at the cost of encountering dangers, led a temperate life, as did his army; but after they had taken Capua and wintered there in idleness with ample provisions, they began to lose their physical strength by not laboring and their intellectual force by tranquillity, and in changing their ancestral habits they learned an accomplishment new to them,—­that of being defeated in battle.—­When the work of war finally became pressing, Hannibal transferred his quarters to the mountains and gave the army exercise.  But they could not get strong in a short space of time.  He was encouraged by the arrival of reinforcements from home, especially in the matter of elephants.  He now set out against Nola intending to capture it or else to draw Marcellus, who was ravaging Samnium, away from that region.  As he could accomplish nothing, he withdrew from the city and laid waste the country, until he suffered a decisive defeat in battle,—­an event which grieved him.  Many Spaniards and even many Libyans now forsook him and deserted to the Romans,—­a new experience for him.  Consequently, despairing of his own and the soldiers’ prospects he abandoned that entire region and retired to Capua.  Afterward he left there also to take up a different position.

[Sidenote:  B.C. 217 (a.u. 537)] The Scipios had crossed the river Iber and were ravaging the country; they had secured control of various cities and when Hasdrubal for this reason hastened to oppose them, they had conquered him in battle.  The Carthaginians learning this thought that Hasdrubal needed more assistance than did Hannibal, and fearing that the Scipios might attempt to cross into Libya also they sent only a small body of troops to Hannibal, but despatched the largest detachment with Mago to Spain with the utmost speed; and they bade him after the reduction of Spain to remain to guard their interests there, whereas Hasdrubal was to be sent with a body of troops against Italy. [Sidenote:  B.C. 216 (a.u. 538)] The Scipios, made aware of the plan, no longer gave battle for fear that Hasdrubal perhaps might win a victory and then hasten to Italy.  However, as the Carthaginians went on injuring the part of the country that was friendly to the Romans, Publius engaged in a struggle with such of his opponents as attacked him and won a victory; Gnaeus intercepted the enemy who were retiring from this battle and annihilated them.  As a result of this disaster and because numerous cities were transferring their allegiance to the Romans and some of the Libyans had gone over to their side, Hasdrubal remained there longer than he was intending.  The Scipios sent their accessions at once to Italy, and they themselves continued to adjust affairs in Spain.  They captured the subjects of Saguntum who had caused them the war and their reverses, and they tore down the hostile settlement and sold the men.  After this they took possession of Saguntum and restored it to its original inhabitants.  They were so scrupulous in regard to the plunder that they sent nothing home.  They allowed the partners of their campaign to do so, but for themselves they sent only some jackstones to their children.  Hence the senate upon the request of Gnaeus for leave of absence that he might go home and borrow a dowry for his daughter, who was of age to be married, voted that a dowry be given her from the public funds.