[50.5] cūius . . . fuisse: a gross exaggeration. Hannibal successfully maintained himself in Italy till recalled in 203.
[50.6] Capua, at this time the most powerful city in Italy next to Rome, had formed an alliance with Hannibal after the battle of Cannae.
[50.7] Sc. fuit.
[50.8] quīn etiam: ‘on the contrary.’
[50.9] For the construction, see [p. 47, n. 12]. For the fact, cf. XVI, 19 ff.
[50.10] superfuisse . . . approbāvit: ‘he showed that he had effected his escape (lit., had survived).’
[50.11] ‘let grow.’ This manner of showing grief is often mentioned.
[50.12] The Romans reclined on the left side at meals. Varro’s act was a kind of penance, since it indicated that he denied himself the pleasures of the table.
[51.1] magistrātibus . . . esse: cf. [p. 37, notes 3 and 4].
[51.2] ‘to repair their losses’; lit., ‘to get their breath again.’