1The provinces had already been named for the consuls earlier; 1then they were ordered to draw lots. 1Spain fell to Cornelius, Africa together with Sicily to Sempronius. 2Six legions were decreed for that year, and as many allies as the consuls themselves thought fit, and as large a fleet as could be made ready. 3Twenty-four thousand Roman infantry were enrolled and eighteen hundred cavalry, forty thousand allied infantry and four thousand four hundred cavalry; 3two hundred and twenty quinqueremes and twenty light vessels were launched. 4Then the question was put to the people whether they wished and ordered that war be declared on the Carthaginian people; 4and for the sake of that war a supplication was held throughout the city and the gods were entreated, that the war which the Roman people had ordered might turn out well and happily.
4The forces were divided between the consuls as follows: to Sempronius were given two legions — these numbered four thousand infantry and three hundred cavalry each — and sixteen thousand allied infantry, eighteen hundred cavalry, a hundred and sixty warships and twelve light vessels. 6With these land and sea forces Tiberius Sempronius was sent to Sicily, intending to cross to Africa provided that the other consul was enough to keep the Carthaginian out of Italy. 7Cornelius was given fewer forces, because Lucius Manlius the praetor was also being sent to Gaul with a garrison of considerable strength; 8it was above all in the number of ships that Cornelius' share was reduced: sixty quinqueremes were given to him — for they did not believe that the enemy would come by sea or fight in that sphere of the war — and two Roman legions with their regular cavalry, and fourteen thousand allied infantry and sixteen hundred cavalry.
9The province of Gaul, likewise turned towards the Punic war, held two Roman legions and ten thousand allied infantry, a thousand allied cavalry and six hundred Roman.