U. C. 537.hostes. Quas ob res, si antiquus animus plebi Romanæ A. C. 217. esset, audaciter1 se laturum fuisse de abrogando Q. Fabii

26.

'imperio nunc modicam rogationem promulgaturum de 'æquando magistri equitum et dictatoris jure; nec tamen 'ne ita quidem prius mittendum ad exercitum Q. Fabium, quam consulem in locum C. Flaminii suffecisset.' Dictator concionibus se abstinuit, in actione minime populari. Ne in senatu quidem satis æquis auribus audiebatur, tunc quum hostem verbis extolleret, bienniique clades per temeritatem atque inscientiam ducum acceptas referret 2; ma'gistroque equitum, quod contra dictum suum pugnasset, 'rationem' diceret reddendam esse. Si penes se summa 'imperii consiliique sit, propediem effecturum, ut sciant 'homines, bono imperatori haud magni fortunam momenti esse: mentem rationemque dominari. Se in tempore3 et 'sine ignominia servasse exercitum, quam multa millia hos'tium occidisse, majorem gloriam esse.' Hujus generis orationibus frustra habitis, et consule creato M. Atilio Regulo, ne præsens de jure1 imperii dimicaret, pridie quam rogationis ferendæ dies adesset, nocte ad exercitum abiit. Luce orta, quum plebis concilium esset, magis tacita invidia dictatoris favorque magistri equitum animos versabat, quam satis audebant homines ad suadendum, quod vulgo placebat, prodire: et, favore superante, auctoritas tamen rogationi deerat. Unus inventus est suasor legis C. Terentius Varro, qui priore anno prætor fuerat, loco non humili solum, sed etiam sordido, ortus. Patrem lanium fuisse ferunt, ipsum institorem mercis, filioque hoc ipso in servilia ejus artis ministeria usum. Is juvenis, ubi ex eo genere

1 Audaciter.] Livy and the other classics generally write audacter; but, when Latin was a living language, the difference was imperceptible, as c was always pronounced hard. 2 Bienniique clades referret.] "And recalled (reminded them of) the defeats of the past two years,' &c. Gronovius suggests datives temeritati and inscitiæ, instead of the accusative with per, in order to adapt the sentence to a familiar idiom. SC. "attributed the disasters to precipitation and ignorance."

3 Se in tempore, &c.] "His preservation of the army at a critical period and without degradation (without any humiliating compromise) was a prouder distinction than the destruction of many thousands of the enemy." The form of the sentence originally was ducere majorem glo

riam esse; but the first of the verbs was superfluous, and judiciously removed hy Drakenborch.

4 Ne præsens de jure, &c.] "That he might not endanger, by his presence (by remaining in Rome) the tenure of his commission;" or, rather, "to avoid a personal debate respecting the legal term of his commission;" as he had been accused of overholding it.

5 Favore superante, &c.] "Though the general feeling was strong, the proposal wanted the sanction of a name," (a proposer, auctor.)

6 Ipsum institorem mercis, filioque, &c] "Himself the manager of his own business, and had employed this son," &c. The text recommended by Gronovius is ipsum, institore mercis filio hoc ipso, &c. which several commentators prefer.

quæstus pecunia a patre relicta animos ad spem liberalioris U. C. 537. fortunæ fecit, togaque et forum placuere, proclamando9 A. C. 217. pro sordidis hominibus causisque adversus rem et famam bonorum, primum in notitiam populi, deinde ad honores pervenit. Quæstura quoque et duabus ædilitatibus, plebeia et curuli, postremo et prætura perfunctus, jam ad consulatus spem quum attolleret animos, haud parum callide auram favoris popularis ex dictatoria invidia petiit, scitique plebis unus gratiam tulit. Omnes eam rogationem, quique Romæ, quique in exercitu erant, æqui atque iniqui, præter ipsum dictatorem, in contumeliam ejus latam acceperunt. Ipse, qua gravitate' animi criminantes se ad multitudinem inimicos tulerat, eadem et populi in se sævientis injuriam tulit: acceptisque in ipso itinere literis senatusque consulto de æquato imperio, satis fidens, haudquaquam cum imperii jure artem imperandi æquatam, cum invicto a civibus hostibusque animo ad exercitum rediit.

Minucius vero, quum jam ante vix tolerabilis fuisset secundis rebus ac favore vulgi, tum utique immodice immodesteque1, non Hannibale magis victo ab se, quam Q. Fabio, gloriari: 'Illum in rebus asperis unicum ducem ac parem quæsitum Hannibali, majorem minori, dictatorem magistro equitum, quod nulla memoria habeat annalium, jussu populi æquatum in eadem civitate, in qua magistri equitum virgas ac secures dictatoris tremere atque horrere soliti sint. In tantum suam felicitatem virtutemque enituisse. Ergo secuturum se fortunam suam, si dictator in cuncta' tione ac segnitie, deorum hominumque judicio3 damnata,

6

7 Animos—fecit.]

his ambition."

8 Togaque et forum.] "The civil service and public life attracted him;" or, the two terms may signify what we call "the Bar."

9 Proclamando.] "Haranguing, brawling." The peculiar technical sense of this expression is best illustrated by Cicero: "Non enim causidicum nescio quem, neque proclamatorem, aut rabulam." (De Orat. i. 46.)

"Awakened ation of the old reading senatus-
consulti, which could not be joined
with literis. Other emendations pro-
posed by different commentators are,
literis senatus; or, literis senatus
consulisque. Of these, the text
adopted is the most likely to have
been the original reading.
3 Cum invicto, &c.]
"With a
resolution (firmness of purpose)
proof against citizens and enemies.'
4 Immodice immodesteque.]
rogantly and intemperately."
difference is, that modicus signifies
'what does not exceed some definite
limit;' and modestus, 'what results
from the due control of the passions.'
The analogous expressions in Greek
would probably be, ovde μerpíws, ovdè
σωφρονῶς.

1 Ipse, quá gravitate, &c.] "As for himself, with the same dignity (steadiness, stoicism) of mind with which he had endured the allegations of his enemies before the people, did he now treat the injustice of the people exasperated against him."

2 Acceptisque-literis senatusque consulto.] This text is an emend.

S

"Ar

The

5 Deorum hominumque judicio.] "The verdict of gods and men.' The former attested by his own vic

27.

U. C. 537.perstaret.' Itaque, quo die primum congressus est cum A. C. 217. Q. Fabio, statuendum omnium primum,' ait, ' esse, quem'admodum imperio æquato utantur. Se optimum ducere, ' aut diebus alternis, aut, si majora intervalla placerent, par'titis temporibus, alterius summum jus imperiumque esse: 'ut par hosti non solum consilio, sed viribus etiam esset, si quam occasionem rei gerendæ habuisset.' Q. Fabio haudquaquam id placere: omnia enim fortunam habitu'ram', quæcunque temeritas collegæ habuisset. Sibi communicatum cum illo, non ademptum, imperium esse. Itaque se nunquam volentem parte, qua posset, rerum 'consilio gerendarum cessurum: nec se tempora aut dies 'imperii cum eo, exercitus divisurum, suisque consiliis, 'quoniam omnia non liceret, quæ posset, servaturum.' Ita obtinuit, uti legiones, sicut consulibus mos esset, inter se dividerent. Prima et quarta Minucio, secunda et tertia Fabio evenerunt. Item equites pari numero, sociûmque et Latini nominis auxilia diviserunt: castris se quoque separari magister equitum voluit.

28.

8

Duplex inde Hannibale gaudium fuit: neque enim quicquam eorum, quæ apud hostes agerentur, eum fallebat, et perfugis multa indicantibus, et per suos explorantem. Nam et liberam Minucii temeritatem se suo modo' captaturum, et sollertiæ Fabii dimidium virium decessisse. Tumulus erat inter castra Minucii Poenorumque. Eum qui occupasset, haud dubie iniquiorem erat hosti locum facturus. Eum non tam capere sine certamine volebat Hannibal, (quanquam id operæ pretium erat) quam causam certaminis cum Minucio, quem semper occursurum ad obsistendum satis sciebat, contrahere. Ager omnis medius erat prima specie inutilis insidiatori, quia non modo silvestre quicquam, sed ne vepribus quidem vestitum habebat: re ipsa natus tegendis insidiis, eo magis quod in nuda valle nulla

tory over Hannibal; the latter, by
the partition of the command.

6 Partitis temporibus.] “Measured
periods."

7 Omnia enim fortunam habituram, &c.] "Chance would control all that the imprudence of his colleague could influence."

8 Itaque se nunquam, &c.] "And
he would, therefore, never willingly
resign any share that he could (avoid
resigning) in," &c.

9 Duplex inde, &c.]
"The con-
sequence was a twofold gratification
to Hannibal."

1 Suo modo. "By his peculiar

tactics;" or, according to Crevier,
"in any way he might choose."
"And

2 Eum qui occupasset.]
whichever should take possession of
that, would render the position of
his enemy the less advantageous,"
(would secure the advantage of
ground.)

3 Quia non modo, &c.] The English idiom would lead one to expect non modo non, or nil; sc. "it had not only no timber, but not even any covering of bushes;" but, in sentences of this form, the Latin idiom receives but one negative in the first clause.

A. C. 217.

talis fraus timeri poterat : et erant in anfractibus cavæ U. C. 537. rupes, ut quædam earum ducenos armatos possent capere. In has latebras, quot quemque locum apte insidere poterant, quinque millia conduntur peditum equitumque. Necubi tamen aut motus alicujus temere egressi, aut fulgor armorum fraudem in valle tam aperta detegeret: missis paucis prima luce ad capiendum, quem ante diximus, tumulum, avertit oculos hostium. Primo statim conspectu contempta paucitas: ac sibi quisque deposcere pellendos inde hostes. Ad locum capiendum dux ipse inter stolidissimos ferocissimosque ad arma vocat; et vanis animis et minis increpat hostem. Principio levem armaturam dimittit, deinde conferto agmine mittit equites: postremo, quum hostibus quoque subsidia mitti videret, instructis legionibus procedit. Et Hannibal, laborantibus suis alia atque alia, crescente certamine, mittens auxilia peditum equitumque, jam justam expleverat aciem, ac totis utrimque viribus certabatur. Prima levis armatura Romanorum, præoccupatum inferiore loco succedens tumulum, pulsa detrusaque terrorem in succedentem intulit equitem, et ad signa legionum refugit. Peditum acies inter perculsos impavida sola erat, videbaturque, si justa aut si recta pugna esset, haudquaquam impar futura. Tantum animorum fecerat prospere ante paucos dies res gesta. Sed exorti repente insidiatores eum tumultum terroremque, in latera utrimque ab tergoque incursantes, fecerunt, ut neque animus ad pugnam, neque ad fugam spes cuiquam superesset. Tunc Fabius, primo clamore paventium audito, dein conspecta procul turbata acie, Ita est,' inquit, non celerius, quam timui, depre'hendit fortuna temeritatem. Fabio æquatus imperio 'Hannibalem et virtute et fortuna superiorem videt. Sed

Et erant in anfractibus, &c.] "There were also caverned rocks in its recesses," &c. Perhaps the most ingenious form of ambuscade recorded any where in history, is that attributed to the ancient Sclavonians, who used to lie concealed under water, and breathe through hollow canes, the ends of which barely rose above the surface. (See Gibbon, Decl. and Fall, ch. xlii.)

3 Ad locum capiendum dux ipse, &c.] The reading suggested by Perizonius is, ac locum capiendum, (joined with the preceding sentence) dux ipse, &c.

6 Et Hannibal.] "Hannibal also, (Hannibal on the other side.)" One cannot sufficiently admire the art

with which the Carthaginian drew
out the whole force of Minucius;
provoking him in the first instance
by sending an insignificant force to
the hill, and continuing to reinforce
it as often as the number of the
enemy was increased. In devices
of this sort, the general of modern
times who most resembles Hannibal
is Frederick the Great.

7 Prima levis armatura Roma-
norum.] "The light infantry form-
ing the van of the Romans."

8 Recta pugna.] "An open fight," i. e. frontibus adversis, involving no

ambuscade.

9 Non celerius, quam timui.] i. e. celeriter quidem, sed non celerius, &c.

29.

U. C. 537. A. C. 217.

30.

aliud jurgandi succensendique tempus erit: nunc signa extra vallum proferte. Victoriam hosti extorqueamus, 'confessionem erroris civibus.' Jam magna ex parte cæsis aliis, aliis circumspectantibus fugam, Fabiana se acies repente, velut cœlo demissa, ad auxilium ostendit. Itaque, priusquam ad conjectum teli veniret, aut manum consereret, et suos a fuga effusa, et ab nimis feroci pugna hostes continuit. Qui solutis ordinibus vage dissipati erant, undique confugerunt ad integram aciem; qui plures simul terga dederant, conversi in hostem, volventesque orbem', nunc sensim referre pedem, nunc conglobati restare. Ac jam prope una acies facta erat victi atque integri exercitus, inferebantque signa in hostem; quum Poenus receptui cecinit, palam ferente Hannibale, ab se Minucium, se a Fabio victum.

Ita per variam fortunam diei majore parte exacta, quum in castra reditum esset, Minucius, convocatis militibus, 'Sæpe ego,' inquit, audivi, milites, eum primum esse virum, qui ipse consulat, quid in rem sit; secundum eum, 'qui bene monenti obediat: qui nec ipse consulere, nec 6 alteri parere sciat, eum extremi ingenii3 esse. Nobis quo

niam prima animi ingeniique negata sors1 est, secundam ac 'mediam teneamus: et, dum imperare discimus, parere prudenti in animum inducamus. Castra cum Fabio jungamus: ad prætorium ejus signa quum tulerimus, ubi 'ego eum parentem appellavero, quod beneficio ejus erga nos ac majestate ejus dignum est; vos, milites, eos, quorum vos modo arma dextræque texerunt, patronos salu'tabitis, et, si nihil aliud, gratorum certe nobis animorum 'gloriam dies hæc dederit.' Signo dato, conclamatur inde, ut colligantur vasa. Profecti et agmine incedentes ad dictatoris castra in admirationem et ipsum, et omnes, qui circa erant, converterunt. Ut constituta sunt ante tribunal signa, progressus ante alios magister equitum, quum 'patrem' Fabium appellasset, circumfusosque militum ejus totum agmen patronos' consalutasset, 'Parentibus,' inquit, meis, dictator, (quibus te modo nomine, quo fando possum, æquavi) vitam tantum debeo: tibi quum meam sa'lutem, tum omnium horum. Itaque plebeiscitum, quo

6

1 Volventes orbem.] The usual
manœuvre of the Roman infantry,
when dispersed, or broken, or sur-
rounded, especially when charged
by cavalry, was the formation of a
solid square.
The hollow and solid
square have been often used with
advantage and effect in modern war-
fare, e. g. the solid square of the
British infantry at Waterloo.

2 Primum esse virum.] best (the first-rate) man." 3 Extremi ingenii.] lowest class of mind.”

"The

"Of the

4 Prima animi ingeniique negata sors.] "The first rank in generosity and talent."

5 Circumfusosque militum.] A construction analogous to delectos patrum, expeditos militum, &c.