25.
Immediately almost all the younger citizens flocked together to the consul, and readily gave in their names; so strong was their desire of serving under such a commander.
[2]
Seeing so great a multitude collected round him, he said, “My intention is to enlist only four thousand foot and six hundred horse: such of you as give in your names to-day and tomor- row, I will carry with me.
[3]
I am more solicitous to bring home all my soldiers rich, than to employ a great multitude.”
[4]
Accordingly, with a competent number of men, who possessed greater hopes and confidence because a numerous army had not been required, he marched to the town of Aharna, from which the enemy were not far distant, and proceeded to the camp of the praetor Appius. When within a few miles of it, he was met by some soldiers, sent to cut wood, attended by a guard.
[5]
Observing the lictors preceding him, and learning that he was Fabius the consul, they were filled with joy and alacrity; they expressed their thanks to the gods, and to [p. 661]the Roman people, for having sent them such a commander.
[6]
Then, as they gathered round to pay their respects, Fabius inquired whither they were going; and on their answering they were going to provide wood, “What do you tell me,” said he; “have you not a rampart, raised about your camp?”
[7]
When to this they replied, “they had a double rampart, and a trench; and, notwithstanding, were in great apprehension.” “Well then,” said he, “you have abundance of wood, go back and level the rampart.”
[8]
They accordingly returned to the camp, and there levelling the rampart, threw the soldiers who had remained in it, and Appius himself, into the greatest fright, until with eager joy each called out to the rest, that, “they acted by order of the consul, Quintus Fabius.”
[9]
Next day the camp was moved from thence, and the praetor, Appius, was dismissed to Rome.
[10]
From that time the Romans had no fixed post; the consul affirming, that it was prejudicial to an army to lie in one spot; and that by frequent marches, and changing places, it was rendered more healthy, and more capable of brisk exertions: and marches were made as long as the winter, which was not yet ended, permitted.
[11]
Then, in the beginning of spring, leaving the second legion near Clusium, which they formerly called the Camertian, and giving the command of the camp to Lucius Scipio, as proprietor, he returned to Rome, in order to adjust measures for carrying on the war;
[12]
either led thereto by his own judgment, because the war seemed to him more serious than he had believed, from report; or, being summoned by a decree of the senate; for writers give both accounts.
[13]
Some choose to have it believed, that he was forced back by the praetor, Appius Claudius; who, both in the senate, and before the people, exaggerated, as he was wont in all his letters, the danger of the Etrurian war, contending, that “one general, or one army, would not be sufficient to oppose four nations.
[14]
That whether these directed the whole of their combined force against him alone, or acted separately in different parts, there was reason to fear, that he would be unable to provide against every emergency.
[15]
That he had left there but two Roman legions; and that the foot and horse, who came with Fabius, did not amount to five thousand. It was, therefore, his opinion, that the consul Publius Decius should, without delay, set out to his colleague in Etruria; and that the province of Samnium should be given to Lucius Vo- [p. 662]lumnius.
[16]
But if the consul preferred going to his own province, that then Volumnius should march a full consular army into Etruria, to join the other consul.”
[17]
When the advice of the prae- tor influenced a great part of the members, they say that Publius Decius recommended that everything should be kept undetermined, and open for Quintus Fabius; until he should either come to Rome, if he could do so without prejudice to the public, or send some of his lieutenants, from whom the senate might learn the real state of the war in Etruria;
[18]
and with what number of troops, and by how many generals, it should be carried on.
Livy. History of Rome by Titus Livius, books nine to twenty-six. literally translated, with notes and illustrations, by. D. Spillan. and. Cyrus Edmonds. York Street, Covent Garden, London. Henry G. Bohn. John Child and son, printers. 1849. 2.
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