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his success in humiliating the high and powerful office of the
dictatorship。 Fabius quietly reminded him that it was； in all
wisdom； Hannibal； and not Fabius； whom he had to combat； but if he
must needs contend with his colleague； it had best be in diligence and
care for the preservation of Rome； that it might not be said； a man so
favoured by the people served them worse than he who had been
ill…treated and disgraced by them。
The young general； despising these admonitions as the false humility
of age； immediately removed with the body of his army； and encamped by
himself。 Hannibal； who was not ignorant of all these passages； lay
watching his advantage from them。 It happened that between his army
and that of Minucius there was a certain eminence； which seemed a very
advantageous and not difficult post to encamp upon； the level field
around it appeared； from a distance； to be all smooth and even； though
it had many inconsiderable ditches and dips in it； not discernible
to the eye。 Hannibal； had he pleased； could easily have possessed
himself of this ground； but he had reserved it for a bait； or train；
in proper season； to draw the Romans to an engagement。 Now that
Minucius and Fabius were divided； he thought the opportunity fair
for his purpose； and； therefore； having in the night…time lodged a
convenient number of his men in these ditches and hollow places； early
in the morning he sent forth a small detachment； who； in the sight
of Minucius； proceeded to possess themselves of the rising ground。
According to his expectation； Minucius swallowed the bait； and first
sends out his light troops； and after them some horse； to dislodge the
enemy； and； at last； when he saw Hannibal in person advancing to the
assistance of his men； marched down with his whole army drawn up。 He
engaged with the troops on the eminence； and sustained their missiles；
the combat for some time was equal； but as soon as Hannibal
perceived that the whole army was now sufficiently advanced within the
toils he had set for them； so that their backs were open to his men
whom he had posted in the hollows； he gave the signal； upon which they
rushed forth from various quarters； and with loud cries furiously
attacked Minucius in the rear。 The surprise and the slaughter was
great； and struck universal alarm and disorder through the whole army。
Minucius himself lost all his confidence； he looked from officer to
officer； and found all alike unprepared to face the danger； and
yielding to a flight； which； however； could not end in safety。 The
Numidian horsemen were already in full victory riding about the plain；
cutting down the fugitives。
Fabius was not ignorant of this danger of his countrymen； he foresaw
what would happen from the rashness of Minucius； and the cunning of
Hannibal； and； therefore； kept his men to their arms； in readiness
to wait the event； nor would he trust to the reports of others； but he
himself； in front of his camp； viewed all that passed。 When；
therefore； he saw the army of Minucius encompassed by the enemy； and
that by their countenance and shifting their ground they appeared more
disposed to flight than to resistance； with a great sigh； striking his
hand upon his thigh； he said to those about him； 〃O Hercules！ how much
sooner than I expected； though later than he seemed to desire； hath
Minucius destroyed himself！〃 He then commanded the ensigns to be led
forward； and the army to follow； telling them； 〃We must make haste
to rescue Minucius； who is a valiant man； and a lover of his
country； and if he hath been too forward to engage the enemy； at
another time we will tell him of it。〃 Thus； at the head of his men；
Fabius marched up to the enemy； and first cleared the plain of the
Numidians； and next fell upon those who were charging the Romans in
the rear； cutting down all that made opposition； and obliging the rest
to save themselves by a hasty retreat； lest they should be environed
as the Romans had been。 Hannibal； seeing so sudden a change of
affairs； and Fabius； beyond the force of his age； opening his way
through the ranks up the hillside； that he might join Minucius； warily
forbore； sounded a retreat； and drew off his men into their camp；
while the Romans on their part were no less contented to retire in
safety。 It is reported that upon this occasion Hannibal said jestingly
to his friends： 〃Did not I tell you； that this cloud which always
hovered upon the mountains would； at some time or other； come down
with a storm upon us？〃
Fabius； after his men had picked up the spoils of the field； retired
to his own camp； without saying any harsh or reproachful thing to
his colleague； who； also； in his part； gathering his army together；
spoke and said to them： 〃To conduct great matters and never commit a
fault is above the force of human nature； but to learn and improve
by the faults we have committed； is that which becomes a good and
sensible man。 Some reasons I may have to accuse fortune； but I have
many more to thank her； for in a few hours she hath cured a long
mistake； and taught me that I am not the man who should command
others； but have need of another to command me； and that we are not to
contend for victory over those to whom it is our advantage to yield。
Therefore in everything else henceforth the dictator must be your
commander； only in showing gratitude towards him I will still be
your leader； and always be the first to obey his orders。〃 Having
said this； he commanded the Roman eagles to move forward； and all
his men to follow him to the camp of Fabius。 The soldiers； then； as he
entered； stood amazed at the novelty of the sight； and were anxious
and doubtful what the meaning might be。 When he came near the
dictator's tent； Fabius went forth to meet him； on which he at once
laid his standards at his feet； calling him with a loud voice his
father； while the soldiers with him saluted the soldiers here as their
patrons； the term employed by freedmen to those who gave them their
liberty。 After silence was obtained； Minucius said； 〃You have this
day； O dictator； obtained two victories； one by your valour and
conduct over Hannibal； and another by your wisdom and goodness over
your colleague； by one victory you preserved； and by the other
instructed us； and when we were already suffering one shameful
defeat from Hannibal； by another welcome one from you we were restored
to honour and safety。 I can address you by no nobler name than that of
a kind father； though a father's beneficence falls short of that I
have received from you。 Front a father I individually received the
gift of life； to you I owe its preservation not for myself only； but
for all these who are under me。〃 After this； he threw himself into the
arms of the dictator； and in the same manner the soldiers of each army
embraced one another with gladness and tears of joy。
Not long after； Fabius laid down the dictatorship； and consuls
were again created。 Those who immediately succeeded observed the
same method in managing the war； and avoided all occasions of fighting
Hannibal in a pitched battle； they only succoured their allies； and
preserved the towns from falling off to the enemy。 But afterwards；
when Terentius Varro； a man of obscure birth； but very popular and
bold； had obtained the consulship； he soon made it appear that by
his rashness and ignorance he would stake the whole commonwealth on
the hazard。 For it was his custom to declaim in all assemblies；
that； as long as Rome employed generals like Fabius； there never would
be an end of the war； vaunting that whenever he should get sight of
the enemy； he would that same day free Italy from the strangers。
With these promises he so prevailed； that he raised a greater army
than had ever yet been sent out of Rome。 There were enlisted
eighty…eight thousand fighting men； but what gave confidence to the
populace； only terrified the wise and experienced； and none more
than Fabius； since if so great a body； and the flower of the Roman
youth； should be cut off； they could not see any new resource for
the safety of Rome。 They addressed themselves； therefore； to the other
consul； Aemilius Paulus； a man of great experience in war； b