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Hannibal； who； for his reception； had laid an ambush to entertain him。
This； perhaps； we must rather attribute to the favour of the gods than
to the prudence of Fabius。
In preserving the towns and allies from revolt by fair and gentle
treatment； and in not using rigour； or showing a suspicion upon
every light suggestion； his conduct was remarkable。 It is told of him；
that being informed of a certain Marsian； eminent for courage and good
birth； who had been speaking underhand with some of the soldiers about
deserting； Fabius was so far from using severity against him； that
he called for him； and told him he was sensible of the neglect that
had been shown to his merit and good service； which； he said； was a
great fault in the commanders who reward more by favour than by
desert； 〃but henceforth； whenever you are aggrieved；〃 said Fabius；
〃I shall consider it your fault； if you apply yourself to any one
but to me；〃 and when he had so spoken； he bestowed an excellent horse；
and other presents upon him； and； from that time forwards； there was
not a faithfuller and more trusty man in the whole army。 With good
reason he judged； that； if those who have the government of horses and
dogs endeavour by gentle usage to cure their angry and untractable
tempers； rather than by cruelty and beating； much more should those
who haze the command of men try to bring them to order and
discipline by the mildest and fairest means； and not treat them
worse than gardeners do those wild plants； which； with care and
attention； lose gradually the savageness of their nature； and bear
excellent fruit。
At another time； some of his officers informed him that one of their
men was very often absent from his place； and out at nights； he
asked them what kind of man he was； they all answered； that the
whole army had not a better man； that he was a native of Lucania；
and proceeded to speak of several actions which they had seen him
perform。 Fabius made strict inquiry； and discovered at last that these
frequent excursions which he ventured upon were to visit a young girl；
with whom he was in love。 Upon which he gave private order to some
of his men to find out the woman and secretly convey her into his
own tent； and then sent for the Lucanian； and； calling him aside； told
him； that he very well knew how often he had been out away from the
camp at night； which was a capital transgression against military
discipline and the Roman laws； but he knew also how brave he was；
and the good services he had done； therefore； in consideration of
them； he was willing to forgive him his fault； but to keep him in good
order； he was resolved to place one over him to be his keeper； who
should be accountable for his good behaviour。 Having said this； he
produced the woman； and told the soldier； terrified and amazed at
the adventure； 〃This is the person who must answer for you； and by
your future behaviour we shall see whether your night rambles were
on account of love； or for any other worse design。〃
Another passage there was； something of the same kind； which
gained him possession of Tarentum。 There was a young Tarentine in
the army that had a sister in Tarentum； then in possession of the
enemy； who entirely loved her brother； and wholly depended upon him。
He； being informed that a certain Bruttian； whom Hannibal had made a
commander of the garrison； was deeply in love with his sister；
conceived hopes that he might possibly turn it to the advantage of the
Romans。 And having first communicated his design to Fabius； he left
the army as a deserter in show； and went over to Tarentum。 The first
days passed； and the Bruttian abstained from visiting the sister；
for neither of them knew that the brother had notice of the amour
between them。 The young Tarentine； however； took an occasion to tell
his sister how he had heard that a man of station and authority had
made his addresses to her； and desired her； therefore； to tell him who
it was； 〃for；〃 said he； 〃if he be a man that has bravery and
reputation； it matters not what countryman he is； since at this time
the sword mingles all nations； and makes them equal； compulsion
makes all things honourable； and in a time when right is weak； we
may be thankful if might assumes a form of gentleness。〃 Upon this
the woman sends for her friend； and makes the brother and him
acquainted； and whereas she henceforth showed more countenance to
her lover than formerly； in the same degrees that her kindness
increased； his friendship； also； with the brother advanced。 So that at
last our Tarentine thought this Bruttian officer well enough
prepared to receive the offers he had to make him； and that it would
be easy for a mercenary man； who was in love； to accept； upon the
terms proposed； the large rewards promised by Fabius。 In conclusion；
the bargain was struck； and the promise made of delivering the town。
This is the common tradition； though some relate the story
otherwise； and say； that this woman； by whom the Bruttian was
inveigled to betray the town； was not a native of Tarentum； but a
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 o