1Hannibal crosses from the Hirpini into Samnium, ravages the territory of Beneventum, captures the town of Telesia, and even provokes the Roman general on purpose, in case, inflamed by so many outrages and disasters suffered by the allies, he could draw him down to a fair fight. 2Among the multitude of allies of Italian stock who had been captured by Hannibal at Trasimene and released, there were three Campanian horsemen, already then enticed by many gifts and promises from Hannibal to win over the minds of their countrymen. 3These men, reporting that if he moved his army into Campania there would be an opportunity of gaining Capua, although the matter was too great for those who vouched for it, moved Hannibal, who was doubtful and by turns trusting and mistrusting, nevertheless to make for Campania from Samnium.
4He sent them away, warned again and again to confirm their promises by deeds, and told to return to him with more men and some of the leading citizens. 5He himself orders his guide to lead him into the territory of Casinum, having been informed by those who knew the region that if he seized that pass he would cut off the Roman's way out to bring help to the allies. 6But his Punic mouth, ill-suited to the pronunciation of Latin names, caused the guide to understand Casilinum instead of Casinum, and turning away from his own route he descended through the territories of Allifae, Caiatia and Cales into the Stellatian plain.
7There, when he had looked round and seen the region shut in by mountains and rivers, he summons the guide and asks him where on earth he was. 8When the guide said that he would stay at Casilinum that day, then at last the mistake was recognised, and that Casinum was far off in another region; 9and having had the guide beaten with rods and raised on a cross to terrify the rest, and fortified his camp, he sent Maharbal with the cavalry into the Falernian territory to plunder. 9That pillaging reached as far as the waters of Sinuessa. 10The Numidians caused enormous destruction, but flight and terror still more widely; 11and yet that terror, though everything was ablaze with war, did not shake the allies from their loyalty, evidently because they were governed by a just and moderate rule and did not refuse — which is the one bond of loyalty — to obey their betters.