wise; and since they had found one (this worthy master of the horse) that was better affected unto them and his country, to reward him according to his deserts; and give him authority according as was propounded by the tribune, that so he might be encouraged and enabled to proceed as he had begun. So the act passed.

Before this busy day of contention, Fabius had dispatched the election of a new consul, which was M. Attilius Regulus, in the room of C. Flaminius; and, having finished all requisite business, went out of town, perceiving well that he should not be able to withstand the multitude, in hindering the decree. The news of Minutius's advancement was at the camp as soon as Fabius; so that his old lieutenant, and new colleague, began to treat with him as a companion; asking him at the first, in what sort he thought it best to divide their authority; whether that one, one day, or the other the next, or each of them successively, for some longer time, should command in chief. Fabius briefly told him, that it was the pleasure of the citizens to make the master of the horse equal to the dictator, but that he should never be his superior; he would therefore divide the legions with him by lot, according to the custom. Minutius was not herewith greatly pleased; for that with half of the army he could not work such wonders as otherwise he hoped to accomplish. Nevertheless he meant to do his best; and so taking his part of the army, encamped about a mile and a half from the dictator. Needful it was (though Livy seems to tax him for it) that he should so do. For where two several commanders are not subordinate one unto another, nor joined in commission, but have each entire and absolute charge of his own followers, there, are the forces, (though belonging unto one prince or state,) not one, but two distinct armies; in which regard one camp shall not hold them both without

great inconvenience. Polybius neither finds fault with this disjunction, nor yet reports that Fabius was unwilling to command in chief successively, (as the two consuls used) with Minutius by turns. He saith, that Minutius was very refractory, and so proud of his advancement, that continually he opposed the dictator; who thereupon referred it to his choice, either to divide the forces between them, as is said before, or else to have command over all by course. This is likely to be true. For natures impatient of subjection, when once they have broken loose from the rigour of authority, love nothing more than to contest with it; as if herein consisted the proof and assurance of their liberty.

It behoved the master of the horse to make good the opinion which had thus advanced him. Therefore he was no less careful of getting occasion to fight, than was Fabius of avoiding the necessity. That which Minutius and Hannibal equally desired, could not long be wanting. The country lying between them was open and bare, yet as fit for ambush as could be wished; for that the sides of a naked valley adjoining had many and spacious caves, able, some one of them, to hide two or three hundred men. In these lurking-places Hannibal bestowed five hundred horse, and five thousand foot; thrusting them so close together, that they could not be discovered. But lest by any misadventure they should be found out, and buried in their holes; he made offer betimes in the morning to seize upon a piece of ground that lay on the other hand; whereby he drew the eyes and the thoughts of the Romans from their more needful care, to business little concerning them. Like unto this was the occasion, which, not long before, had provoked Minutius to adventure upon the Carthaginians. Hoping, therefore, to increase his honour, in like sort as he got it, he sent first his light armature, then his horse, and

at length (seeing that Hannibal seconded his own troops with fresh companies) he followed in person with the legions. He was soon caught; and so hotly charged on all sides, that he knew neither how to make resistance, nor any safe retreat. In this dangerous case, whilst the Romans defended themselves, losing many, and those of their best men, Fabius drew near in very good order to relieve them. For this old captain, perceiving afar off into what extremity his new colleague had rashly thrown himself and his followers, did the office of a good citizen; and regarding more the benefit of his country than the disgrace which he had wrongfully sustained, sought rather to approve himself by hasting to do good, than by suffering the enemy to feel the reward of doing ill. Upon Fabius's approach, Hannibal retired; fearing to be well wet with a shower from the cloud (as he termed the dictator) that had hung so long on the hill-tops. Minutius forthwith submitted himself to Fabius, by whose benefit he confessed his life to have been saved. So from this time forwards the war proceeded coldly, as the dictator would have it; both whilst his office lasted, which was not long, and likewise afterwards, when he delivered up his charge unto the consuls, that followed his instructions.

Servilius the consul had pursued in vain a Carthaginian fleet, to which he came never within kenning. He ran along all the coast of Italy; took hostages of the Sardinians and Corsicans; passed over into Africa, and there negligently falling to spoil the country, was shamefully beaten aboard his ships, with the loss of a thousand men. Weighing anchor therefore in all haste, he returned home by Sicily; and (being so required by the dictator's letters) repaired to the camp with his fellow-consul, where they took charge of the army.

SECT. VII.

The Roman people, desirous to finish the war quickly, chuse a rash and unworthy consul. Great forces levied against Hannibal. Hannibal taketh the Romans' provisions in the castle of Canna. The new consuls set forth against Hannibal.

any

WITH little pleasure did they of the poorer sort in Rome hear the great commendations that were given to Fabius by the principal citizens. He had indeed preserved them from receiving a great overthrow; but he had neither finished the war, nor done thing in appearance thereto tending. Rather it might seem, that the reputation of this his own worthy act, was likely to countenance the slow proceedings, or perhaps the cowardice (if it were no worse) of those that followed him, in protracting the work to a great length: Else, what meant the consuls to sit idle the whole winter, contrary to all former custom; since it was never heard before, that any Roman general suffered the time of his command to run away without any performance; as if it were honourable to do just nothing? Thus they suspected they knew not what; and were ready, every man, to discharge the grief and anger of his own private loss, upon the ill administration of the public.

This affection of the people was very helpful to C. Terentius Varro, in his suit for the consulship. It behoved him to strike while the iron was hot; his own worth being little or none, and his credit over-weak, to make way into that high dignity. But the commonalty were then in such a mood, as

abundantly supplied all his defects. Wherein to help he had a kinsman, Bibius Herenius, then tribune of the people; who spared not to use the liberty of his place, in saying what he listed, without all regard of truth or modesty. This bold orator stuck not to affirm, that Hannibal was drawn into Italy, and suffered therein to range at his pleasure, by the noblemen; that Minutius indeed, with his own two legions, was likely to have been overthrown, and was rescued by Fabius with the other two; but, had all been joined together, what they might have done it was apparent, by the victory of Minutius, when he commanded over all as master of the horse; that without a plebeian consul, the war would never be brought to an end; that such of the plebeians as had long since been advanced to honour by the people, were grown as proud as the old nobility, and contemned the meaner sort, ever since themselves were freed from contempt of the more mighty; that therefore it was needful to chuse a consul who should be altogether a plebeian, a mere new man; one that could boast of nothing but the people's love, nor could wish more than to keep it, by well deserving of them. By such persuasions the multitude was won to be wholly for Terentius, to the great vexation of the nobles, who could not endure to see a man raised for none other virtue than his detracting from their honour; and therefore opposed him with all their might. To hinder the desire of the people, it fell out, or at least was alleged, that neither of the two present consuls could well be spared from attending upon Hannibal, to hold the election. Wherefore a dictator was named for that purpose, and he again deposed; either (as was pretended) for some religious impediment, or because the fathers desired an interregnum, wherein they might better hope to prevail in choice of the new consuls. This interregnum took name and being in Rome, at the death of Romulus;