Livy, xxii. 4, 5.
* Var. lect. decepere.
† For this qualifying use of ut cf. [p. 42, iii. (b)] and [p. 83 line 1].
1 Flaminius (Gaius), the chief of the popular party at Rome. Consul 223 B.C., conquered the Insubrian Gauls, Censor 220 B.C. Connected Picenum with Rome by the Via Flaminia. Consul (a second time) 217 B.C., defeated and killed at Trasimene.
2 inexplorato = without reconnoitring. ‘This word expresses the whole blame attaching to Flaminius, and it is great.’—Dimsdale.
4 pandi (= se pandere) = to deploy.
13 ipsa . . . conspecta = were sufficiently visible to each other.
15 prius quam satis cerneret = before he could clearly distinguish anything.—D.
19 ut in re trepida = considering the confusion of the moment.—D.
The Scene of the Battle. At the N.W. end of the Lake the mountains of Cortona come right down to the lake, but a little further E. the pass expands and forms between the mountains and the lake a narrow plain from ½ to 1½ miles in width and about 4 miles in length. At the E. end of the plain the mountains again close down upon the lake. Here Hannibal encamped with his Africans and Spaniards; posted his light-armed troops behind the crests of the hills which bounded the plain on the N., and his cavalry at the entrance to the pass on the W. to cut off the Roman retreat.