some regarded the news as absolutely true, others would not believe it till they had the consul's despatch and the report of the envoys. LL Word was brought that the envoys were approaching. Everybody young and old alike ran out to meet them, each eager to drink in the good tidings with eves and ears. and the crowd extended， as far as theT t 7 Tl l 1 Tl T吻Man bridge._ The envoys were ‘·v eturius rnuo, r. l,icinius v arus and望·Caecuius meteuus. They made their way to the Forum surrounded by a crowd which represented every class of the population, and besieged by questions on all sides as to what had really happened. No sooner did any one hear that the army of the enemy and its commander had been slain whilst the consuls and their army were safe, than he hastened to make others sharers of his joy. The senate-house was reached with difficultv. and with much r， greater difficulty was the crowd pre vented from invading the space reserved for the senators. He re the despatch was read, and then the envoys were conducted to the Assembly. After the despatch was read, L. Veturius gave fuller details and his narrative was received with bursts of applause, which finally swelled into universal cheers, the Assembly being hardly able to contain itself for joy. Some ran to the temples to give thanks to heaven, others hurried home that their wives and children might hear the good news. The senate decreed a three davs' thankszivinz“because the consuls. M. Llvlus ana七。uauaius N ero。naa preservea tneir own armies in safety and destroyed the army of the enemy and its commander." C. Hostilius, the praetor, issued the order for its observance. The services were attended by men and women alike, the temples were crowded all through the three days, and the matrons in their most splendid robes, accompanied by their children, offered their thanksgivings to the gods, as free from anxiety and fear as though the war were over. This victory also relieved the financial position. People ventured to do business just as in a time of peace, buying and selling, lending and repaying loans. After Nero had returned to camp he gave orders for Hasdrubal's head, which he had kept and brought with him, to be thrown in front of the enemies' outpost, and the African prisoners to be exhibited j ust as thev were in chains. Two of them were reeasea witn oraers to go to tianni aai ana report all that had happened. Stunned by the blow which had fallen on his country and on his familv. it is said that Hannibal declared that he recogui sed the doom which awaited Carthage. He broke up his camp, and decided to concentrate in Bruttium the remotest corner of Italy, all his supporters whom he could no loner protect. whilst scattered in the different cities. The whole population of Metapontum had to leave their homes together with all the1.砰caniansT吵o acknowledged his supremacy, ana were transportea into Bruttian territory.