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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 as it was day； he attacked the enemy in the rear； where；
after a good deal of skirmishing in the uneven ground； the disorder
might have become general； but that Hannibal detached from his van a
body of Spaniards； who； of themselves active and nimble； were
accustomed to the climbing of mountains。 These briskly attacked the
Roman troops； who were in heavy armour； killed a good many； and left
Fabius no longer in condition to follow the enemy。 This action brought
the extreme of obloquy and contempt upon the dictator； they said it
was now manifest that he was not only inferior to his adversary； as
they had always thought； in courage； but even in that conduct；
foresight； and generalship； by which he had proposed to bring the
war to an end。
And Hannibal； to enhance their anger against him； marched with his
army close to the lands and possessions of Fabius； and； giving
orders to his soldiers to burn and destroy all the country about；
forbade them to do the least damage in the estates of the Roman
general； and placed guards for their security。 This； when reported
at Rome； had the effect with the people which Hannibal desired。
Their tribunes raised a thousand stories against him； chiefly at the
instigation of Metilius； who； not so much out of hatred to him as
out of friendship to Minucius； whose kinsman he was； thought by
depressing Fabius to raise his friend。 The senate on their part were
also offended with him for the bargain he had made with Hannibal about
the exchange of prisoners； the conditions of which were that； after
exchange made of man for man； if any on either side remained； they
should be redeemed at the price of two hundred and fifty drachmas a
head。 Upon the whole account； there remained two hundred and forty
Romans unexchanged； and the senate now not only refused to allow money
for the ransoms； but also reproached Fabius for making a contract；
contrary to the honour and interest of the commonwealth； for redeeming
men whose cowardice had put them in the hands of the enemy。 Fabius
heard and endured all this with invincible patience； and； having no
money by him； and on the other side being resolved to keep his word
with Hannibal and not to abandon the captives； he despatched his son
to Rome to sell land； and to bring with him the price； sufficient to
discharge the ransoms； which was punctually performed by his son and
delivery accordingly made to him of the prisoners； amongst whom
many； when they were released； made proposals to repay the money；
which Fabius in all cases declined。
About this time； he was called to Rome by the priests； to assist；
according to the duty of his office； at certain sacrifices； and was
thus forced to leave the command of the army with Minucius； but before
he parted； not only charged him as his commander…in…chief； but
besought and entreated him not to come； in his absence； to a battle
with Hannibal。 His commands； entreaties； and advice were lost upon
Minucius； for his back was no sooner turned but the new general
immediately sought occasions to attack the enemy。 And notice being
brought him that Hannibal had sent out a great part of his army to
forage； he fell upon a detachment of the remainder； doing great
execution； and driving them to their very camp； with no little
terror to the rest； who apprehended their breaking in upon them； and
when Hannibal had recalled his scattered forces to the camp； he；
nevertheless； without any loss； made his retreat； a success which
aggravated his boldness and presumption； and filled the soldiers
with rash confidence。 The news spread to Rome； where Fabius； on
being told it； said that what he most feared was Minucius's success；
but the people； highly elated； hurried to the forum to listen to an
address from Metilius the tribune； in which he infinitely extolled the
valour of Minucius； and fell bitterly upon Fabius； accusing him for
want not merely of courage； but even of loyalty； and not only him； but
also many other eminent and considerable persons； saying that it was
they that had brought the Carthaginians into Italy； with the design to
destroy the liberty of the people； for which end they had at once
put the supreme authority into the hands of a single person； who by
his slowness and delays might give Hannibal leisure to establish
himself in Italy； and the people of Carthage time and opportunity to
supply him with fresh succours to complete his conquest。
Fabius came forward with no intention to answer the tribune； but
only said； that they should expedite the sacrifices； that so he
might speedily return to the army to punish Minucius； who had presumed
to fight contrary to his orders； words which immediately possessed the
people with the belief that Minucius stood in danger of his life。
For it was in the power of the dictator to imprison and to put to
death； and they feared that Fabius； of a mild temper in general； would
be as hard to be appeased when once irritated； as he was slow to be
provoked。 Nobody dared to raise his voice in opposition； Metilius
alone； whose office of tribune gave him security to say what he
pleased （for in the time of a dictatorship that magistrateal one
preserves his authority）； boldly applied himself to the people in
the behalf of Minucius； that they should not suffer him to be made a
sacrifice to the enmity of Fabius； nor permit him to be destroyed；
like the son of Manlius Torquatus； who was beheaded by his father
for a victory fought and triumphantly won against order； he exhorted
them to take away from Fabius that absolute power of a dictator； and
to put it into more worthy hands； better able and more inclined to use
it for the public good。 These impressions very much prevailed upon the
people； though not so far as wholly to dispossess Fabius of the
dictatorship。 But they decreed that Minucius should have an equal
authority with the dictator in the conduct of the war； which was a
thing then without precedent； though a little later it was again
practised after the disaster at Cannae； when the dictator； Marcus
Junius； being with the army； they chose at Rome Fabius Buteo dictator；
that he might create new senators； to supply the numerous places of
those who were killed。 But as soon as； once acting in public； he had
filled those vacant places with a sufficient number； he immediately
dismissed his lictors； and withdrew from all his attendance； and
mingling like a common person with the rest of the people； quietly
went about his own affairs in the forum。
The enemies of Fabius thought they had sufficiently humiliated and
subdued him by raising Minucius to be his equal in authority； but they
mistook the temper of the man； who looked upon their folly as not
his loss； but like Diogenes； who； being told that some persons derided
him； made answer； 〃But I am not derided；〃 meaning that only those were
really insulted on whom such insults made an impression； so Fabius；
with great tranquillity and unconcern； submitted to what happened； and
contributed a proof to the argument of the philosophers that a just
and good man is not capable of being dishonoured。 His only vexation
arose from his fear lest this ill counsel； by supplying
opportunities to the diseased military ambition of his subordinate；
should damage the public cause。 Lest the rashness of Minucius should
now at once run headlong into some disaster； he returned back with all
privacy and speed to the army； where he found Minucius so elevated
with his new dignity； that； a joint…authority not contenting him； he
required by turns to have the command of the army every other day。
This Fabius rejected； but was contented that the army should be
divided； thinking each general singly would better command his part；
than partially command the whole。 The first and fourth legion he
took for his own division； the second and third he delivered to
Minucius； so also of the auxiliary forces each had an equal share。
Minucius； thus exalted； could not contain himself from boasting of
his success in humiliating the high and powerful office of the
dictator