Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 23
Frank Gardener Moore, Professor Emeritus in Columbia University, Ed.

32. The consuls divided the armies between them. To Fabius fell the army at Teanum, formerly commanded by Marcus Junius, the dictator; to Sempronius the slave volunteers¹ who were at that place and twenty-five thousand of the allies. [2] To Marcus Valerius, the praetor, were assigned the legions which had returned from Sicily. Marcus Claudius was sent as proconsul to the army which was above Suessula, in order to guard Nola. The praetors set out for Sicily and Sardinia. [3] The consuls issued an edict that, whenever they might call a meeting of the senate, the senators and any who had the right to give an opinion in the senate² should assemble at the [p. 111]Porta Capena.³ [4] The praetors who had judicial duties⁴ set up their tribunals at the Piscina Publica.⁵ That place should be named —so they ordered —in recognizances,⁶ and there justice was rendered that [5] year.

Meanwhile Carthage, from which Mago,⁷ Hannibal's brother, was on the point of transporting into Italy twelve thousand infantry and fifteen hundred cavalry, twenty elephants and a thousand talents of silver, with a convoy of sixty warships, received the news that in Spain operations [6??] had failed and nearly all the tribes in that province had revolted to the [7] Romans. There were some who, neglecting Italy, were ready to divert Mago to Spain with that fleet and those forces, when there suddenly appeared a ray of hope of recovering [8] Sardinia. It was reported that the Roman army there was small; that the old praetor, Aulus Cornelius, who was well acquainted with the province, was retiring, and a new praetor [9] expected; further, that the Sardinians were now weary of the long continuance of Roman rule, and in the previous year had been ruled with harshness and greed; that they were burdened by a heavy tribute and an unfair requisition of grain; that nothing was lacking but a leader to whom they might go [10] over. Such was the report of a secret embassy sent by the leading men at the special instigation of Hampsicora, who at that time was far above the rest in prestige and [11] wealth. By such news they were almost at the [p. 113]same moment dejected and encouraged, and sent⁸ Mago with his fleet and his forces to [12] Spain. For Sardinia they chose Hasdrubal as general, and voted him about the same number of troops as to Mago.

[13] And at Rome the consuls did what had to be done in the city, and were now bestirring themselves for the [14] war. Tiberius Sempronius set his soldiers a date for mobilization at Sinuessa, and Quintus Fabius, after first consulting the senate, gave orders that all should bring their grain crops⁹ from the farms into fortified cities before the next Kalends of June; that if any man should fail to do so, he would lay waste his farm, sell his slaves at auction and burn the farm [15] buildings. Not even those praetors who had been appointed to administer justice¹⁰ were granted exemption from the conduct of the [16] war. It was decided that Valerius, the praetor, should go to Apulia, to take over the army from Terentius; that when the legions should arrive from Sicily, he should chiefly use these troops for the defence of that region; that Terentius' army should be sent to Tarentum under some one of the [17] lieutenants. And twenty-five ships were given him, that with them he might be able to defend the coast between Brundisium and [18] Tarentum. An equal number of ships was assigned by decree to Quintus Fulvius, the city praetor, for the defence of the shore near the [19] city. Gaius Terentius as proconsul was given the task of conducting a levy of troops in the Picene territory and defending that [20] region. And Titus Otacilius Crassus, after dedicating the Temple of Mens on the Capitol, was sent with full authority to Sicily, where he was to command the fleet.

[p. 115]