The Consul Servilius had sent his cavalry to prevent Hannibal’s advance on Rome, but it had been either captured or put to the sword. Servilius without his cavalry was powerless to prevent the Punic army from advancing upon the city.
“We are beaten, O Romans, in a great battle, our army is destroyed.”
In a short time indeed, Hannibal, at the head of his triumphant army, was scarcely two days’ march from Rome.
Flaminius was dead. Between Servilius and the city was the Carthaginian army.
Being bereft of both her Consuls, Rome determined to appoint a Dictator.
CHAPTER LXI
HANNIBAL OUTWITS FABIUS
The Senate had restored some sense of confidence to the stricken people by its gravity and calmness. It had also reassured them by destroying the bridges by which the city could be approached and by strengthening her walls.
Soldiers who had been deemed too old to follow the army were now called together, and armed with weapons which had hung for years in the temples—trophies these from many a hard-fought field.