3.  The second battle was fought upon the banks of the river Tre’bia. 4.  The Carthaginian general, being apprised of the Roman impetuosity, of which he availed himself in almost every engagement, had sent off a thousand horse, each with a foot soldier behind, to cross the river, to ravage the enemy’s country, and provoke them to engage.  The Romans quickly routed this force.  Seeming to be defeated, they took the river, and were as eagerly pursued by Sempro’nius, the consul.  No sooner had his army attained the opposite bank, than he perceived himself half-conquered, his men being fatigued with wading up to their arm-pits, and quite benumbed by the intense coldness of the water 5.  A total route ensued; twenty-six thousand of the Romans were either killed by the enemy, or drowned in attempting to repass the river.  A body of ten thousand men were all that survived; who, finding themselves enclosed on every side, broke desperately through the enemy’s ranks, and fought, retreating, till they found shelter in the city of Placentia.

6.  The third defeat the Romans sustained was at the lake of Thrasyme’ne, near to which was a chain of mountains, and between these and the lake, a narrow passage leading to a valley that was embosomed in hills.  It was upon these hills that Han’nibal disposed his best troops and it was into this valley that Flamin’ius, the Roman general, led his men to attack him. 7.  A disposition every way so favourable for the Carthaginians, was also assisted by accident; for a mist rising from the lake, kept the Romans from seeing their enemies; while the army upon the mountains, being above its influence, saw the whole disposition of their opponents. 8.  The fortune of the day was such as might be expected from the conduct of the two generals.  The Roman army was slaughtered, almost before they could perceive the enemy that destroyed them.  About fifteen thousand Romans, with Flamin’ius himself, fell in the valley, and six thousand more were obliged to yield themselves prisoners of war.

9.  Upon the news of this defeat, after the general consternation was allayed, the senate resolved to elect a commander with absolute authority, in whom they might repose their last and greatest expectations. 10.  The choice fell upon Fa’bius Max’imus, a man of great courage, with a happy mixture of caution. 11.  He was apprised that the only way to humble the Carthaginians at such a distance from home, was rather by harassing than fighting.  For this purpose, he always encamped upon the highest grounds, inaccessible to the enemy’s cavalry.  Whenever they moved, he watched their motions, straitened their quarters, and cut off their provisions.