Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 27
Cyrus Evans, Ed.

12. Having finished every thing which was to be done at Rome, the consuls set out for the war. [2] Fulvius first went in advance to Capua; in a few days Fabius followed. He had implored his colleague in person, and Marcellus by a letter, to use the most vigorous measures to detain Hannibal, while he was making an attack upon Tarentum. [3] That when that city was taken from the enemy, who had been repulsed on all sides, and had no place where he might make a stand or look back upon as a safe retreat, he would not then have even a pretext for remaining in Italy. [4] He also sent a messenger to Rhegium, to the prefect of the garrison, which had been placed there by the consul Laevinus, against the Bruttians, and consisted of eight thousand men, the greater part of whom had been brought from Agathyrna in Sicily, as has been before mentioned, and were men who had been accustomed to live by rapine. [5] To these were added fugitives of the Bruttians, natives of that country, equal to them in daring, and under an equal necessity of braving every thing. [6] This band he ordered to be marched, first, to lay waste the Bruttian territory, and then to attack the city Caulonia. After having executed the order, not only with alacrity, but avidity, and having pillaged and put to flight the cultivators of the land, they attacked the city with the utmost vigour. [7] Marcellus, [p. 1107]incited by the letter of the consul, and because he had made up his mind that no Roman general was so good a match for Hannibal as himself, set out from his winter quartets as soon as there was plenty of forage in the fields, and met Hannibal at Canusium. The Carthaginian was then endeavouring to induce the Canusians to revolt, but as soon as he heard that Marcellus was approaching, he decamped thence. [8] The country was open, without any covers adapted for an ambuscade; he therefore began to retire thence into woody districts. Marcellus closely pursued him, pitched his camp close to his, and when he had completed his works, led out his troops into the field. [9] Hannibal engaged in slight skirmishes, and sent out single troops of horse and the spearmen from his infantry, not considering it necessary to hazard a general battle. He was, however, drawn on to a contest of that kind which he was avoiding. [10] Hannibal had decamped by night, but was overtaken by Marcellus in a plain and open country. Then, while encamping, Marcellus, by attacking the workmen on all hands, prevented the completion of his works. Thus a pitched battle ensued, and all their forces were brought into action; but night coming on, they retired from an equal contest. They then hastily fortified their camps, which were a small space apart, before night. [11] The next day, as soon as it was light, Marcellus led out his troops into the field; nor did Hannibal decline the challenge, but exhorted his soldiers at great length, desiring them “to remember Trasimenus and Cannae, and thus quell the proud spirit of their enemies.” [12] He said, “the enemy pressed upon him, and trod upon their heels; that he did not allow them to pass unmolested, pitch their camp, or even take breath and look around them; that every day, the rising sun and the Roman troops in battle-array were to be seen together on the plains. But if in one battle he should retire from the field, not without loss of blood, he would then prosecute the war more steadily and quietly.” [13] Fired by these exhortations, and at the same time wearied with the presumption of the enemy, who daily pressed upon them and provoked them to an engagement, they commenced the battle with spirit. [14] The battle continued for more than two hours, when the right wing of the allies and the chosen band began to give way on the part of the Romans; which Marcellus perceiving, led the eighteenth legion to the front. [15] While some were retiring in [p. 1108]confusion, and others were coming up reluctantly, the whole line was thrown into disorder, and afterwards completely routed; while their fears getting the better of their sense of shame, they turned their backs. [16] In the battle and in the flight there fell as many as two thousand seven hundred of citizens and allies; among which were four Roman centurions, and two military tribunes, Marcus Licinius and Marcus Helvius. [17] Four military standards were lost by the wing which first fled, and two belonging to the legion which came up in place of the retiring allies.