Effects of the victory.--Public opinion at Rome.--Expectations of Pyrrhus.--His mistake.--Cineas sent an embassador to Rome.--Cineas's plans for bribing the Roman senators.--Speech of Cineas in the Roman senate.--Debate in the senate.--An incident of the discussion.--Appius Claudius is brought on a bed to the senate.--Speech of Appius Claudius.--Effect of his speech on the senate.--Cineas makes report of his mission.--Fabricius sent to Pyrrhus.--His reception.--The elephant concealed in the tent.--Pyrrhus makes great offers to Fabricius.--The Roman armies advance.--The two generals.--The armies encamp in sight of each other.--His military honors.--Story of Decius Mus.--The vision.--Extraordinary alternative proposed.--The two consuls draw lots.--Decius sacrifices himself.--Superstitious fears of the soldiers.--Decius Mus.--Reply of Decius Mus to Pyrrhus.--The Romans afraid of the elephants.--The battle.--The elephants.--War chariots.--Doubtful victory.--Winter-quarters.--Nicias.--Pyrrhus's physician.--His treachery.--A generous exchange of prisoners.--No peace. The result of the battle on the banks of the Siris, decisive and complete as the victory was on the part of the Greeks, produced, of course, a very profound sensation at Rome. Instead, however, of discouraging and disheartening the Roman senate and people, it only aroused them to fresh energy and determination. The victory was considered as wholly due to the extraordinary military energy and skill of Pyrrhus, and not to any superiority of the Greek troops over those of the Romans in courage, in discipline, or in efficiency in the field. In fact, it was a saying at Rome at the time, that it was Lævinus that had been conquered by Pyrrhus in the battle, and not the Romans by the Greeks. The Roman government, accordingly, began immediately to enlist new recruits, and to make preparations for a new campaign, more ample and complete, and on a far greater scale than before.