Bruttian born； and was kept by Fabius as his concubine； and being a
countrywoman and an acquaintance of the Bruttian governor； he
privately sent her to him to corrupt him。
Whilst these matters were thus in process； to draw off Hannibal from
scenting the design； Fabius sends orders to the garrison in Rhegium；
that they should waste and spoil the Bruttian country； and should also
lay siege to Caulonia； and storm the place with all their might。 These
were a body of eight thousand men； the worst of the Roman army； who
had most of them been runaways； and had been brought home by Marcellus
from Sicily； in dishonour； so that the loss of them would not be any
great grief to the Romans。 Fabius； therefore； threw out these men as a
bait for Hannibal； to divert him from Tarentum； who instantly caught
at it； and led his forces to Caulonia； in the meantime； Fabius sat
down before Tarentum。 On the sixth day of the siege； the young
Tarentine slips by night out of the town； and； having carefully
observed the place where the Bruttian commander； according to
agreement； was to admit the Romans； gave an account of the whole
matter to Fabius； who thought it not safe to rely wholly upon the
plot； but； while proceeding with secrecy to the post； gave order for a
general assault to be made on the other side of the town； both by land
and sea。 This being accordingly executed； while the Tarentines hurried
to defend the town on the side attacked； Fabius received the signal
from the Bruttian； scaled the walls； and entered the town unopposed。
Here； we must confess； ambition seems to have overcome him。 To
make it appear to the world that he had taken Tarentum by force and
his own prowess； and not by treachery； he commanded his men to kill
the Bruttians before all others； yet he did not succeed in
establishing the impression he desired； but merely gained the
character of perfidy and cruelty。 Many of the Tarentines were also
killed； and thirty thousand of them were sold for slaves； the army had
the plunder of the town； and there was brought into the treasury three
thousand talents。 Whilst they were carrying off everything else as
plunder； the officer who took the inventory asked what should be
done with their gods； meaning the pictures and statues； Fabius
answered； 〃Let us leave their angry gods to the Tarentines。〃
Nevertheless； he removed the colossal statue of Hercules； and had it
set up in the Capitol； with one of himself on horseback； in brass；
near it； proceedings very different from those of Marcellus on a
like occasion； and which； indeed； very much set off in the eyes of the
world his clemency and humanity； as appears in the account of his
life。
Hannibal； it is said； was within five miles of Tarentum； when he was
informed that the town was taken。 He said openly； 〃Rome then has
also got a Hannibal； as we won Tarentum； so have we lost it。〃 And；
in private with some of his confidants； he told them； for the first
time； that he always thought it difficult； but now he held it
impossible； with the forces he then had； to master Italy。
Upon this success； Fabius had a triumph decreed him at Rome； much
more splendid than his first； they looked upon him now as a champion
who had learned to cope with his antagonist； and could now easily foil
his arts and prove his best skill ineffectual。 And； indeed； the army
of Hannibal was at this time partly worn away with continual action；
and partly weakened and become dissolute with overabundance and
luxury。 Marcus Livius； who was governor of Tarentum when it was
betrayed to Hannibal； and then retired into the citadel； which he kept
till the town was retaken； was annoyed at these honours and
distinctions； and； on one occasion； openly declared in the senate；
that by his resistance； more than by any action of Fabius； Tarentum
had been recovered； on which Fabius laughingly replied： 〃You say
very true； for if Marcus Livius had not lost Tarentum； Fabius
Maximus had never recovered it。〃 The people； amongst other marks of
gratitude； gave his son the consulship of the next year； shortly after
whose entrance upon his office； there being some business on foot
about provision for the war； his father； either by reason of age and
infirmity； or perhaps out of design to try his son； came up to him
on horseback。 While he was still at a distance； the young consul
observed it； and bade one of his lictors command his father to alight；
and tell him if he had any business with the consul； he should come on
foot。 The standers…by seemed offended at the imperiousness of the
son towards a father so venerable for his age and his authority； and
turned their eyes in silence towards Fabius。 He； however； instantly
alighted from his horse； and with open arms came up； almost running；
and embraced his son； saying； 〃Yes； my son； you do well； and
understand well what authority you have received； and over whom you
are to use it。 This was the way by which we and our forefathers
advanced the dignity of Rome； preferring ever her honour and service
to our own fathers and children。〃
And； in fact； it is told that the great…grandfather of our Fabius；
who was undoubtedly the greatest man of Rome in his time； both in
reputation and authority； who had been five times consul； and had been
honoured with several triumphs for victories obtained by him； took
pleasure in serving as lieutenant under his own son； when he went as
consul to his command。 And when afterwards his son had a triumph
bestowed upon him for his good service； the old man followed； on
horseback； his triumphant chariot； as one of his attendants； and
made it his glory； that while he really was； and was acknowledged to
be； the greatest man in Rome； and held a father's full power over
his son； he yet submitted himself to the laws and the magistrate。
But the praises of our Fabius are not bounded here。 He afterwards
lost his son； and was remarkable for bearing the loss with the
moderation becoming a pious father and a wise man； and as it was the
custom amongst the Romans； upon the death of any illustrious person；
to have a funeral oration recited by some of the nearest relations； he
took upon himself that office； and delivered a speech in the forum；
which he committed afterwards to writing。
After Cornelius Scipio； who was sent into Spain； had driven the
Carthaginians； defeated by him in many battles； out of the country；
and had gained over to Rome many towns and nations with large
resources； he was received at his coming home with unexampled joy
and acclamation of the people； who； to show their gratitude； elected
him consul for the year ensuing。 Knowing what high expectation they
had of him； he thought the occupation of contesting Italy with
Hannibal a mere old man's employment； and proposed no less a task to
himself than to make Carthage the seat of the war； fill Africa with
arms and devastation； and so oblige Hannibal； instead of invading
the countries of others； to draw back and defend his own。 And to
this end he proceeded to exert all the influence he had with the
people。 Fabius； on the other side； opposed the undertaking with all
his might； alarming the city； and telling them that nothing but the
temerity of a hot young man could inspire them with such dangerous
counsels； and sparing no means； by word or deed； to prevent it。 He
prevailed with the senate to espouse his sentiments； but the common
people thought that he envied the fame of Scipio； and that he was
afraid lest this young conqueror should achieve some great and noble
exploit； and have the glory； perhaps； of driving Hannibal out of
Italy； or even of ending the war； which had for so many years
continued and been protracted under his management。
To say the truth； when Fabius first opposed this project of
Scipio； he probably did it out of caution and prudence； in
consideration only of the public safety； and of the danger which the
commonwealth might incur； but when he found Scipio every day
increasing in the esteem of the people； rivalry and ambition led him
further； and made him violent and personal in his opposition。 For he
even applied to Crassus； the colleague of Scipio； and urged him not to
yield the command to Scipio； but that； if his inclinations were for
it； he should himself in person lead the army to Carthage。 He also
hindered the giving money to Scipio for the war； so that he was forced
to raise it upon his own credit and interest from the cities of
Etruria； which were extremely attached to him。 On the other side；
Crassus would not stir against him； nor remove out of Italy； being； in
his own nature； averse to all contention； and also having； by his
office of high priest； religious duties to retain him。 Fabius；
therefore； tried other ways to oppose the design； he impeded the
levies； and he declaimed； both in the senate and to the people； that
Scipio was not only himself flying from Hannibal； but was also
endeavouring to drain Italy of all its forces； and to spirit away
the youth of the country to a foreign war； leaving behind them their
parents； wives； and children； and the city itself； a defenceless
prey to the conquering and undefeated enemy at their doors。 With
this he so far alarmed the people； that at last they would only
allow Scipio for the war the legions which were in Sicily； and three
hundred； whom he particularly trusted； of those men who had served
with him in Spain。 In these transactions； Fabius seems to have
followed the dictates of his own wary temper。
But； after that Scipio was gone over into Africa； when news almost
immediately came to Rome of wonderful exploits and victories； of which
the fame was confirmed by the spoils he sent home； of a Numidian
king taken prisoner； of a vast slaughter of their men； of two camps of
the enemy burnt and destroyed； and in them a great quantity of arms
and horses； and when； hereupon； the Carthaginians were compelled to
send envoys to Hannibal to call him home； and leave his idle hopes
in Italy； to defend Carthage； when； for such eminent and
transcending services； the whole people of Rome cried up and
extolled the actions of Scipio； even then； Fabius contended that a
successor should be sent in his place； alleging for it only the old
reason