FABIUS
270…203 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
HAVING related the memorable actions of Pericles； our history now
proceeds to the life of Fabius。 A son of Hercules and a nymph； of some
woman of that country； who brought him forth on the banks of Tiber；
was； it is said； the first Fabius； the founder of the numerous and
distinguished family of the name。 Others will have it that they were
first called Fodii； because the first of the race delighted in digging
pitfalls for wild beasts； fodere being still the Latin for to dig； and
fossa for a ditch； and that in process of time； by the change of the
two letters； they grew to be called Fabii。 But be these things true or
false； certain it is that this family for a long time yielded a
great number of eminent persons。 Our Fabius； who was fourth in descent
from that Fabius Rullus who first brought the honourable surname of
Maximus into his family； was also； by way of personal nickname； called
Verrucosus； from a wart on his upper lip； and in his childhood they in
like manner named him Ovicula； or The Lamb； on account of his
extreme mildness of temper。 His slowness in speaking； his long
labour and pains in learning； his deliberation in entering into the
sports of other children； his easy submission to everybody； as if he
had no will of his own； made those who judge superficially of him； the
greater number； esteem him insensible and stupid； and few only saw
that this tardiness proceeded from stability； and discerned the
greatness of his mind； and the lionlikeness of his temper。 But as soon
as he came into employments； his virtues exerted and showed
themselves； his reputed want of energy then was recognized by people
in general as a freedom of passion； his slowness in words and actions；
the effect of a true prudence； his want of rapidity and his
sluggishness； as constancy and firmness。
Living in a great commonwealth； surrounded by many enemies； he saw
the wisdom of inuring his body （nature's own weapon） to warlike
exercises； and disciplining his tongue for public oratory in a style
conformable to his life and character。 His eloquence； indeed； had
not much of popular ornament； nor empty artifice； but there was in
it great weight of sense； it was strong and sententious； much after
the way of Thucydides。 We have yet extant his funeral oration upon the
death of his son； who died consul； which he recited before the people。
He was five times consul； and in his first consulship had the honour
of a triumph for the victory he gained over the Ligurians； whom he
defeated in a set battle； and drove them to take shelter in the
Alps； from whence they never after made any inroad or depredation upon
their neighbours。 After this； Hannibal came into Italy； who； at his
first entrance； having gained a great battle near the river Trebia；
traversed all Tuscany with his victorious army； and； desolating the
country round about； filled Rome itself with astonishment and
terror。 Besides the more common signs of thunder and lightning then
happening； the report of several unheard of and utterly strange
portents much increased the popular consternation。 For it was said
that some targets sweated blood； that at Antium； when they reaped
their corn； many of the ears were filled with blood； that it had
rained red…hot stones； that the Falerians had seen the heavens open
and several scrolls falling down； in one of which was plainly written；
〃Mars himself stirs his arms。〃 But these prodigies had no effect
upon the impetuous and fiery temper of the consul Flaminius； whose
natural promptness had been much heightened by his late unexpected
victory over the Gauls； when he fought them contrary to the order of
the senate and the advice of his colleague。 Fabius； on the other side；
thought it not seasonable to engage with the enemy； not that he much
regarded the prodigies； which he thought too strange to be easily
understood； though many were alarmed by them； but in regard that the
Carthaginians were but few； and in want of money and supplies； he
deemed it best not to meet in the field a general whose army had
been tried in many encounters； and whose object was a battle； but to
send aid to their allies； control the movements of the various subject
cities； and let the force and vigour of Hannibal waste away and
expire； like a flame； for want of the aliment。
These weighty reasons did not prevail with Flaminius； who
protested he would never suffer the advance of the enemy to the
city； nor be reduced； like Camillus in former time； to fight for
Rome within the walls of Rome。 Accordingly he ordered the tribunes
to draw out the army into the field； and though he himself； leaping on
horseback to go out； was no sooner mounted but the beast； without
any apparent cause； fell into so violent a fit of trembling and
bounding that he cast his rider headlong on the ground； he was no ways
deterred； but proceeded as he had begun； and marched forward up to
Hannibal； who was posted near the Lake Thrasymene in Tuscany。 At the
moment of this engagement； there happened so great an earthquake； that
it destroyed several towns； altered the course of rivers； and
carried off parts of high cliffs； yet such was the eagerness of the
combatants； that they were entirely insensible of it。
In this battle Flaminius fell； after many proofs of his strength and
courage； and round about him all the bravest of the army； in the
whole； fifteen thousand were killed； and as many made prisoners。
Hannibal； desirous to bestow funeral honours upon the body of
Flaminius； made diligent search after it； but could not find it
among the dead； nor was it ever known what became of it。 Upon the
former engagement near Trebia； neither the general who wrote； nor
the express who told the news； used straightforward and direct
terms； nor related it otherwise than as a drawn battle； with equal
loss on either side； but on this occasion as soon as Pomponius the
praetor had the intelligence； he caused the people to assemble； and；
without disguising or dissembling the matter； told them plainly； 〃We
are beaten； O Romans； in a great battle； the consul Flaminius is
killed； think； therefore； what is to be done for your safety。〃 Letting
loose his news like a gate of wind upon an open sea； he threw the city
into utter confusion： in such consternation； their thoughts found no
support or stay。 The danger at hand at last awakened their judgments
into a resolution to choose a dictator； who by the sovereign authority
of his office； and by his personal wisdom and courage； might be able
to manage the public affairs。 Their choice unanimously fell upon
Fabius； whose character seemed equal to the greatness of the office；
whose age was so far advanced as to give him experience； without
taking from him the vigour of action； his body could execute what
his soul designed； and his temper was a happy compound of confidence
and cautiousness。
Fabius； being thus installed in the office of dictator； in the first
place gave the command of the horse to Lucius Minucius； and next asked
leave of the senate for himself； that in time of battle he might serve
on horseback； which by an ancient law amongst the Romans was forbid to
their generals； whether it were； that； placing their greatest strength
in their foot； they would have their commanders…in…chief posted
amongst them； or else to let them know； that； how great and absolute
soever their authority were； the people and senate were still their
masters； of whom they must ask leave。 Fabius； however； to make the
authority of his charge more observable； and to render the people more
submissive and obedient to him； caused himself to be accompanied
with the full body of four…and…twenty lictors； and； when the surviving
consul came to visit him； sent him word to dismiss his lictors with
their fasces； the ensigns of authority； and appear before him as a
private person。
The first solemn action of his dictatorship was very fitly a
religious one： an admonition to the people； that their late
overthrow had not befallen them through want of courage in their
soldiers； but through the neglect of divine ceremonies in the general。
He therefore exhorted them not to fear the enemy； but by extraordinary
honour to propitiate the gods。 This he did； not to fill their minds
with superstition； but by religious feeling to raise their courage；
and lessen their fear of the enemy by inspiring the belief that Heaven
was on their side。 With this view； the secret prophecies called the
Sibylline Books were consulted； sundry predictions found in them
were said to refer to the fortunes and events of the time； but none
except the consulter was informed。 Presenting himself to the people；
the dictator made a vow before them to offer in sacrifice the whole
product of the next season； all Italy over； of the cows； goats； swine；
sheep； both in the mountains and the plains； and to celebrate
musical festivities with an expenditure of the precise sum of 333
sestertia and 333 denarii； with one…third of a denarius over。 The
sum total of which is； in our money； 83；583 drachmas and 2 obols。 What
the mystery might be in that exact number is not easy to determine；
unless it were in honour of the perfection of the number three； as
being the first of odd numbers； the first that contains in itself
multiplication； with all other properties whatsoever belonging to
numbers in general。
In this manner Fabius； having given the people better heart for
the future； by making them believe that the gods took their side；
for his own part placed his whole confidence in himself； believing
that the gods bestowed victory and good fortune by the instrumentality
of valour and of prudence； and thus prepared he set forth to oppose
Hannibal； not with intention to fight him； but with the purpose of
wearing out and wasting the vigour of his arms by lapse of time； of
meeting his want of resources by superior means； by large numbers
the smallness of his forces。 With this design； he always encamped on
the highest grounds； where the enemy's horse could have no acce