按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the safety of Rome。 They addressed themselves； therefore； to the other
consul； Aemilius Paulus； a man of great experience in war； but
unpopular； and fearful also of the people； who once before upon some
impeachment had condemned him； so that he needed encouragement to
withstand his colleague's temerity。 Fabius told him； if he would
profitably serve his country； he must no less oppose Varro's
ignorant eagerness than Hannibal's conscious readiness； since both
alike conspired to decide the fate of Rome by a battle。 〃It is more
reasonable；〃 he said to him； 〃that you should believe me than Varro；
in matters relating to Hannibal； when I tell you that if for this year
you abstain from fighting with him； either his army will perish of
itself； or else he will be glad to depart of his own will。 This
evidently appears； inasmuch as； notwithstanding his victories； none of
the countries or towns of Italy come in to him； and his army is not
now the third part of what it was at first。〃 To this Paulus is said to
have replied； 〃Did I only consider myself； I should rather choose to
be exposed to the weapons of Hannibal than once more to the
suffrages of my fellow…citizens； who are urgent for what you
disapprove； yet since the cause of Rome is at stake； I will rather
seek in my conduct to please and obey Fabius than all the world
besides。〃
These good measures were defeated by the importunity of Varro； whom；
when they were both come to the army； nothing would content but a
separate command； that each consul should have his day； and when his
turn came； he posted his army close to Hannibal； at a village called
Cannae； by the river Aufidus。 It was no sooner day； but he set up
the scarlet coat flying over his tent； which was the signal of battle。
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；
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。
According to his usual manner； Hannibal employed stratagems to
advantage himself。 In the first place； he so drew up his men that
the wind was at their backs； which at that time blew with a perfect
storm of violence； and； sweeping over the great plains of sand；
carried before it a cloud of dust over the Carthaginian army into
the faces of the Romans； which much disturbed them in the fight。 In
the next place； all his best men he put into his wings； and in the
body which was somewhat more advanced than the wings； placed the worst
and the weakest of his army。 He commanded those in the wings； that；
when the enemy had made a thorough charge upon that middle advance
body； which he knew would recoil； as not being able to withstand their
shock； and when the Romans in their pursuit should be far enough
engaged within the two wings； they should； both on the right and the
left； charge them in the flank； and endeavour to encompass them。
This appears to have been the chief cause of the Roman loss。
Pressing upon Hannibal's front； which gave ground； they reduced the
form of his army into a perfect half…moon； and gave ample
opportunity to the captains of the chosen troops to charge them
right and left on their flanks； and to cut off and destroy all who did
not fall back before the Carthaginian wings united in their rear。 To
this general calamity； it is also said； that a strange mistake among
the cavalry much contributed。 For the horse of Aemilius receiving a
hurt and throwing his master； those about him immediately alighted
to aid the consul； and the Roman troops； seeing their commanders
thus quitting their horses； took it for a sign that they should all
dismount and charge the enemy on foot。 At the sight of this；
Hannibal was heard to say； 〃This pleases me better than if they had
been delivered to me bound hand and foot。〃 For the particulars of this
engagement； we refer our reader to those authors who have written at
large upon the subject。
The consul Varro； with a thin company； fled to Venusia； Aemilius
Paulus； unable any longer to oppose the flight of his men； or the
flight of his men； or the pursuit of the enemy； his body all covered
with wounds； and his soul no less wounded with grief； sat himself down
upon a stone； expecting the kindness of a despatching blow。 His face
was so disfigured； and all his person so stained with blood； that
his very friends and domestics passing by knew him not。 At last
Cornelius Lentulus； a young man of patrician race； perceiving who he
was； alighted from his horse； and； tendering it to him； desired him to
get up and save a life so necessary to the safety of the commonwealth；
which； at this time； would dearly want so great a captain。 But nothing
could prevail upon him to accept of the offer； he obliged young
Lentulus； with tears in his eyes； to remount his horse； then
standing up； he gave him his hand； and commanded him to tell Fabius
Maximus that Aemilius Paulus had followed his directions to his very
last； and had not in the least deviated from those measures which were
agreed between them； but that it was his hard fate to be overpowered
by Varro in the first place； and secondly by Hannibal。 Having
despatched Lentulus with this commission； he marked where the
slaughter was greatest； and there threw himself upon the swords of the
enemy。 In this battle it is reported that fifty thousand Romans were
slain； four thousand prisoners taken in the field； and ten thousand in
the camp of both consuls。
The friends of Hannibal earnestly persuaded him to follow up his
victory； and pursue the flying Romans into the very gates of Rome；
assuring him that in five days' time he might sup in the Capitol；
nor is it easy to imagine what consideration hindered him from it。
It would seem rather than some supernatural or divine intervention
caused the hesitation and timidity which he now displayed； and which
made Barcas； a Carthaginian； tell him with indignation； 〃You know；
Hannibal； how to gain a victory； but not how to use it。〃 Yet it
produced a marvellous revolution in his affairs； he； who hitherto
had not one town； market； or seaport in his possession； who had
nothing for the subsistence of his men but what he pillaged from day
to day； who had no place of retreat or basis of operation； but was
roving； as it were； with a huge troop of banditti； now became master
of the best provinces and towns of Italy； and of Capua itself； next to
Rome the most flourishing and opulent city； all which came over to
him； and submitted to his authority。
It is the saying of Euripides； that 〃a man is in ill…case when he
must try a friend；〃 and so neither； it would seem； is a state in a
good one； when it needs an able general。 And so it was with the
Romans； the counsels and actions of Fabius； which； before the
battle； they had branded as cowardice and fear； now； in the other
extreme； they accounted to have been more than human wisdom； as though
nothing but a divine power of intellect could have seen so far； and
foretold contrary to the judgment of all others； a result which；
even now it had arrived； was hardly credible。 In him； therefore；
they placed their whole remaining hopes； his wisdom was the sacred
altar and temple to which they fled for refuge； and his counsels； more