[519] “The Oppian law, proposed by the tribune C. Oppius, under the consulship of Q. Fabius and Tiberius Sempronius (539), in the height of the second Punic war, forbad the women to have for their use more than half an ounce of gold, to wear dresses of different colours, &c., to be driven or carried about Rome, within a radius of seven miles, in a chariot drawn by horses, except to attend the public sacrifices.” This law, being only temporary, was revoked, in spite of the opposition of P. Cato, in 559. (Titus Livius, XXXIV. 1, 6.) [520] Valerius Maximus, I. i. 15. [521] “It was in his cavalry that Hannibal placed all his hopes.” (Polybius, III. 101.)--“Hannibal’s cavalry alone caused the victories of Carthage and the defeats of Rome.” (Polybius, IX. 3.)--“The loss of 500 Numidians was felt more by Hannibal than any other check, and from that time he had no longer the superiority in cavalry which had previously given him so much advantage” (543). (Titus Livius, XXVI. 38.) [522] “Hannibal remembered how he had failed before Placentia.” (Titus Livius, XXVII. 39.) [523] Titus Livius, XXIII. 15 and 18.--Hannibal reduced by famine the fortresses of Casilinum and Nuceria; as to the citadel of Tarentum, it resisted five years, and could not be taken by force. (Titus Livius, XXVII. 25.) [524] “Hannibal descends towards Naples, having at heart to secure a maritime place to receive succours from Africa.” (Titus Livius, XXIII. 15.) [525] Polybius, III. 106. [526] Appian, _Wars of Hannibal_, 26. [527] Plutarch, _Marcellus_, 11, 33. [528] Titus Livius, XXVII. 49. [529] Appian, _Wars of Hannibal_, 54.