and the power of his presence now； in his robe of state； appeared
far more terrible and severe than it had done when he was arrayed in
armour。 Yet； reanimated at length by Marcellus's rivals； they began
their impeachment； and made an oration in which pleas of justice
mingled with lamentation and complaint； the sum of which was； that
being allies and friends of the people of Rome； they had；
notwithstanding； suffered things which other commanders had
abstained from inflicting upon enemies。 To this Marcellus answered
that they had committed many acts of hostility against the people of
Rome； and had suffered nothing but what enemies conquered and captured
in war cannot possibly be protected from suffering： that it was
their own fault they had been made captives； because they refused to
give ear to his frequent attempts to persuade them by gentle means：
neither were they forced into war by the power of tyrants； but had
rather chosen the tyrants themselves for the express object that
they might make war。 The orations ended； and the Syracusans； according
to the custom； having retired； Marcellus left his colleague to ask the
sentences； and； withdrawing with the Syracusans； stayed expecting at
the doors of the senate…house； not in the least discomposed in spirit；
either with alarm at the accusation； or by anger against the
Syracusans； but with perfect calmness and serenity attending the issue
of the cause。 The sentences at length being all asked； and a decree of
the senate made in vindication of Marcellus； the Syracusans； with
tears flowing from their eyes； cast themselves at his knees；
beseeching him to forgive themselves there present； and to be moved by
the misery of the rest of their city； which would ever be mindful
of； and grateful for； his benefits。 Thus Marcellus； softened by
their tears and distress； was not only reconciled to the deputies； but
ever afterwards continued to find opportunity of doing kindness to the
Syracusans。 The liberty which he had restored to them； and their
rights； laws； and goods that were left； the senate confirmed。 Upon
which account the Syracusans； besides other signal honours； made a
law； that if Marcellus should at any time come into Sicily； or any
of his posterity； the Syracusans should wear garlands and offer public
sacrifice to the gods。
After this he moved against Hannibal。 And whereas the other
consuls and commanders； since the defeat received at Cannae； had all
made use of the same policy against Hannibal； namely； to decline
coming to a battle with him； and none had had the courage to encounter
him in the field and put themselves to the decision by the sword；
Marcellus entered upon the opposite course； thinking that Italy
would be destroyed by the very delay by which they looked to wear
out Hannibal； and that Fabius； who； adhering to his cautious policy；
waited to see the war extinguished； while Rome itself meantime
wasted away （like timid physicians； who； dreading to administer
remedies； stay waiting； and believe that what is the decay of the
patient's strength is the decline of the disease）； was not taking a
right course to heal the sickness of his country。 And first； the great
cities of the Samnites； which had revolted； came into his power； in
which he found a large quantity of corn and money； and three
thousand of Hannibal's soldiers； that were left for the defence。 After
this； the proconsul Cnaeus Fulvius with eleven tribunes of the
soldiers being slain in Apulia； and the greatest part of the army also
at the same time cut off； he despatched letters to Rome； and bade
the people be of good courage； for that he was now upon the march
against Hannibal； to turn his triumph into sadness。 On these letters
being read； Livy writes that the people were not only not
encouraged； but more discouraged than before。 For danger； they
thought； was but the greater in proportion as Marcellus was of more
value than Fulvius。 He； as he had written； advancing into the
territories of the Lucanians； came up to him at Numistro； and； the
enemy keeping himself upon the hills； pitched his camp in a level
plain； and the next day drew forth his army in order for fight。 Nor
did Hannibal refuse the challenge。 They fought long and obstinately on
both sides； victory yet seeming undecided； when； after three hours'
conflict； night hardly parted them。 The next day； as soon as the sun
was risen； Marcellus again brought forth his troops； and ranged them
among the dead bodies of the slain； challenging Hannibal to solve
the question by another trial。 When he dislodged and drew off；
Marcellus； gathering up the spoils of the enemies； and burying the
bodies of his slain soldiers； closely followed him。 And though
Hannibal often used stratagems； and laid ambushes to entrap Marcellus；
yet he never could circumvent him。 By skirmishes； meantime； in all
of which he was superior； Marcellus gained himself such high repute；
that； when the time of the Comitia at Rome was near at hand； the
senate thought fit rather to recall the other consul from Sicily
than to withdraw Marcellus from his conflict with Hannibal； and on his
arrival they bid him name Quintus Fulvius dictator。 For the dictator
is created neither by the people nor by the senate； but the consul
of the praetor； before the popular assembly； pronounces him to be
dictator whom he himself chooses。 Hence he is called dictator；
dicere meaning to name。 Others say that he is named dictator because
his word is a law； and he orders what he pleases； without submitting
it to the vote。 For the Romans call the orders of magistrates Edicts。
And now because Marcellus's colleague； who was recalled from Sicily；
had a mind to name another man dictator； and would not be forced to
change his opinion； he sailed away by night back to Sicily。 So the
common people made an order that Quintus Fulvius should be chosen
dictator： and the senate； by an express； commanded Marcellus to
nominate him。 He obeying proclaimed him dictator according to the
order of the people； but the office of proconsul was continued to
himself for a year。 And having arranged with Fabius Maximus that；
while he besieged Tarentum； he would； by following Hannibal and
drawing him up and down； detain him from coming to the relief of the
Tarentines； he overtook him at Canusium： and as Hannibal often shifted
his camp； and still declined the combat； he everywhere sought to
engage him。 At last； pressing upon him while encamping； by light
skirmishes he provoked him to a battle； but night again divided them
in the very heat of the conflict。 The next day Marcellus again
showed himself in arms； and brought up his forces in array。
Hannibal； in extreme grief； called his Carthaginians together to an
harangue： and vehemently prayed them to fight to…day worthily of all
their former success； 〃For you see；〃 said he； 〃how； after such great
victories； we have not liberty to respire； nor to repose ourselves；
though victors； unless we drive this man back。〃 Then the two armies；
joining battle； fought fiercely； when the event of an untimely
movement showed Marcellus to have been guilty of an error。 The right
wing being hard pressed upon； he commanded one of the legions to be
brought up to the front。 This change disturbing the array and
posture of the legions gave the victory to the enemies； and there fell
two thousand seven hundred Romans。 Marcellus； after he had retreated
into his camp； called his soldiers together。 〃I see；〃 said he； 〃many
Roman arms and bodies； but I see not so much as one Roman。〃 To their
entreaties for his pardon； he returned a refusal while they remained
beaten； but promised to give it so soon as they should overcome； and
he resolved to bring them into the field again the next day； that
the fame of their victory might arrive at Rome before that of their
flight。 Dismissing the assembly； he commanded barley instead of
wheat to be given to those companies that had turned their backs。
These rebukes were so bitter to the soldiers； that though a great
number of them were grievously wounded； yet they relate there was
not one to whom the general's oration was not more painful and
smarting than his wounds。
The day breaking； a scarlet toga； the sign of instant battle； was
displayed。 The companies marked with ignominy begged they might be
posted in the foremost place； and obtained their request。 Then the
tribunes bring forth the rest of the forces； and draw them up。 On news
of which； 〃O strange！〃 said Hannibal； 〃what will you do with this man；
who can bear neither good nor bad fortune？ He is the only man who
neither suffers us to rest when he is victor； nor rests himself when
he is overcome。 We shall have； it seems； perpetually to fight with
him； as in good success his confidence； and in ill success his
shame； still urges him to some further enterprise。〃 Then the armies
engaged。 When the fight was doubtful； Hannibal commanded the elephants
to be brought into the first battalion； and to be driven upon the
van of the Romans。 When the beasts； trampling upon many； soon caused
disorder； Flavius； a tribune of soldiers； snatching an ensign； meets
them； and wounding the first elephant with the spike at the bottom
of the ensign staff； puts him to flight。 The beast turned around
upon the next； and drove back both him and the rest that followed。
Marcellus； seeing this； pours in his horse with great force upon the
elephants； and upon the enemy disordered by their flight。 The horse；
making a fierce impression； pursued the Carthaginians home to their
camp； while the elephants； wounded and running upon their own party；
caused a considerable slaughter。 It is said more than eight thousand
were slain； of the Roman army three thousand； and almost all
wounded。 This gave Hannibal opportunity to retire in the silence of
the night； and to remove to greater distance from Marcellus； who was
kept from pursuing by the number of his wounded men； and removed； by
gentle marches； into Campania； and spent the summer at Sinuessa；
engaged in restoring them。
But as Hannibal； having disentangled himself from Marcellus；
ranged with his army round about the country； and wasted Italy free
from all fear； at Rome Marcellus was evil spoken of。 His det