rapid and fatiguing march; but Nero
opposed this plan, and recommended an immediate battle. He knew the
character of the men that he had brought, and he was, besides,
unwilling to risk the dangers which might arise in his own camp, in
southern Italy, by too long an absence from it. It was decided,
accordingly, to attack Hasdrubal at once, and the signal for battle
was given.

It is not improbable that Hasdrubal would have been beaten by Livius
alone, but the additional force which Nero had brought made the Romans
altogether too strong for him. Besides, from his position in the front
of the battle, he perceived, from some indications that his watchful
eye observed, that a part of the troops attacking him were from the
southward; and he inferred from this that Hannibal had been defeated,
and that, in consequence of this, the whole united force of the Roman
army was arrayed against him. He was disheartened and discouraged, and
soon ordered a retreat. He was pursued by the various divisions of the
Roman army, and the retreating columns of the Carthaginians were soon
thrown into complete confusion. They became entangled among rivers and
lakes; and the guides who had undertaken to conduct the army, finding
that all was lost, abandoned them and fled, anxious only to save their
own lives. The Carthaginians were soon pent up in a position where
they could not defend themselves, and from which they could not
escape. The Romans showed them no mercy, but went on killing their
wretched and despairing victims until the whole army was almost
totally destroyed. They cut off Hasdrubal's head, and Nero sat out the
very night after the battle to return with it in triumph to his own
encampment. When he arrived, he sent a troop of horse to throw the
head over into Hannibal's camp, a ghastly and horrid trophy of his
victory.

Hannibal was overwhelmed with disappointment and sorrow at the loss of
his army, bringing with it, as it did, the destruction of all his
hopes. "My fate is sealed," said he; "all is lost. I shall send no
more news of victory to Carthage. In losing Hasdrubal my last hope is
gone."

[Illustration: HASDRUBAL'S HEAD.]

While Hannibal was in this condition in Italy, the Roman armies, aided
by their allies, were gaining gradually against the Carthaginians in
various parts of the world, under the different generals who had been
placed in command by the Roman senate. The news of these victories
came continually home to It