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religious one： an admonition to the people； that their late
overthrow had not befallen them through want of courage in their
soldiers； but through the neglect of divine ceremonies in the general。
He therefore exhorted them not to fear the enemy； but by extraordinary
honour to propitiate the gods。 This he did； not to fill their minds
with superstition； but by religious feeling to raise their courage；
and lessen their fear of the enemy by inspiring the belief that Heaven
was on their side。 With this view； the secret prophecies called the
Sibylline Books were consulted； sundry predictions found in them
were said to refer to the fortunes and events of the time； but none
except the consulter was informed。 Presenting himself to the people；
the dictator made a vow before them to offer in sacrifice the whole
product of the next season； all Italy over； of the cows； goats； swine；
sheep； both in the mountains and the plains； and to celebrate
musical festivities with an expenditure of the precise sum of 333
sestertia and 333 denarii； with one…third of a denarius over。 The
sum total of which is； in our money； 83；583 drachmas and 2 obols。 What
the mystery might be in that exact number is not easy to determine；
unless it were in honour of the perfection of the number three； as
being the first of odd numbers； the first that contains in itself
multiplication； with all other properties whatsoever belonging to
numbers in general。
In this manner Fabius； having given the people better heart for
the future； by making them believe that the gods took their side；
for his own part placed his whole confidence in himself； believing
that the gods bestowed victory and good fortune by the instrumentality
of valour and of prudence； and thus prepared he set forth to oppose
Hannibal； not with intention to fight him； but with the purpose of
wearing out and wasting the vigour of his arms by lapse of time； of
meeting his want of resources by superior means； by large numbers
the smallness of his forces。 With this design； he always encamped on
the highest grounds； where the enemy's horse could have no access to
him。 Still he kept pace with them； when they marched he followed them；
when they encamped he did the same； but at such a distance as not to
be compelled to an engagement and always keeping upon the hills；
free from the insults of their horse； by which means he gave them no
rest； but kept them in a continual alarm。
But this his dilatory way gave occasion in his own camp for
suspicion of want of courage； and this opinion prevailed yet more in
Hannibal's army。 Hannibal was himself the only man who was not
deceived； who discerned his skill and detected his tactics； and saw；
unless he could by art or force bring him to battle； that the
Carthaginians； unable to use the arms in which they were superior； and
suffering the continual drain of lives and treasure in which they were
inferior； would in the end come to nothing。 He resolved； therefore；
with all the arts and subtleties of war to break his measures and to
bring Fabius to an engagement； like a cunning wrestler； watching every
opportunity to get good hold and close with his adversary。 He at one
time attacked； and sought to distract his attention； tried to draw him
off in various directions； and endeavoured in all ways to tempt him
from his safe policy。 All this artifice； though it had no effect
upon the firm judgment and conviction of the dictator； yet upon the
common soldier； and even upon the general of the horse himself； it had
too great an operation： Minucius； unseasonably eager for action；
bold and confident； humoured the soldiery； and himself contributed
to fill them with wild eagerness and empty hopes； which they vented in
reproaches upon Fabius； calling him Hannibal's pedagogue； since he did
nothing else but follow him up and down and wait upon him。 At the same
time； they cried up Minucius for the only captain worthy to command
the Romans； whose vanity and presumption rose so high in
consequence； that he insolently jested at Fabius's encampment upon the
mountains； saying that he seated them there as on a theatre； to behold
the flames and desolation of their country。 And he would sometimes ask
the friends of the general； whether it were not his meaning； by thus
leading them from mountain to mountain； to carry them at last
（having no hopes on earth） up into heaven； or to hide them in the
clouds from Hannibal's army？ When his friends reported these things to
the dictator； persuading him that； to avoid the general obloquy； he
should engage the enemy； his answer was； 〃I should be more
faint…hearted than they make me； if； through fear of idle
reproaches； I should abandon my own convictions。 It is no inglorious
thing to have fear for the safety of our country； but to be turned
from one's course by men's opinions； by blame； and by
misrepresentation； shows a man unfit to hold an office such as this；
which； by such conduct； he makes the slaves of those whose errors it
is his business to control。〃
An oversight of Hannibal occurred soon after。 Desirous to refresh
his horse in some good pasture…grounds； and to draw off his army； he
ordered his guides to conduct him to the district of Casinum。 They；
mistaking his bad pronunciation； led him and his army to the town of
Casilinum； on the frontier of Campania which the river Lothronus；
called by the Romans Vulturnus； divides in two parts。 The country
around is enclosed by mountains； with a valley opening towards the
sea； in which the river overflowing forms a quantity of marsh land
with deep banks of sand； and discharges itself into the sea on a
very unsafe and rough shore。 While Hannibal was proceeding hither；
Fabius； by his knowledge of the roads； succeeded in making his way
around before him； and despatched four thousand choice men to seize
the exit from it and stop him up； and lodged the rest of his army upon
the neighbouring hills； in the most advantageous places； at the same
time detaching a party of his lightest armed men to fall upon
Hannibal's rear； which they did with such success； that they cut off
eight hundred of them； and put the whole army in disorder。 Hannibal；
finding the error and the danger he was fallen into； immediately
crucified the guides； but considered the enemy to be so advantageously
posted； that there was no hope of breaking through them； while his
soldiers began to be despondent and terrified； and to think themselves
surrounded with embarrassments too difficult to be surmounted。
Thus reduced； Hannibal had recourse to stratagem； he caused two
thousand head of oxen which he had in his camp to have torches or
dry fagots well fastened to their horns； and lighting them in the
beginning of the night； ordered the beasts to be driven on towards the
heights commanding the passages out of the valley and the enemy's
posts； when this was done； he made his army in the dark leisurely
march after them。 The oxen at first kept a slow orderly pace； and with
their lighted heads resembled an army marching by night； astonishing
the shepherds and herdsmen of the hills about。 But when the fire burnt
down the horns of the beasts to the quick； they no longer observed
their sober pace； but unruly and wild with their pain； ran dispersed
about； tossing their heads and scattering the fire round about them
upon each other and setting light as they passed to the trees。 This
was a surprising spectacle to the Romans on guard upon the heights。
Seeing flames which appeared to come from men advancing with
torches； they were possessed with the alarm that the enemy was
approaching in various quarters； and that they were being
surrounded； and； quitting their post； abandoned the pass； and
precipitately retired to their camp on the hills。 They were no
sooner gone； but the light…armed of Hannibal's men； according to his
order； immediately seized the heights； and soon after the whole
army； with all the baggage； came up and safely marched through the
passes。
Fabius； before the night was over； quickly found out the trick；
for some of the beasts fell into his hands； but for fear of an
ambush in the dark； he kept his men all night to their arms in the
camp。 As soon