From Book 22

[22.1] [217] Losing much sleep in the marshes, Hannibal lost an eye, but he arrived in Etruria, having been marching without interruption through those marshes for four days and three nights.

[22.2] Consul Gaius Flaminius, a headstrong man, proceeded against the enemy, in spite of bad omens and although he had had to order the military standards, which could not be moved, to be dug out, and although the horse he had mounted had thrown him over the head. He was ambushed by Hannibal near the Trasimene lake, and massacred with his army. 

[22.3] Six thousand men who had broken out were chained by the perfidity of Hannibal, although Atherbal^note[Real name Maharbal.] had given his word. 

[22.4] There was general mourning because of this disaster, but two mothers died of joy when they discovered that their sons, who they believed to be dead, were still alive. 

[22.5] Because of this disaster, on the authority of the Sibylline books, a Sacred Spring was decreed.

[22.6] Dictator Quintus Fabius Maximus was sent out against Hannibal, but refused to offer battle because he did not want to force his already defeated soldiers to fight against the violence of victorious enemy, and was content to impede Hannibal's progress and block his way; but Marcus Minucius, his aggressive and headstrong master of horse, persuaded the people that his own powers should be equal to those of the dictator, whom he charged with sluggishness and timidity; on an unfavorable place, he offered battle with his part of the divided army, and his legions were in great danger, but were saved when Fabius Maximus arrived with his part of the army.

[22.7] After this happy outcome, Minucius joined camp with the dictator and saluted him as his father, ordering his soldiers to do the same.

[22.8] Hannibal laid waste Campania and was blocked by Fabius between the town of Casilinum and Mount Callicula, but Hannibal attached and lighted twigs on the horns of cows, which frightened the Roman garrison at Callicula. It fled and Hannibal marched over the pass. 

[22.9] He also spared the land of dictator Quintus Fabius Maximus, although he burned the entire countryside, so that his opponent was suspected of treason.

[22.10] [216] After this, Aemilius Paullus and Terentius Varro became consul and under their leadership, a large defeat was suffered against Hannibal, at Cannae, in which forty-five thousand Romans were killed, including consul Paullus, ninety senators, and thirty former consuls, praetors, or aediles.

[22.11] Now, some desperate young noblemen were plotting to leave Italy, but military tribune Publius Cornelius Scipio (who was later called Africanus), held his drawn sword over their heads and announced that he would consider everyone an enemy who would not swear what he dictated, and forced them to promise never to abandon Italy.

[22.12] Because of manpower shortage, eight thousand slaves were armed. 

[22.13] Prisoners of war were not bought free, although there was an opportunity.

[22.14] It^note[Book 22.] also contains accounts of panic and grief in the city, and fights in Hispania with a successful outcome.

[22.15] Vestal virgins Opimia and Florentia were condemned for unchastity.

[22.16] People went out to greet and thank Varro, because he had not despaired about the state.