1. apud Trebiam amnem: the Trebia is a small stream flowing into the Po from the south. For an account of the battle see Rome and Carthage, p. 130; Creighton, p. 43.
2. multī … dēdidērunt: it was Hannibal’s policy to encourage the communities subject to Rome to revolt and to attach themselves to his standard. Everywhere he proclaimed himself to be the ‘Liberator of Italy.’
3. Flāminiō … occurrit: this battle took place in the following year, 217 B.C. Hannibal wintered in the plains of Lombardy, and at the approach of spring attempted to cross the Apennines. He was driven back by a violent storm, and was forced to return to his winter quarters. Later in the year he passed the mountains and marched into Etruria, where he was met by the Romans under Flaminius, who had been elected consul for that year, in the battle of Lake Trasimenus, in which the Romans were utterly defeated, and almost the whole force was annihilated. Rome and Carthage, p. 138; Creighton, p. 43.
6. Q. Fabius Māximus: was the great-grandson of the Q. Fabius Maximus mentioned in Bk. II, 8, and grandson of the Q. Fabius mentioned in Bk. II, 9. He was one of the greatest generals of Rome. He was chosen dictator in 217 B.C., after the battle of Lake Trasimenus. The policy he adopted is well known. By following Hannibal from place to place, by watching for any error or neglect on his part and immediately taking advantage of it, and by avoiding a general engagement, he earned for himself the name of Cunctator, ‘delayer,’ but he saved the state. In 215 B.C. he was elected consul again, and again employed the same tactics. In 210 B.C., when he was consul for the fifth time, he recaptured Tarentum by stratagem (Ch. 16). He opposed the sending of Scipio to Africa, saying that Italy ought to be rid of Hannibal first.
eum … frēgit ＝ ab impetū eum prohibuit; ‘prevented him from attacking in force.’
differendō pūgnam: ‘by postponing battle’: i.e. by avoiding a decisive engagement.
Ch. 10.
8. quadrāgēsimō: Eutropius is mistaken in the date; it was 216 B.C.
9. L. Aemilius Paulus: father of the L. Aemilius Paulus mentioned in Bk. IV, 6, 7. He had distinguished himself in his former consulship in the war against the Illyrians. Against his advice the battle of Cannae was fought, and, refusing to fly from the field when the battle was lost, he was slain. He was an aristocrat, and was raised to the consulship by that party to counterbalance the influence of the plebeian P. Terentius Varro.
13. impatientiā Varrōnis: the aristocracy laid all the blame of the defeat on Varro.