[XIX.]
Purpose clauses with quō; ablative with potior; unreal conditions;
quīn clauses; ablative with dīgnus.
1. It is said that Hannibal, when a boy of nine years, took an oath of undying hatred toward the Romans. 2. On the death of his father, he stirred up war by capturing Saguntum [Saguntum captured]. 3. Fabius said that he carried peace and war in his toga. 4. “Give which you please,” replied the Carthaginians. 5. “I give war,” said Fabius. [“War,” said Fabius, “I give.”] 6. After three Roman consuls had been defeated by Hannibal, Fabius was sent against him. 7. Changing[1] the policy[1] of the war, he held his soldiers in camp, and did not come to an engagement with the enemy. 8. When, on account of some trifling successes, his soldiers had begun to have more confidence in their valor and fortune, he blockaded Hannibal in a narrow pass. 9. Fabius thought that he could not escape. 10. But Hannibal knew how[2] cautious Fabius was,[3] and got out (of the trap) without any loss. 11. Minucius,[4] the master of horse, did not like the policy of Fabius. 12. He made charges against the dictator in order to obtain greater authority[5] himself. 13. When he had joined battle, he had to be rescued from his peril by Fabius. 14. Minucius now confessed that the policy of Fabius was better than his own. 15. They say that some young men of rank betrayed Tarentum to Hannibal. 16. In the middle of the night the gates were opened and the young men entered, followed by Hannibal [Hannibal following] with his army. 17. Fabius recaptured Tarentum the same[6] year[6] it was lost. 18. If he had not used cunning he would not have recaptured it. 19. When an old man, Fabius, at the command of a lictor, dismounted from a horse which he was riding out of respect for the rank of his son, then consul. 20. “If you were not consul,” said he, “I should not dismount.” 21. No one doubts that Fabius was worthy of the name Maximus. 22. At that time the Romans needed[7] a cautious general.
[1] Abl. abs.
[2] quam.
[3] See [p. 3, n. 2].
[5] Cf. Tarentō, [l. 58], and note.
[6] See [l. 88], and [Ex. XVIII, n. 4].