1From Lilybaeum, having dismissed Hiero with the royal fleet and left the praetor to guard the coast of Sicily, the consul himself crossed to the island of Melita, which was held by the Carthaginians. 2On his arrival Hamilcar, son of Gisgo, commander of the garrison, is surrendered to him with a little under two thousand soldiers, together with the town and the island. 2From there after a few days they returned to Lilybaeum, and the prisoners taken both by the consul and by the praetor, except for men distinguished by rank, were sold as slaves. 3When the consul judged that Sicily was safe enough on that side, he crossed to the islands of Vulcan, because there was a report that a Punic fleet was stationed there; 3but not one of the enemy was found around those islands.
4As it happened, they had already crossed over to lay waste the coast of Italy, and having ravaged the territory of Vibo they were even threatening the city. 5As the consul was heading back to Sicily, news is brought to him that the enemy has made a landing in the territory of Vibo, and a letter from the senate is delivered to him about Hannibal's crossing into Italy, bidding him bring help to his colleague at the earliest opportunity. 6Troubled by many cares at once, he immediately put his army aboard ships and sent it by the Upper Sea to Ariminum; to Sextus Pomponius, his legate, with twenty-five warships, he assigned the defence of the territory of Vibo and the coast of Italy; and for Marcus Aemilius the praetor he made up a fleet of fifty ships.
7He himself, having settled affairs in Sicily, coasted along Italy with ten ships and reached Ariminum. 7Setting out from there with his army, he joins his colleague at the river Trebia.