[Sidenote:  B.C. 254 (a.u. 500)] The Carthaginians took Cossura and crossed over to Sicily; and had they not learned that Collatinus[22] and Gnaeus Cornelius were approaching with a large fleet, they would have subjugated the whole of it.  The Romans had quickly fitted out a first-class fleet, had made levies of their best men, and had become so strong that in the third month they returned to Sicily.  It was the five hundredth year from the founding of Rome.  The lower city of Panhormus they took without trouble, but in the siege of the citadel they fared badly until food failed those in it.  Then they came to terms with the consuls. [Sidenote:  FRAG. 43^20] THE CARTHAGINIANS KEPT WATCH FOR THEIR SHIPS HOMEWARD BOUND AND CAPTURED SEVERAL THAT WERE FULL OF MONEY.

[Footnote 22:  This is A. Atilius Calatinus again.]

[Sidenote:  B.C. 253 (a.u. 501)] The next event was that Servilius Caepio and Gaius Sempronius, consuls, made an attempt upon Lilybaeum (from which they were repulsed) and crossing over to Libya ravaged the coast districts.  As they were returning homeward they encountered a storm and incurred damage.  Hence the people, thinking that the damage was due to their inexperience in naval affairs, voted that they should keep away from the sea in general but with a few ships should guard Italy.

[Sidenote:  B.C. 252 (a.u. 502)] In the succeeding year Publius Gaius[23] and Aurelius Servilius[24] came to Sicily and subdued Himera besides some other places.  However, they did not get possession of any of its inhabitants, for the Carthaginians conveyed them away by night.  After this Aurelius secured some ships from Hiero and adding to his contingent all the Romans that were there he sailed to Lipara.  Here he left the tribune Quintus Cassius,[25] who was to keep a lookout but avoid a battle, and set sail for home.  Quintus, disregarding orders, made an attack upon the city and lost many men.  Aurelius, however, subsequently took the place, killed all the inhabitants, and deposed Cassius from his command.

[Footnote 23:  A mistake for Gaius Aurelius and Publius Servilius, as at the beginning of Chapter 16.]

[Footnote 24:  [See previous footnote.]]

[Footnote 25:  But Valerius Maximus (II, 7, 4) calls him P. Aurelius Pecuniola.]

[Sidenote:  B.C. 251 (a.u. 503)] The Carthaginians learned what the Romans had determined regarding the fleet and sent an expedition to Sicily hoping now to bring it entirely under their control.  As long as both consuls, Caecilius Metellus and Gaius Furius, were on the ground, they remained quiet; but when Furius set out for Rome, they conceived a contempt for Metellus and proceeded to Panhormus.  Metellus ascertained that spies had come from the enemy, and assembling all the people of the city he began a talk with them, in the midst of which he suddenly ordered them to lay hold of one another.  He was thus enabled