This boldness of the consul, and the numerousness of his army, double theirs, startled the Carthaginians; but Hannibal commanded them to their arms, and with a small train rode out to take a full prospect of the enemy as they were now forming in their ranks, from a rising ground not far distant.
One of his followers, called Gisco, a Carthaginian of equal rank with himself, told him that the numbers of the enemy were astonishing; to which Hannibal replied with a serious countenance, “There is one thing, Gisco, yet more astonishing, which you take no notice of,” and when Gisco inquired what, he answered, that “in all those great numbers before us, there is not one man called Gisco.”
This unexpected jest of their general made all the company laugh, and as they came down from the hill they told it to those whom they met, which caused a general laughter amongst them all, from which they were hardly able to recover themselves. The army, seeing Hannibal’s attendants come back from viewing the enemy in such a laughing condition, concluded that it must be profound contempt of the enemy, that made their general at this moment indulge in such hilarity.
Source:
Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Fabius." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 246. Print.
Further Reading:
Second Punic War / The Hannibalic War / War Against Hannibal
Carthaginians had around six male names that they circled. It is so hard to study their history - so many people are just named the same.