Praemissi (nuntii) 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 {5} vehiculorum fessis copia esset. Ipse de toto exercitu civium sociorumque quod roboris erat delegit, sex milia peditum, mille equites. . . . Et hercule per instructa omnia ordinibus virorum mulierumque undique ex agris effusorum, inter vota ac preces et {10} laudes ibant: illos praesidia rei publicae, vindices urbis Romanae imperiique appellabant; in illorum armis dextrisque suam liberorumque suorum salutem ac libertatem repositam esse. Deos omnes deasque precabantur, ut illis faustum iter, felix pugna, matura {15} ex hostibus victoria esset, damnarenturque ipsi votorum, quae pro iis suscepissent, ut, quem ad modum nunc solliciti prosequerentur eos, ita paucos post dies laeti ovantibus victoria obviam irent. Invitare inde pro se quisque et offerre et fatigare {20} precibus, ut quae ipsis iumentisque usui essent, ab se potissimum sumerent; benigne omnia cumulata dare. Modestia certare milites, ne quid ultra usum necessarium sumerent; nihil morari, nec abscedere ab signis nec subsistere nisi cibum capientes: diem {25} ac noctem ire; vix quod satis ad naturale desiderium corporum esset, quieti dare. LIVY, xxvii. 43, 45 (sel.) +Context.+ Nero, on hearing from the captured Numidian horsemen of Hasdrubal’s march and plans--to meet Hannibal in Umbria and then to march on Narnia and Rome--with 6000 picked foot and 1000 horse withdrew secretly from his camp before Hannibal at Canusium, and by a forced march joined his colleague Livius at the Metaurus. [Linenotes: 1-2. +Larinatem+, etc., districts lying between Apulia and Umbria, but not given in their geographical order. 15. +faustum+ (for _favostus_, _fav-eo_) = that which is done under the blessing of the gods: +felix+ = that which succeeds in consequence of having this blessing upon it. --Stephenson. 16-17. +damnarentur ... votorum+ = _condemned (to pay) their vows_. Cf. Verg. _Voti reus_ = _bound to my vow_, i.e. bound to fulfilment. 23. +Modestia certare+ (sc. _cum iis_) +... sumerent+ = _the soldiers were as moderate as they were pressing, refusing to take anything_ ...--S.] ‘Nero showed a resolution and a strategic ability which far surpassed the average qualifications of Roman generals.’ --Ihne. C36 SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C. _The Metaurus, 207 B.C._