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fabius-第6章

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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
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