that Claudius should hold the election, and Fulvius remain at Capua.  The consuls created by Claudius were Cneius Fulvius Centumalus, and Publius Sulpicius Galba, the son of Servius, who had never exercised any curule magistracy.  After this Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, Marcus Cornelius Cethegus, Caius Sulpicius, and Caius Calpurnius Piso, were created praetors.  Piso had the city jurisdiction; Sulpicius, Sicily; Cethegus, Apulia; Lentulus, Sardinia.  The consuls were continued in command for a year longer.

BOOK XXVI.

Hannibal encamps on the banks of the Amo, within three miles of Rome.  Attended by two thousand horsemen, he advances close to the Colline gate to take a view of the walls and situation of the city.  On two successive days the hostile armies are hindered from engaging by the severity of the weather.  Capua taken by Quintus Fulvius and Appius Claudius, the chief nobles die, voluntarily, by poison.  Quintus Fulvius having condemned the principal senators to death, at the moment they are actually tied to the stakes, receives despatches from Rome, commanding him to spare their lives, which he postpones reading until the sentence is executed.  Publius Scipio, offering himself for the service, is sent to command in Spain, takes New Carthage in one day.  Successes in Sicily.  Treaty of friendship with the Aetolians.  War with Philip, king of Macedonia, and the Acarnanians.

* * * * *

1.  The consuls, Cneius Fulvius Centumalus and Publius Sulpicius Galba, having entered on their office on the ides of March, assembled the senate in the Capitol, and took the opinion of the fathers on the state of the republic, the manner of conducting the war, and on what related to the provinces and the armies.  Quintus Fulvius and Appius Claudius, the consuls of the former year, were continued in command; and the armies which they before had were assigned to them, it being added that they should not withdraw from Capua, which they were besieging, till they had taken it.  The Romans were now solicitously intent upon this object, not from resentment so much, which was never juster against any city, as from the consideration that as this city, so celebrated and powerful, had by its defection drawn away several states, so when reduced it would bring back their minds to respect for the former supreme government.  Two praetors also of the former year, Marcus Junius and Publius Sempronius, were each continued in command of the two legions which they had under them, the former in Etruria, the latter in Gaul.  Marcus Marcellus also was continued in command, that he might, as proconsul, finish the war in Sicily with the army he had there.  If he wanted recruits he was to take them from the legions which Publius Cornelius, the propraetor, commanded in Sicily, provided he did not choose any soldier who was of the number of those whom the senate had