Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 27
Cyrus Evans, Ed.

15. The spies who were sent to watch his movements brought word back the next day that Hannibal was making for Bruttium. [2] Much about the same time the Hirpinians, Lucanians, and Volcentes surrendered themselves to the consul, Quintus Fulvius, delivering up the garrisons of Hannibal which they had in their cities. They were mildly received by the consul, with only a verbal reproof for their past error. [3] To the Bruttians also similar hopes of pardon were held out, when two brothers, Vibius and Pactius, by far the most illustrious persons of that nation, came from them to solicit the same terms of surrender which had been given to the Lucanians. Quintus Fabius, the consul, took by storm Manduria, a town in the territory of Sallentum, where as many as four thousand men were made prisoners, and much booty taken besides. [4] Proceeding thence to Tarentum, he pitched his camp in the very mouth of the harbour: of the ships which Livius had employed for protecting convoys, some he loaded with engines and implements for attacking walls, others he furnished with machines for discharging missiles, and with stones and missiles of every kind; [5] not only those which were impelled with oars, but the storeships also, in order that some might carry the engines and ladders to the [6??] walls, while others might wound the defenders of the walls by discharging missiles from the ships at a distance. [7] These ships were fitted up and prepared to attack the town from the open sea; and the sea was free from the Carthaginian fleet, which had crossed over to Corcyra on account of Philip's preparing to attack the Aetolians. Meanwhile, those who were attacking Caulon, in the territory of Bruttium, fearful lest they should be overpowered, had retired on the approach of Hannibal to an eminence, secure from an immediate attack. [8] While [p. 1112]Fabius was besieging Tarentum, he received assistance in the accomplishment of that great object by a circumstance which, in the mere mention, is unimportant. [9] Tarentum was occupied by a garrison of Bruttians, given them by Hannibal; the commander of that garrison was desperately in love with a girl, whose brother was in the army of the consul Fabius. [10] Being informed, by a letter from his sister, of the new acquaintance she had formed with a wealthy stranger and one so honoured among his countrymen, and conceiving a hope that the lover, by means of his sister, might be induced to any thing she pleased, he acquainted the consul with the hopes he had formed. [11] His reasoning appeared not altogether unfounded, and he was desired to go to Tarentum as a deserter; and having gained the confidence of the prefect by means of his sister, he began by sounding his disposition in a covert manner, and then, having sufficiently ascertained his weakness, induced him, by the aid of female fascinations, to the betrayal of that custody of the place to which he was appointed. [12] After the method to be pursued and the time for putting the plan into effect had been agreed upon, a soldier, who was sent out of the city by night clandestinely, through the intervals between the guards, related to the consul what had been done, and what had been agreed upon to be done. [13] At the first watch, Fabius, on a signal given to those who were in the citadel, and those who had the custody of the harbour, went himself round the harbour, and took up a position in concealment, on the side of the city which faced the east. [14] Then the trumpets began to sound at once from the citadel, the harbour, and the ships which had been brought to the shore from the open sea, and a shout was purposely raised, accompanied with the greatest confusion, in whatever quarter there was the least danger. Meanwhile, the consul kept his men in silence. [15] Democrates, therefore, who had formerly commanded the fleet, and happened to be in command in that quarter, seeing that all was quiet around him, while other parts of the city resounded with such a din that sometimes a shout like that of a captured city was raised, and fearing lest, while he hesitated, the consul should make some attack and [16??] advance his standards, led his party over to the citadel, from which the most alarming noise proceeded. Fabius, concluding that the guard was withdrawn, both from the time which had [p. 1113]elapsed and from the silence [17??] which prevailed, for not a voice met the ear from a quarter where a little while ago the noise and bustle of men resounded, rousing and calling each other to arms, ordered the ladders to be carried to that part of the wall where the person who had contrived the plot or betraying the city, had informed him that the Bruttian cohort kept guard. [18] The wall was first captured in that quarter, the Bruttians aiding and receiving the Romans; and here they got over into the city: after which the nearest gate was broken open in order that the troops might enter in a large body. [19] Then raising a shout, they proceeded to the forum, where they arrived much about daybreak, without meeting a single armed man; and drew upon themselves the attention of all the troops in every quarter, which were fighting at the citadel and at the harbour.