title tothe houfes vvithin the Town vvere.no " ay Worle, than any Roman Citizens could be vnto that Piece ofground, vvhereon fed his Tent.Buc this counter-practife was nothing vvorth. The Romans did fecktonetaiy mM nifeft that affurance, whichtheyiuftly had conceiued,Hannibal,to make fhew01 COP Ning in an hope,which was already paft. His viduals were almoft {pent : andot 4 €nds,thar he had propofed vnto himfelfthis iourny had broughtforth none othet,t the fame ofhis much dating. Wherefore he brake vp his Campe: and doint which had caftthem inro this remedileffe neceffitie: Howfocuerit were, the Letters di- 4 themultitude crying out vponthe Senate, with menacing termes, caufed themto af- femble, and confult,about the yeelding vp of Capua vntothe Romans.. The braneft of theSenators,and fuch as a few yeets fince had been moft forward in ioyning with Hannibal, ynderftood well enough whereunto the matter tended: "Wherefore one of them inuited the refthometo fupper,;:, tellingthem j that when they had made good cheare, he would drinketothemfuchan health, asfhould fet them free. fromithar ¢ruem teuchge,whichthe Enemies fought ypontheir, bodics.. About {euen and taventy of the Senators there were, that liking wellofthis motion, ended their lines together; -by inking poyfon. Allthe reft hoping formore mercy.than theyshaddeferued,yeelded imply to difcretion. So oae ofthe Town-gates was fet open; whereat'a. Roman: Legi- $9.90 with fome other companies, entring,difarmed the Citizens,apprehendeédthe Cars thaginian garrifon; & commanded.all the Senators of Capua to,goe forth intothe Ros man campezat their coming thither;the, Proconfuls laid-yrons yponithemall; and com manding them totell what fore ofgold.and filucrthey,had at home,fent'theminto fate Cuftodie,fonieto Cales,othersto,Theanum.Touchiagthe general multitude,thiey were teferucd vnto the diferction of the Senate: yet fo hatdly.vied by: Fulwind inthe: meane While, that they. had little caufe ofhope or comfort in this aduerfity.: p.Claidtusswas Proughteuen to the point ofdeath by: she wound whichhe had:Jately receined: yet was © A9tNexorable to the Gampans,ashaning loued themwel.in times; 6cPenns Suen his dauchterin miriage totharPacersaia we {pakefornier beforeBut this facility 5 2 $ |