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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 before the Carthaginian wings united in their rear。 To
this general calamity； it is also said； that a strange mistake among
the cavalry much contributed。 For the horse of Aemilius receiving a
hurt and throwing his master； those about him immediately alighted
to aid the consul； and the Roman troops； seeing their commanders
thus quitting their horses； took it for a sign that they should all
dismount and charge the enemy on foot。 At the sight of this；
Hannibal was heard to say； 〃This pleases me better than if they had
been delivered to me bound hand and foot。〃 For the particulars of this
engagement； we refer our reader to those authors who have written at
large upon the subject。
The consul Varro； with a thin company； fled to Venusia； Aemilius
Paulus； unable any longer to oppose the flight of his men； or the
flight of his men； or the pursuit of the enemy； his body all covered
with wounds； and his soul no less wounded with grief； sat himself down
upon a stone； expecting the kindness of a despatching blow。 His face
was so disfigured； and all his person so stained with blood； that
his very friends and domestics passing by knew him not。 At last
Cornelius Lentulus； a young man of patrician race； perceiving who he
was； alighted from his horse； and； tendering it to him； desired him to
get up and save a life so necessary to the safety of the commonwealth；
which； at this time； would dearly want so great a captain。 But nothing
could prevail upon him to accept of the offer； he obliged young
Lentulus； with tears in his eyes； to remount his horse； then
standing up； he gave him his hand； and commanded him to tell Fabius
Maximus that Aemilius Paulus had followed his directions to his very
last； and had not in the least deviated from those measures which were
agreed between them； but that it was his hard fate to be overpowered
by Varro in the first place； and secondly by Hannibal。 Having
despatched Lentulus with this commission； he marked where the
slaughter was greatest； and there threw himself upon the swords of the
enemy。 In this battle it is reported that fifty thousand Romans were
slain； four thousand prisoners taken in the field； and ten thousand in
the camp of both consuls。
The friends of Hannibal earnestly persuaded him to follow up his
victory； and pursue the flying Romans into the very gates of Rome；
assuring him that in five days' time he might sup in the Capitol；
nor is it easy to imagine what consideration hindered him from it。
It would seem rather than some supernatural or divine intervention
caused the hesitation and timidity which he now displayed； and which
made Barcas； a Carthaginian； tell him with indignation； 〃You know；
Hannibal； how to gain a victory； but not how to use it。〃 Yet it
produced a marvellous revolution in his affairs； he； who hitherto
had not one town； market； or seaport in his possession； who had
nothing for the subsistence of his men but what he pillaged from day
to day； who had no place of retreat or basis of operation； but was
roving； as it were； with a huge troop of banditti； now became master
of the best provinces and towns of Italy； and of Capua itself； next to
Rome the most flourishing and opulent city； all which came over to
him； and submitted to his authority。
It is the saying of Euripides； that 〃a man is in ill…case when he
must try a friend；〃 and so neither； it would seem； is a state in a
good one； when it needs an able general。 And so it was with the
Romans； the counsels and actions of Fabius； which； before the
battle； they had branded as cowardice and fear； now； in the other
extreme； they accounted to have been more than human wisdom； as though
nothing but a divine power of intellect could have seen so far； and
foretold contrary to the judgment of all others； a result which；
even now it had arrived； was hardly credible。 In him； therefore；
they placed their whole remaining hopes； his wisdom was the sacred
altar and temple to which they fled for refuge； and his counsels； more
than anything； preserved them from dispersing and deserting their
city； as in the time when the Gauls took possession of Rome。 He；
whom they esteemed fearful and pusillanimous when they were； as they
thought； in a prosperous condition was now the only man； in this
general and unbounded dejection and confusion； who showed no fear； but
walked the streets with an assured and serene countenance； addressed
his fellow…citizens； checked the women's lamentations； and the
public gatherings of those who wanted thus to vent their sorrows。 He
caused the senate to meet； he heartened up the magistrates； and was
himself as the soul and life of every office。
He placed guards at the gates of the city to stop the frightened
multitude from flying； he regulated and confined their mournings for
their slain friends； both as to time and place； ordering that each
family should perform such observances within private walls； and
that they should continue only the space of one month； and then the
whole city should be purified。 The feast of Ceres happening to fall
within this time； it was decreed that the solemnity should be
intermitted； lest the fewness； and the sorrowful countenance of
those who should celebrate it； might too much expose to the people the
greatness of their loss； besides that； the worship most acceptable
to the gods is that which comes from cheerful hearts。 But those
rites which were proper for appeasing their anger； and procuring
auspicious signs and presages； were by the direction of the augurs
carefully performed。 Fabius Pictor； a near kinsman to Maximus； was
sent to consult the oracle of Delphi； and about the same time； two
vestals having been detected to have been violated； the one killed
herself； and the other； according to custom； was buried alive。
Above all； let us admire the high spirit and equanimity of this
Roman commonwealth； that when the consul Varro came beaten and
flying home； full of shame and humiliation； after he had so
disgracefully and calamitously managed their affairs； yet the whole
senate and people went forth to meet him at the gates of the city； and
received him with honour and respect。 And； silence being commanded；
the magistrates and chief of the senate； Fabius amongst them；
commended him before the people； because he did not despair of the
safety of the commonwealth； after so great a loss； but was come to
take the government into his hands； to execute the laws； and aid his
fellow…citizens in their prospect of future deliverance。
When word was brought to Rome that Hannibal； after the fight； had
marched with his army into other parts of Italy； the hearts of the
Romans began to revive； and they proceeded to send out generals and
armies。 The most distinguished commands were held by Fabius Maximus
and Claudius Marcellus； both generals of great fame； though upon
opposite grounds。 For Marcellus； as we have set forth in his life； was
a man of action and high spirit； ready and bold with his own hand；
and； as Homer describes his warriors； fierce； and delighting in
fights。 Boldness； enterprise； and dating to match those of Hannibal；
constituted his tactics； and marked his engagements。 But Fabius
adhered to his former principles； still persuaded that； by following
close and not fighting him； Hannibal and his army would at last be
tried out and consumed； like a wrestler in too high condition； whose
very excess of strength makes him the more likely suddenly to give way
and lose it。 Posidonius tells us that the Romans called Marcellus
their sword； and Fabius their buckler； and that the vigour of the one；
mixed with the steadiness of the other； made a happy compound that
proved the salvation of Rome。 So that Hannibal found by experience
that encountering the one； he met with a rapid； impetuous river； which
drove him back； and still made some breach upon him； and by the other；
though silently and quietly passing by him； he was insensibly washed
away and consumed； and； at last； was brought to this； that he
dreaded Marcellus when he was in motion； and Fabius when he sat still。
During the whole course of this war； he had still to do with one or
both of these generals； for each of them was five times consul； and；
as praetors or proconsuls or consuls； they had always a part in the
government of the army； till； at last； Marcellus fell into the trap
which Hannibal had laid for him； and was killed in his fifth
consulship。 But all his craft and subtlety were unsuccessful upon
Fabius； who only once was in some danger of being caught； when
counterfeit letters came to him from the principal inhabitants of
Metapontum； with promises to deliver up their town if he would come
before it with his army； and intimations that they should expect
him。 This train had almost drawn him in； he resolved to march to
them with part of his army； and was diverted only by consulting the
omens of the birds； which he found to be inauspicious； and not long
after it was discovered that the letters had been forged by
Hannibal； who； for his reception； had laid an ambush to entertain h