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

8. The relentlessness of this punishment outraged two of the most important Greek cities in Italy, both as states and personally as well, whenever [2??] individuals were connected either by relationship or friendship with those who were so cruelly executed. [3] Of those so connected some thirteen noble youths of Tarentum formed a conspiracy, and Nico and Philemenus were the leaders. [4] Thinking that they ought to confer with Hannibal before taking any step, these men left the city by night under pretext of hunting and set out to go to him. [5] And when they were not far from his camp, the rest concealed themselves in the woods near the road; but Nico [p. 369]and Philemenus advanced to the outposts, were¹ seized and at their own request brought before Hannibal. After explaining the reasons for their plan and what they were plotting, they were warmly commended and loaded with promises. In order to make their fellow-citizens believe they had left the city to forage, they were bidden to drive to the city cattle belonging to the Carthaginians which had been turned out to graze. Promise was given that they would do so in safety and without a conflict. [6] The young men's booty attracted attention, and less astonishment was caused by their making the same venture again and again. [7] On meeting Hannibal again they had his formal assurance that the Tarentines as free men should have their own laws and all their possessions, and pay no tribute to the Carthaginians nor admit a garrison against their own wish; [8] that houses occupied by Romans should be handed over, together with the garrison, and be assigned to the Carthaginians. [9] So much agreed upon, Philemenus thereafter made it his more constant habit to leave the city and return to it by night. In fact he was noted for his devotion to the chase, and his hounds and other equipment would follow him. Usually he carried back something he had taken or that the enemy had brought him by agreement, and he would give it either to the commandant or to the gate-guards. [10] They believed that he came and went preferably by night for fear of the enemy.

[11] When the thing had become so habitual that the gate was opened at whatever hour of the night he gave the signal by a whistle, it seemed to Hannibal to be the time for action. [12] He was at a distance of three days' march, and there he played the invalid, that his [p. 371]keeping a fixed camp so long in one and the same² place might cause less wonder. [13] ' The Romans also on garrison duty at Tarentum had ceased to find such prolonged inaction suspicious.