This band 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.

Marcellus 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 quarters 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.

The country was open, without any covers adapted for an ambuscade; he therefore began to retire thence into woody districts.