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 attempt ing; 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 quar

rel 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 controul 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 up 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 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; as also that great

1 Liv. l. xxii.

plays should be vowed unto Jupiter, and a temple to Venus, with such other 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 Carthaginians, 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 meanwhile, 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 over travelled companies; armed his Africans after the manner of the Romans, and made his dispatches for Carthage; presenting his friends, which were in effect all the citizens, with

part of the spoils 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 de 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 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 himwith 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 adventrous 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 upon 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 on the hills of Calicula and Casi linum; for other way there was none, by which he might issue out of that goodly garden-country, which he had already wasted, into places more abundant of provision for his wintering. It was by mere error of his guide that he first entered within these straits. For he would have been directed unto Cassinum; whence he might both assay the fair city of Capua, which had made him friendly promises underhand, and hinder the Romans from coming near it to prevent him. But his guide misunderstood the Carthaginian pro nunciation, and conducted him awry another way, from Cassinum to Casilinum; whence Fabius hoped that he should not easily escape. Now began the wise dom of Fabius to grow into credit; as if he had taken