FABIUS MAXIMUS
FABIUS MAXIMUS. Fabius Maximus would not fight,
but chose to spin away the time with Hannibal,—who
wanted both money and provision for his army,—by
pursuing and facing him in rocky and mountainous places.
When many laughed at him and called him Hannibal's
schoolmaster, he took little notice of them, but pursued
his own design, and told his friends: He that is afraid of
scoffs and reproaches is more a coward than he that
flies from the enemy. When Minucius, his fellow-consul,
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upon routing a party of the enemy, was highly extolled as
a man worthy of Rome; I am more afraid, said he, of
Minucius's success than of his misfortune. And not long
after he fell into an ambush, and was in danger of perishing with his forces, until Fabius succored him, slew many
of the enemy, and brought him off. Whereupon Hannibal
told his friends: Did I not often presage that cloud on the
hills would some time or other break upon us? After the
city received the great overthrow at Cannae, he was chosen
consul with Marcellus, a daring person and much desirous
to fight Hannibal, whose forces, if nobody fought him, he
hoped would shortly disperse and be dissolved. Therefore
Hannibal said, he feared fighting Marcellus less than
Fabius who would not fight. He was informed of a
Lucanian soldier that frequently wandered out of the
camp by night after a woman he loved, but otherwise an
admirable soldier; he caused his mistress to be seized
privately and brought to him. When she came, he sent
for the soldier and told him: It is known you lie out
a nights, contrary to the law; but your former good behavior is not forgotten, therefore your faults are forgiven
to your merits. Henceforwards you shall tarry with me,
for I have your surety. And he brought out the woman
to him. Hannibal kept Tarentum with a garrison, all
but the castle; and Fabius drew the enemy far from it,
and by a stratagem took the town and plundered it.
When his secretary asked what was his pleasure as to
the holy images, Let us leave, said he, the Tarentines
their offended Gods. When M. Livius, who kept a
garrison in the castle, said he took Tarentum by his
assistance, others laughed at him; but said Fabius, You
say true, for if you had not lost the city, I had not retook it. When he was ancient, his son was consul, and
as he was discharging his office publicly with many
attendants, he met him on horseback. The young man
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sent a sergeant to command him to alight; when others
were at a stand, Fabius presently alighted, and running
faster than for his age might be expected, embraced his
son. Well done, son, said he, I see you are wise, and
know whom you govern, and the grandeur of the office
you have undertaken.
