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altar and temple to which they fled for refuge； and his counsels； more
than anything； preserved them from dispersing and deserting their
city； as in the time when the Gauls took possession of Rome。 He；
whom they esteemed fearful and pusillanimous when they were； as they
thought； in a prosperous condition was now the only man； in this
general and unbounded dejection and confusion； who showed no fear； but
walked the streets with an assured and serene countenance； addressed
his fellow…citizens； checked the women's lamentations； and the
public gatherings of those who wanted thus to vent their sorrows。 He
caused the senate to meet； he heartened up the magistrates； and was
himself as the soul and life of every office。
He placed guards at the gates of the city to stop the frightened
multitude from flying； he regulated and confined their mournings for
their slain friends； both as to time and place； ordering that each
family should perform such observances within private walls； and
that they should continue only the space of one month； and then the
whole city should be purified。 The feast of Ceres happening to fall
within this time； it was decreed that the solemnity should be
intermitted； lest the fewness； and the sorrowful countenance of
those who should celebrate it； might too much expose to the people the
greatness of their loss； besides that； the worship most acceptable
to the gods is that which comes from cheerful hearts。 But those
rites which were proper for appeasing their anger； and procuring
auspicious signs and presages； were by the direction of the augurs
carefully performed。 Fabius Pictor； a near kinsman to Maximus； was
sent to consult the oracle of Delphi； and about the same time； two
vestals having been detected to have been violated； the one killed
herself； and the other； according to custom； was buried alive。
Above all； let us admire the high spirit and equanimity of this
Roman commonwealth； that when the consul Varro came beaten and
flying home； full of shame and humiliation； after he had so
disgracefully and calamitously managed their affairs； yet the whole
senate and people went forth to meet him at the gates of the city； and
received him with honour and respect。 And； silence being commanded；
the magistrates and chief of the senate； Fabius amongst them；
commended him before the people； because he did not despair of the
safety of the commonwealth； after so great a loss； but was come to
take the government into his hands； to execute the laws； and aid his
fellow…citizens in their prospect of future deliverance。
When word was brought to Rome that Hannibal； after the fight； had
marched with his army into other parts of Italy； the hearts of the
Romans began to revive； and they proceeded to send out generals and
armies。 The most distinguished commands were held by Fabius Maximus
and Claudius Marcellus； both generals of great fame； though upon
opposite grounds。 For Marcellus； as we have set forth in his life； was
a man of action and high spirit； ready and bold with his own hand；
and； as Homer describes his warriors； fierce； and delighting in
fights。 Boldness； enterprise； and dating to match those of Hannibal；
constituted his tactics； and marked his engagements。 But Fabius
adhered to his former principles； still persuaded that； by following
close and not fighting him； Hannibal and his army would at last be
tried out and consumed； like a wrestler in too high condition； whose
very excess of strength makes him the more likely suddenly to give way
and lose it。 Posidonius tells us that the Romans called Marcellus
their sword； and Fabius their buckler； and that the vigour of the one；
mixed with the steadiness of the other； made a happy compound that
proved the salvation of Rome。 So that Hannibal found by experience
that encountering the one； he met with a rapid； impetuous river； which
drove him back； and still made some breach upon him； and by the other；
though silently and quietly passing by him； he was insensibly washed
away and consumed； and； at last； was brought to this； that he
dreaded Marcellus when he was in motion； and Fabius when he sat still。
During the whole course of this war； he had still to do with one or
both of these generals； for each of them was five times consul； and；
as praetors or proconsuls or consuls； they had always a part in the
government of the army； till； at last； Marcellus fell into the trap
which Hannibal had laid for him； and was killed in his fifth
consulship。 But all his craft and subtlety were unsuccessful upon
Fabius； who only once was in some danger of being caught； when
counterfeit letters came to him from the principal inhabitants of
Metapontum； with promises to deliver up their town if he would come
before it with his army； and intimations that they should expect
him。 This train had almost drawn him in； he resolved to march to
them with part of his army； and was diverted only by consulting the
omens of the birds； which he found to be inauspicious； and not long
after it was discovered that the letters had been forged by
Hannibal； who； for his reception； had laid an ambush to entertain him。
This； perhaps； we must rather attribute to the favour of the gods than
to the prudence of Fabius。
In preserving the towns and allies from revolt by fair and gentle
treatment； and in not using rigour； or showing a suspicion upon
every light suggestion； his conduct was remarkable。 It is told of him；
that being informed of a certain Marsian； eminent for courage and good
birth； who had been speaking underhand with some of the soldiers about
deserting； Fabius was so far from using severity against him； that
he called for him； and told him he was sensible of the neglect that
had been shown to his merit and good service； which； he said； was a
great fault in the commanders who reward more by favour than by
desert； 〃but henceforth； whenever you are aggrieved；〃 said Fabius；
〃I shall consider it your fault； if you apply yourself to any one
but to me；〃 and when he had so spoken； he bestowed an excellent horse；
and other presents upon him； and； from that time forwards； there was
not a faithfuller and more trusty man in the whole army。 With good
reason he judged； that； if those who have the government of horses and
dogs endeavour by gentle usage to cure their angry and untractable
tempers； rather than by cruelty and beating； much more should those
who haze the command of men try to bring them to order and
discipline by the mildest and fairest means； and not treat them
worse than gardeners do those wild plants； which； with care and
attention； lose gradually the savageness of their nature； and bear
excellent fruit。
At another time； some of his officers informed him that one of their
men was very often absent from his place； and out at nights； he
asked them what kind of man he was； they all answered； that the
whole army had not a better man； that he was a native of Lucania；
and proceeded to speak of several actions which they had seen him
perform。 Fabius made strict inquiry； and discovered at last that these
frequent excursions which he ventured upon were to visit a young girl；
with whom he was in love。 Upon which he gave private order to some
of his men to find out the woman and secretly convey her into his
own tent； and then sent for the Lucanian； and； calling him aside； told
him； that he very well knew how often he had been out away from the
camp at night； which was a capital transgression against military
discipline and the Roman laws； but he knew also how brave he was；
and the good services he had done； therefore； in consideration of
them； he was willing to forgive him his fault； but to keep him in good
order； he was resolved to place one over him to be his keeper； who
should be accountable for his good behaviour。 Having said this； he
produced the woman； and told the soldier； terrified and amazed at
the adventure； 〃This is the person who must answer for you； and by
your future behaviour we shall see whether your night rambles were
on account of love； or for any other worse design。〃
Another passage there was； something of the same kind； which
gained him possession of Tarentum。 There was a young Ta