Neither his censures nor his promises had any effect in strengthening the morale of his men. When they began to fall back in all directions the spirits of the Romans rose, not only because of their general's cheering words, but also because the Nolans raised encouraging shouts and fired them with the glow of battle, until the Carthaginians fairly turned to flee and were driven to their camp. The Romans were anxious to storm the camp, but Marcellus IJ¥trched them back to Nola amid the joyous congratulations even of the populace ,vho had before been more inclined to the Carthaginians. More than 5000 of the enelny \vere killed that day and 600 made prisoners, 18 military standards were taken and two elephants; four had been killed in the battle. The Romans had less than a thousand killed. The next day \vas spent by both sides in burying those killed in battle, under an informal truce. Marcellus burnt the spoils taken fron1 the enemy in fulfilment of a vow to Vulcan. Three days later, owing, I fancy, to some disagreement or in hope of more liberal pay, 272 troopers, Numidians and Spaniards, deserted to Marcellus. The Romans often availed themselves of their brave and loyal help in the War. At its close a gift of land was made in Spain to the Spaniards and in Africa to the Numidians as a reward for their valour. Hanno was sent back into Bruttium \vith the force he had brought, and Hannibal went into winter quarters in Apulia and encamped in the neighbourhood of .t\rpi. }\.s soon as Q. Fabius heard that II annibal had left for Apulia, he had a quantity of corn from Nola and Neapolis conveyed into the camp aboye Suessula, and after strengthening its defences and leaving a force sufficient to hold the position through the winter months, he moved his own canlp nearer to Capua and laid waste its territory with fire and sword. The Campanians had no confidence whatever in their strength, but they were at last compelled to come out of their gates into the open and form an entrenched camp in front of the city. They had 6000 men under arms, the infantry ,vere absolutely useless, but the mounted men were more efficient, so they kept harassing the enemy by cavalry skirmishes. There were several Campanian nobles serving as troopers, amongst them Cerrinus Vibellius, surnamed Taurea. He was a citizen of Capua and by far the finest soldier in the Campanian horse, so much so indeed that when he was serving with the Romans there was only one Roman horseman that enjoyed an equal reputation, and that was Claudius Asellus. Taurea had for a long time been riding up to the enemy's squadrons to see if he could find this luan, and at last when there was a moment's silence he asked where Claudius Asellus was. "He has often," he said, " argued with me about our respective merits, let him settle the matter with the sword, and if he is vanquished yield me the spolia oPitna,16 or if he is the victor take them from me."