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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 over
your colleague； by one victory you preserved； and by the other
instructed us； and when we were already suffering one shameful
defeat from Hannibal； by another welcome one from you we were restored
to honour and safety。 I can address you by no nobler name than that of
a kind father； though a father's beneficence falls short of that I
have received from you。 Front a father I individually received the
gift of life； to you I owe its preservation not for myself only； but
for all these who are under me。〃 After this； he threw himself into the
arms of the dictator； and in the same manner the soldiers of each army
embraced one another with gladness and tears of joy。
Not long after； Fabius laid down the dictatorship； and consuls
were again created。 Those who immediately succeeded observed the
same method in managing the war； and avoided all occasions of fighting
Hannibal in a pitched battle； they only succoured their allies； and
preserved the towns from falling off to the enemy。 But afterwards；
when Terentius Varro； a man of obscure birth； but very popular and
bold； had obtained the consulship； he soon made it appear that by
his rashness and ignorance he would stake the whole commonwealth on
the hazard。 For it was his custom to declaim in all assemblies；
that； as long as Rome employed generals like Fabius； there never would
be an end of the war； vaunting that whenever he should get sight of
the enemy； he would that same day free Italy from the strangers。
With these promises he so prevailed； that he raised a greater army
than had ever yet been sent out of Rome。 There were enlisted
eighty…eight thousand fighting men； but what gave confidence to the
populace； only terrified the wise and experienced； and none more
than Fabius； since if so great a body； and the flower of the Roman
youth； should be cut off； they could not see any new resource for
the safety of Rome。 They addressed themselves； therefore； to the other
consul； Aemilius Paulus； a man of great experience in war； but
unpopular； and fearful also of the people； who once before upon some
impeachment had condemned him； so that he needed encouragement to
withstand his colleague's temerity。 Fabius told him； if he would
profitably serve his country； he must no less oppose Varro's
ignorant eagerness than Hannibal's conscious readiness； since both
alike conspired to decide the fate of Rome by a battle。 〃It is more
reasonable；〃 he said to him； 〃that you should believe me than Varro；
in matters relating to Hannibal； when I tell you that if for this year
you abstain from fighting with him； either his army will perish of
itself； or else he will be glad to depart of his own will。 This
evidently appears； inasmuch as； notwithstanding his victories； none of
the countries or towns of Italy come in to him； and his army is not
now the third part of what it was at first。〃 To this Paulus is said to
have replied； 〃Did I only consider myself； I should rather choose to
be exposed to the weapons of Hannibal than once more to the
suffrages of my fellow…citizens； who are urgent for what you
disapprove； yet since the cause of Rome is at stake； I will rather
seek in my conduct to please and obey Fabius than all the world
besides。〃
These good measures were defeated by the importunity of Varro； whom；
when they were both come to the army； nothing would content but a
separate command； that each consul should have his day； and when his
turn came； he posted his army close to Hannibal； at a village called
Cannae； by the river Aufidus。 It was no sooner day； but he set up
the scarlet coat flying over his tent； which was the signal of battle。
This boldness of the consul； and the numerousness of his army；
double theirs； startled the Carthaginians； but Hannibal commanded them
to their arms； and with a small train rode out to take a full prospect
of the enemy as they were now forming in their ranks； from a rising
ground not far distant。 One of his followers； called Gisco； a
Carthaginian of equal rank with himself； told him that the numbers
of the enemy were astonishing； to which Hannibal replied with a
serious countenance； 〃There is one thing； Gisco； yet more astonishing；
which you take no notice of；〃 and when Gisco inquired what；
answered； that 〃in all those great numbers before us； there is not one
man called Gisco。〃 This unexpected jest of their general made all
the company laugh； and as they came down from the hill they told it to
those whom they met； which caused a general laughter amongst them all；
from which they were hardly able to recover themselves。 The army；
seeing Hannibal's attendants come back from viewing the enemy in
such a laughing condition； concluded that it must be profound contempt
of the enemy； that made their general at this moment indulge in such
hilarity。
According to his usual manner； Hannibal employed stratagems to
advantage himself。 In the first place； he so drew up his men that
the wind was at their backs； which at that time blew with a perfect
storm of violence； and； sweeping over the great plains of sand；
carried before it a cloud of dust over the Carthaginian army into
the faces of the Romans； which much disturbed them in the fight。 In
the next place； all his best men he put into his wings； and in the
body which was somewhat more advanced than the wings； placed the worst
and the weakest of his army。 He commanded those in the wings； that；
when the enemy had made a thorough charge upon that middle advance
body； which he knew would recoil； as not being able to withstand their
shock； and when the Romans in their pursuit should be far enough
engaged within the two wings； they should； both on the right and the
left； charge them in the flank； and endeavour to encompass them。
This appears to have been the chief cause of the Roman loss。
Pressing upon Hannibal's front； which gave ground； they reduced the
form of his army into a perfect half…moon； and gave ample
opportunity to the captains of the chosen troops to charge them
right and left on their flanks； and to cut off and destroy all who did
not fall back