Deinde neque dum Hannibal in Italia moratur, neque proximis post excessum eius annis vacavit Romanis colonias condere, cum esset in bello conquirendus potius miles quam dimittendus et post bellum vires refovendae magis quam spargendae.
Thereafter, while Hannibal was in Italy, and in the following years after his departure, the Romans were unable to establish colonies due to the ongoing war. Instead of discharging soldiers, they had to keep finding new ones. After the war ended, they concentrated on rebuilding and consolidating the strength of the city rather than dispersing it.