Finally the crowd made a rush upon them as they were assembled in the senate-house and would have made away with them all but for the action of some one of the crowd who saw how great a misfortune this would be.  This person denounced the senators as by all means deserving to perish, but said that they ought first to choose others to fill their places, for the State could not endure without some men to concert measures for them.  Having gained the assent of the Capuan people he ejected each one of them from the senate-house, asking the populace, as he did so, whom they chose in his place.  Thus, as they found themselves unable to choose others on short notice, they let all the old senators go unharmed, because they appeared to be necessary.  Later they became reconciled with one another and made peace with Hannibal.  This is why he quickly retired from Neapolis and came to Capua.  He held a conference with the people and made many attractive offers, among other things promising to give them the supreme direction of Italy; for he was anxious that they should be animated by hope and, feeling that they would be working for themselves, develop greater zeal in the struggle.

At the revolt of Capua the rest of Campania also became restive, and the news of the town’s secession troubled the Romans.  As for Hannibal, he started on a campaign against the Nucerini.  Under stress of siege and owing to lack of food they thrust out that portion of the population which was not available for fighting.  Hannibal would not receive them, however, and gave them assurance of safety only in case they should go back to the city. [Sidenote:  FRAG. 56^25] THEREFORE THE REST ALSO AGREED TO LEAVE THE CITY CARRYING ONE CHANGE OF CLOTHING.  AS SOON, HOWEVER, AS HANNIBAL WAS MASTER OF THE SITUATION, HE SHUT THE SENATORS INTO BATH-HOUSES AND SUFFOCATED THEM, AND IN THE CASE OF THE OTHERS, ALTHOUGH HE HAD TOLD THEM TO GO AWAY WHERE THEY PLEASED, HE CUT DOWN ON THE ROAD MANY EVEN OF THEM.  A NUMBER OF THEM SAVED THEIR LIVES ONLY BY TAKING REFUGE IN THE WOODS.  THEREUPON THE REST BECAME AFRAID AND WOULD NO LONGER COME TO TERMS WITH HIM, BUT RESISTED WHILE THEY WERE ABLE.  The people of Nola were planning to range themselves under his banner, but when they saw what had been done to their countrymen, they quietly let Marcellus in and later repulsed Hannibal when he assaulted their city.  Repelled from Nola he captured the people of Acerrae by starving them out. [Sidenote:  FRAG. 56^29] HE MADE THE SAME TERMS WITH THEM AS WITH THE DWELLERS IN NUCERIA AND ALSO ACCORDED THEM THE SAME TREATMENT.  After that he directed his forces against Casilinum in which Romans and about a thousand of the allies had taken refuge.  These put to death the native citizens who were meditating how to betray them, repulsed Hannibal several times and held out nobly against hunger.  When food was failing them they sent a man across the river on an inflated skin to inform the dictator.  The latter put jars