+Context.+ The plebs in Nola (as in Capua) was in favour of joining Hannibal, and it was with difficulty that the nobles (who here, as elsewhere, favoured Rome) delayed the decision, thus gaining time to inform Marcellus, who was then stationed at Casilinum, of the danger of a revolt. Marcellus immediately hastened to Nola, and occupied the town with a strong garrison.
[Linenotes: 3-5. +Hannibali ... primo miraculo esse+ = _Hannibal, who ... had his troops under arms till a late hour, was first of all astonished that_. --Church and Brodribb. 7. +colloquia esse+, i.e. his _communications_ (+colloquia+) with the Carthaginian party in Nola. 8. +resĭdes+ = _inactive_, lit. _that remains sitting_ (+re + sedeo+). 10. +si cunctantibus instaret+ = _if he met hesitation with prompt action_. --Church and Brodribb. Lit. _if he pressed upon those hesitating_. 12. +in sua ... ministeria+ = _to their several posts_. 19-21. +Ingens ... gesta est+ = _a great victory, the greatest, perhaps throughout the war, was achieved that day_.]
+Nola+, an important town in Campania, S.E. of Capua. It remained faithful to the Romans, even after Cannae, when the other Campanian towns revolted to Hannibal.
+Marcellus at Nola.+ ‘It was the merit of Marcellus that he saved Nola from being taken.’ --Ihne.
Urbem Syracusas maximam esse Graecarum urbium pulcherrimamque omnium saepe audistis, Est, indices, ita, ut dicitur: nam et situ est cum munito, tum ex omni aditu vel terra vel mari praeclaro ad aspectum: et portus habet prope in aedificatione { 5} aspectuque urbis inclusos: qui cum diversos inter se aditus habeant, in exitu coniunguntur et confluunt. Eorum coniunctione pars oppidi, quae appellatur Insula, mari disiuncta angusto, ponte rursum adiungitur et continetur. Ea tanta est urbs, ut ex { 10} quattuor urbibus maximis constare dicatur: quarum una est ea, quam dixi, Insula: quae duobus portubus cincta, in utriusque portus ostium aditumque proiecta est: in qua domus est, quae Hieronis regis fuit, qua praetores uti solent. Altera autem est urbs { 15} Syracusis, cui nomen Achradina est: in qua forum maximum, pulcherrimae porticus, ornatissimum prytaneum, amplissima est curia, templumque egregium Iovis Olympii. Tertia est urbs, quae, quod in ea parte Fortunae fanum antiquum fuit, { 20} Tycha nominata est, in qua et gymnasium amplissimum est et complures aedes sacrae: coliturque ea pars et habitatur frequentissime. Quarta autem est urbs, quae quia postrema coaedificata est, Neapolis nominatur: quam ad summam theatrum est maximum. { 25}