Marcellus

And yet they say that Numa Pompilius, in his commentaries, makes mention of three kinds of opima, prescribing that when the first kind are taken, they shall be consecrated to Jupiter Feretrius, the second to Mars, and the third to Quirinus; also that the reward for the first shall be three hundred asses,[*](The Roman as corresponded nearly to the English penny.) for the second two hundred, and for the third one hundred. However, the general and prevailing account is that only those spoils are opima which are taken first, in a pitched battle, where general slays general. So much, then, on this subject.

The Romans were so overjoyed at this victory and the ending of the war that they sent to the Pythian Apollo at Delphi a golden bowl[*](The indication of its source or value which follows in the Greek, is uncertain.) . . . as a thank-offering, gave a splendid share of the spoils to their allied cities, and sent many to Hiero, the king of Syracuse, who was their friend and ally.

After Hannibal had invaded Italy,[*](218 B.C.) Marcellus was sent to Sicily with a fleet. And when the disaster at Cannae came,[*](216 B.C. Cf. the Fabius Maximus, xv. f. ) and many thousands of Romans had been slain in the battle, and only a few had saved themselves by flying to Canusium, and it was expected that Hannibal would march at once against Rome, now that he had destroyed the flower of her forces,