Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 25
Frank Gardener Moore, Professor Emeritus in Columbia University, Ed.

9. Once he had determined, however, to go to Tarentum, he picked ten thousand infantry and cavalry —the men whom he thought best suited to the enterprise on account of swiftness of foot and lightness of arms —and at the fourth watch of the night got in motion. [2] And he ordered some eighty Numidian horsemen, who were sent in advance, to scour the country near the roads and keep an eye in every direction, that no farmer in the distance might observe the column without being noticed. [3] They were to hold up those ahead of them and slay those they met, so that people living near by might have- the impression of foragers rather than of an army. [4] He himself, after a forced march, pitched camp at a distance of about fifteen miles from Tarentum. And not even there did he announce whither they were going. He merely summoned the soldiers and bade them all to keep to the road and not allow anyone to turn aside or leave his place in the column; and to be especially alert to hear commands and not to do anything without orders from their officers. [5] He would in due time inform them what he wished to have done. About the same hour a rumour had preceded him to Tarentum that a- few Numidian horsemen were ravaging the farms and had inspired widespread alarm among the rustics. [6] On receiving this news the Roman commandant was only so far aroused- as -to command part of the cavalry to go out the next day at dawn, in order to prevent depredations of the enemy. [7] For the rest his attention was so little aroused that [p. 373]on the contrary the raid of the Numidians was to¹ him a proof that Hannibal and the army had not stirred from their camp.

Hannibal broke camp early in the night.² [8] His guide was Philemenus with his usual load of game. The rest of the traitors were waiting for acts previously arranged. [9] It had been agreed, namely, that Philemenus, as he brought in his game by the usual postern, should lead in armed men, while on another side Hannibal should approach the Temenitis Gate. [10] That quarter is toward the inland, facing east; tombs occupy a considerable space inside the walls. As he approached the gate the fire signal was given by Hannibal according to agreement, and in reply from Nico the same signal blazed; then on both sides the flames were extinguished. Hannibal was leading his men silently to the gate. [11] Nico unexpectedly attacks the sleeping sentries in their beds, slays them and opens the gate. Hannibal with his infantry column enters, orders the cavalry to halt, so that [12??] they can meet the enemy in the open, in whatever direction the situation may require. And Philemenus on another side of the city was approaching the postern by which he was accustomed to come and go. [13] His well-known voice and the now familiar signal having aroused a sentry, the little gate was opened for Philemenus, just as he was saying they could scarcely carry the weight of a huge beast. [14] While two young men were carrying in the boar, he himself followed them with a huntsman who was unencumbered, and as the sentry, thrown off his guard by its marvellous size, faced the men who were carrying it, Philemenus ran him through with a hunting spear. [15] Then about thirty armed men [p. 375]entered, cut down the rest of the sentries and broke³ open the neighbouring gate; and the column with its standards at once rushed in. Thence they were marched in silence to the market-place and joined Hannibal. The Carthaginian then sent two thousand Gauls, divided into three units, through the city, and to each he attached two Tarentines as guides. [16] He ordered them to occupy the most frequented streets, and when the uproar had begun, to slay the Romans everywhere, to spare the townspeople. [17] But to make this possible he instructed the young Tarentines, whenever they saw one of their own people in the distance, to bid him be quiet and say nothing and be of good cheer.