Hannibal Attacks the Taurini
After arriving in Italy with the number of troops
note
which I have already stated, Hannibal pitched
his camp at the very foot of the Alps, and
was occupied, to begin with, in refreshing his men. For
not only had his whole army suffered terribly from the
difficulties of transit in the ascent, and still more in the
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descent of the Alps, but it was also in evil case from the
shortness of provisions, and the inevitable neglect of all
proper attention to physical necessities. Many had quite
abandoned all care for their health under the influence of
starvation and continuous fatigue; for it had proved impossible
to carry a full supply of food for so many thousands over such
mountains, and what they did bring was in great part lost along
with the beasts that carried it. So that whereas, when
Hannibal crossed the Rhone, he had thirty-eight thousand
infantry, and more than eight thousand cavalry, he lost nearly
half in the pass, as I have shown above; while the survivors
had by these long continued sufferings become almost savage
in look and general appearance. Hannibal therefore bent his
whole energies to the restoration of the spirits and bodies of
his men, and of their horses also. note When his army had thus
sufficiently recovered, finding the Taurini, who
live immediately under the Alps, at war with
the Insubres and inclined to be suspicious of the Carthaginians, Hannibal first invited them to terms of friendship
and alliance; and, on their refusal, invested their chief city
and carried it after a three days' siege. Having put to the
sword all who had opposed him, he struck such terror into the
minds of the neighbouring tribes, that they all gave in their
submission out of hand. The other Celts inhabiting these
plains were also eager to join the Carthaginians, according to
their original purpose; but the Roman legions had by this time
advanced too far, and had intercepted the greater part of them:
they were therefore unable to stir, and in some cases were even
obliged to serve in the Roman ranks. This determined
Hannibal not to delay his advance any longer, but to strike
some blow which might encourage those natives who were
desirous of sharing his enterprise.
