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Hannibal's rear； which they did with such success； that they cut off
eight hundred of them； and put the whole army in disorder。 Hannibal；
finding the error and the danger he was fallen into； immediately
crucified the guides； but considered the enemy to be so advantageously
posted； that there was no hope of breaking through them； while his
soldiers began to be despondent and terrified； and to think themselves
surrounded with embarrassments too difficult to be surmounted。
Thus reduced； Hannibal had recourse to stratagem； he caused two
thousand head of oxen which he had in his camp to have torches or
dry fagots well fastened to their horns； and lighting them in the
beginning of the night； ordered the beasts to be driven on towards the
heights commanding the passages out of the valley and the enemy's
posts； when this was done； he made his army in the dark leisurely
march after them。 The oxen at first kept a slow orderly pace； and with
their lighted heads resembled an army marching by night； astonishing
the shepherds and herdsmen of the hills about。 But when the fire burnt
down the horns of the beasts to the quick； they no longer observed
their sober pace； but unruly and wild with their pain； ran dispersed
about； tossing their heads and scattering the fire round about them
upon each other and setting light as they passed to the trees。 This
was a surprising spectacle to the Romans on guard upon the heights。
Seeing flames which appeared to come from men advancing with
torches； they were possessed with the alarm that the enemy was
approaching in various quarters； and that they were being
surrounded； and； quitting their post； abandoned the pass； and
precipitately retired to their camp on the hills。 They were no
sooner gone； but the light…armed of Hannibal's men； according to his
order； immediately seized the heights； and soon after the whole
army； with all the baggage； came up and safely marched through the
passes。
Fabius； before the night was over； quickly found out the trick；
for some of the beasts fell into his hands； but for fear of an
ambush in the dark； he kept his men all night to their arms in the
camp。 As soon as it was day； he attacked the enemy in the rear； where；
after a good deal of skirmishing in the uneven ground； the disorder
might have become general； but that Hannibal detached from his van a
body of Spaniards； who； of themselves active and nimble； were
accustomed to the climbing of mountains。 These briskly attacked the
Roman troops； who were in heavy armour； killed a good many； and left
Fabius no longer in condition to follow the enemy。 This action brought
the extreme of obloquy and contempt upon the dictator； they said it
was now manifest that he was not only inferior to his adversary； as
they had always thought； in courage； but even in that conduct；
foresight； and generalship； by which he had proposed to bring the
war to an end。
And Hannibal； to enhance their anger against him； marched with his
army close to the lands and possessions of Fabius； and； giving
orders to his soldiers to burn and destroy all the country about；
forbade them to do the least damage in the estates of the Roman
general； and placed guards for their security。 This； when reported
at Rome； had the effect with the people which Hannibal desired。
Their tribunes raised a thousand stories against him； chiefly at the
instigation of Metilius； who； not so much out of hatred to him as
out of friendship to Minucius； whose kinsman he was； thought by
depressing Fabius to raise his friend。 The senate on their part were
also offended with him for the bargain he had made with Hannibal about
the exchange of prisoners； the conditions of which were that； after
exchange made of man for man； if any on either side remained； they
should be redeemed at the price of two hundred and fifty drachmas a
head。 Upon the whole account； there remained two hundred and forty
Romans unexchanged； and the senate now not only refused to allow money
for the ransoms； but also reproached Fabius for making a contract；
contrary to the honour and interest of the commonwealth； for redeeming
men whose cowardice had put them in the hands of the enemy。 Fabius
heard and endured all this with invincible patience； and； having no
money by him； and on the other side being resolved to keep his word
with Hannibal and not to abandon the captives； he despatched his son
to Rome to sell land； and to bring with him the price； sufficient to
discharge the ransoms； which was punctually performed by his son and
delivery accordingly made to him of the prisoners； amongst whom
many； when they were released； made proposals to repay the money；
which Fabius in all cases declined。
About this time； he was called to Rome by the priests； to assist；
according to the duty of his office； at certain sacrifices； and was
thus forced to leave the command of the army with Minucius； but before
he parted； not only charged him as his commander…in…chief； but
besought and entreated him not to come； in his absence； to a battle
with Hannibal。 His commands； entreaties； and advice were lost upon
Minucius； for his back was no sooner turned but the new general
immediately sought occasions to attack the enemy。 And notice being
brought him that Hannibal had sent out a great part of his army to
forage； he fell upon a detachment of the remainder； doing great
execution； and driving them to their very camp； with no little
terror to the rest； who apprehended their breaking in upon them； and
when Hannibal had recalled his scattered forces to the camp； he；
nevertheless； without any loss； made his retreat； a success which
aggravated his boldness and presumption； and filled the soldiers
with rash confidence。 The news spread to Rome； where Fabius； on
being told it； said that what he most feared was Minucius's success；
but the people； highly elated； hurried to the forum to listen to an
address from Metilius the tribune； in which he infinitely extolled the
valour of Minucius； and fell bitterly upon Fabius； accusing him for
want not merely of courage； but even of loyalty； and not only him； but
also many other eminent and considerable persons； saying that it was
they that had brought the Carthaginians into Italy； with the design to
destroy the liberty of the people； for which end they had at once
put the supreme authority into the hands of a single person； who by
his slowness and delays might give Hannibal leisure to establish
himself in Italy； and the people of Carthage time and opportunity to
supply him with fresh succours to complete his conquest。
Fabius came forward with no intention to answer the tribune； but
only said； that they should expedite the sacrifices； that so he
might speedily return to the army to punish Minucius； who had presumed
to fight contrary to his orders； words which immediately possessed the
people with the belief that Minucius stood in danger of his life。
For it was in the power of the dictator to imprison and to put to
death； and they feared that Fabius； of a mild temper in general； would
be as hard to be appeased when once irritated； as he was slow to be
provoked。 Nobody dared to raise his voice in opposition； Metil