had newly heard of the great overthrow, charged them, and brake them; and killing almost half of them, drove the rest unto an high piece of ground, whence they came down, and simply yielded to mercy the next day. Servilius himself was in the mean while skirmishing with the Gauls, against whom he had wrought no matter of importance, when the news were brought him, of his colleague's overthrow and death in Hetruria, that made him hasten back to the defence of Rome.

In these passages, it is easy to discern the fruits of popular jealousy, which persuaded the Romans to the yearly change of their commanders in the wars; which greatly endangered and retarded the growth of that empire. Certain it is, that all men are far better taught by their own errors than by the examples of their foregoers. Flaminius had heard in what a trap Sempronius had been taken but the year before by this subtile Carthaginian, yet suffered he himself to be caught soon after in the same manner. He had also belike forgotten how Sempronius, fearing to be prevented by a new consul, and ambitious of the sole honour of beating Hannibal in battle, without help of his companion Scipio, had been rewarded with shame and loss; else would he not, contrary to all good advice, have been so hasty to fight before the arrival of Servilius. If Sempronius had been continued in his charge, it is probable that he would have taken his companion with him the second time, and have searched all suspected places proper to have shadowed an ambush: both which this new consul Flaminius neglected. We may boldly avow it, that by being continued in his government of France ten years, Cæsar brought that mighty nation, together with the Helvetians and many of the Germans, under the Roman yoke; into which parts had there been every year a new lieutenant sent, they would hardly, if ever, have been subdued. For it is more than the best wit in the world can do, to inform itself, within one year's compass, of the nature of a great nation, of the factions, of the places, rivers, and of all good helps whereby to prosecute a war to the best effect. Our

princes have commonly left their deputies in Ireland three years; whence, by reason of the shortness of that their time, many of them have returned as wise as they went out; others have profited more, and yet when they began but to know the first rudiments of war and government, fitting the country, they have been called home, and new apprentices sent in their places, to the great prejudice both of this and that estate. But it hath ever been the course of the world, rather to follow old errors than to examine them; and of princes and governors, to uphold their slothful ignorance by the old examples and policy of other ages and people, though neither likeness of time, of occasion, or of any other circumstance have persuaded the imitation.

SECT. VI.

How Q. Fabius the Roman dictator sought to consume the force of Hannibal by lingering war. Minutius, the master of the horse, honoured and advanced by the people for bold and successful attempting, adventures rashly upon Hannibal, and is like to perish with his army, but rescued by Fabius.

GREATLY were the Romans amazed at this their ill success, and at the danger apparent, which threatened them in more terrible manner than ever did war since Rome itself was taken. They were good soldiers; and so little accustomed to receive an overthrow, that when Pyrrhus had beaten them, once and again, in open field, all Italy was strangely affected with his success, and held him in admiration as one that could work wonders. But Pyrrhus's quarrel was not grounded upon hate; he only sought honour, and fought (as it were) upon a bravery; demeaning himself like a courteous enemy. This Carthaginian detested the whole Roman name, against which he burned with desire of revenge. Ticinum, Trebia, and Thrasymene witnessed his purpose and his ability: which to withstand, they fled unto a remedy that had long been out of use, and created a dictator. The dictator's power was greater than the consul's, and scarcely subject unto control of the whole city. Wherefore this officer was seldom chosen

but upon some extremity, and for no longer time than six months. He was to be named by one of the consuls at the appointment of the senate; though it were so, that the consul (if he stood upon his prerogative) might name whom he pleased. At this time, the one consul being dead, and the other too far off, the people took upon them, as having supreme authority, to give the dignity by their election to Q. Fabius Maximus, the best reputed man of war in the city: Novum factum, novum consilium expetit; "Contrary "winds, contrary courses." Q. Fabius chose M. Minutius Rufus master of the horse; which officer was customarily as the dictator's lieutenant; though this Minutius grew afterwards famous by taking more upon him.

The first act of Fabius was the reformation of somewhat amiss in matter of religion; a good beginning, and commendable, had the religion been also good. But if it were true (as a Livy reports it) that the books of Sibyl were consulted, and gave direction in this business of devotion, then must we believe, that those books of Sibyl, preserved in Rome, were dictated by an evil spirit. For it was ordained, that some vow, made in the beginning of this war to Mars, should be made anew, and amplified, as having not been rightly made before;, also that great plays should be vowed unto Jupiter, and a temple to Venus, with other such trumpery. This vehemency of superstition proceeds always from vehemency of fear. And surely this was a time when Rome was exceedingly distempered with passion; whereof that memorable accident, of two women that suddenly died, when they saw their sons return alive from Thrasymene, may serve to bear witness, though it be more properly an example of motherly love. The walls and towers of the city were now repaired and fortified; the bridges upon rivers were broken down, and all care taken for defence of Rome itself. In this tumult, when the dictator was newly set forth against Hannibal, word was brought that the Carthaginian fleet had intercepted all the supply that was going to Cn. Scipio in Spain. Against these Car

a Liv. 1. 22.

thaginians, Fabius commanded Servilius the consul to put to sea, and, taking up all the ships about Rome and Ostia, to pursue them; whilst he, with the legions, attended upon Hannibal. Four legions he had levied in haste; and from Ariminum he received the army which Servilius the consul had conducted thither.

With these forthwith he followed apace after Hannibal, not to fight, but to affront him. And, knowing well what advantage the Numidian horse had over the Romans, he always lodged himself on high grounds, and of hard access. Hannibal in the mean while, pursuing his victory, had ranged over all the country, and used all manner of cruelty towards the inhabitants, especially to those of the Roman nation, of whom he did put to the sword all that were able to bear arms. Passing by Spoletum and Ancona, he encamped upon the Adriatic shores, refreshed his diseased and overtravelled companies, armed his Africans after the manner of the Romans, and made his despatches for Carthage, presenting his friends, which were in effect all the citizens, with part of the spoils that he had gotten. Having refreshed his army, fed his horses, cured his wounded soldiers, and (as Polybius hath it) healed his horse-heels of the scratches, by washing their pasterns in old wine; he followed the coast of the Adriatic sea towards Apulia, a northern province of the kingdom of Naples, spoiling the Marrucini, and all other nations lying in his way. In all this ground that he overran, he had not taken any one city; only he had assayed Spoletum, a colony of the Romans; and, finding it well defended, presently gave it over.

The malice of a great army is broken, and the force of it spent, in a great siege. This the protestant army found true at Poictiers a little before the battle of Moncontour; and their victorious enemies, anon after, at St. Jean d'Angeley. But Hannibal was more wise: he would not engage himself in any such enterprise as should detain him, and give the Romans leave to take breath. All his care was to weaken them in force and reputation; knowing, that when once he was absolute master of the field, it would not be

long ere the walled cities would open their gates without expecting any engine of battery. To this end he presented Fabius with battle as soon as he saw him, and provoked him with all manner of bravados. But Fabius would not bite: he well knew the differences between soldiers bred up, ever since they were boys, in war and in blood, trained and hardened in Spain, made proud and adventurous by many victories there, and of late by some notable acts against the Romans; and such, as had no oftener seen the enemy than been vanquished by him. Therefore he attended the Carthaginian so near as he kept him from straggling too far, and preserved the country from utter spoil. He inured his men by little and little, and made them acquainted with dangers by degrees; and he brought them first to look on the lion afar off, that in the end they might sit on his tail.

Now Minutius had a contrary disposition, and was as fiery as Flaminius, taxing Fabius with cowardice and fear. But all stirred not this well-advised commander: for wise men are no more moved with such noise, than with wind bruised out of a bladder. There is nothing of more indiscretion and danger than to pursue misfortune; it wasteth itself sooner by sufferance than by opposition. It is the invading army that desires battle; and this of Hannibal was both the invading and the victorious. Fabius therefore suffered Hannibal to cross the Apennines, and to fall upon the most rich and pleasant territory of Campania; neither could he by any arguments be persuaded to adventure the Roman army in battle; but being far too weak in horse, he always kept the hills and fast grounds. When Hannibal saw he could by no means draw this wary dictator to fight; that the winter came on, and that the towns stood firm for the Romans, whose legions were in sight, though afar off; he resolved to rest his army, that was loaden with spoil, in some plentiful and assured place, till the following spring. But ere this can be done, he must pass along by the dictator's camp, that hung over his head upon the hills of Callicula and Casilinum; for other way there was none by which