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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
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 app