1The armies too were enlarged; 1but as to how great the forces of infantry and cavalry were that were added, the authorities differ so much on both the number and the kind of troops that I would scarcely dare to state anything as quite certain. 2Some say ten thousand new soldiers were enrolled as reinforcements, others four new legions, so that they might carry on the campaign with eight legions; 3some authorities state that the legions were also increased in their number of infantry and cavalry, a thousand foot and a hundred horse being added to each, so that each had five thousand foot and three hundred horse, while the allies supplied double the number of cavalry and matched the infantry, and that there were eighty-seven thousand two hundred armed men in the Roman camp when the battle was fought at Cannae.
5On this point there is no disagreement at all, that the business was conducted with greater effort and energy than in previous years, because the dictator had offered hope that the enemy could be beaten. 6But before the new legions moved their standards from the city, the decemvirs were ordered to consult and examine the books; 6because people generally had been frightened by new prodigies. 7For it had been reported that at about the same time it had rained stones at Rome on the Aventine and at Aricia, that statues among the Sabines had sweated much blood, and that at Caere waters had flowed cold from a hot spring; 8this last indeed was the more frightening because it had happened rather often; 8and in the arched street which led to the Campus several men had been struck by lightning and killed.
9These prodigies were expiated in accordance with the books. 9Envoys from Paestum brought golden bowls to Rome. 9They were thanked, as the Neapolitans had been, but the gold was not accepted.