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 appeared more
disposed to flight than to resistance； with a great sigh； striking his
hand upon his thigh； he said to those about him； 〃O Hercules！ how much
sooner than I expected； though later than he seemed to desire； hath
Minucius destroyed himself！〃 He then commanded the ensigns to be led
forward； and the army to follow； telling them； 〃We must make haste
to rescue Minucius； who is a valiant man； and a lover of his
country； and if he hath been too forward to engage the enemy； at
another time we will tell him of it。〃 Thus； at the head of his men；
Fabius marched up to the enemy； and first cleared the plain of the
Numidians； and next fell upon those who were charging the Romans in
the rear； cutting down all that made opposition； and obliging the rest
to save themselves by a hasty retreat； lest they should be environed
as the Romans had been。 Hannibal； seeing so sudden a change of
affairs； and Fabius； beyond the force of his age； opening his way
through the ranks up the hillside； that he might join Minucius； warily
forbore； sounded a retreat； and drew off his men into their camp；
while the Romans on their part were no less contented to retire in
safety。 It is reported that upon this occasion Hannibal said jestingly
to his friends： 〃Did not I tell you； that this cloud which always
hovered upon the mountains would； at some time or other； come down
with a storm upon us？〃
Fabius； after his men had picked up the spoils of the field； retired
to his own camp； without saying any harsh or reproachful thing to
his colleague； who； also； in his part； gathering his army together；
spoke and said to them： 〃To conduct great matters and never commit a
fault is above the force of human nature； but to learn and improve
by the faults we have committed； is that which becomes a good and
sensible man。 Some reasons I may have to accuse fortune； but I have
many more to thank her； for in a few hours she hath cured a long
mistake； and taught me that I am not the man who should command
others； but have need of another to command me； and that we are not to
contend for victory over those to whom it is our advantage to yield。
Therefore in everything else henceforth the dictator must be your
commander； only in showing gratitude towards him I will still be
your leader； and always be the first to obey his orders。〃 Having
said this； he commanded the Roman eagles to move forward； and all
his men to follow him to the camp of Fabius。 The soldiers； then； as he
entered； stood amazed at the novelty of the sight； and were anxious
and doubtful what the meaning might be。 When he came near the
dictator's tent； Fabius went forth to meet him； on which he at once
laid his standards at his feet； calling him with a loud voice his
father； while the soldiers with him saluted the soldiers here as their
patrons； the term employed by freedmen to those who gave them their
liberty。 After silence was obtained； Minucius said； 〃You have this
day； O dictator； obtained two victories； one by your valour and
conduct over Hannibal； and another by your wisdom and goodness ov