f the people
than of the senate, the province of Etruria was decreed to him without
having recourse to lots.

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. 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 to-morrow, I will carry with me. I am more solicitous to
bring home all my soldiers rich, than to employ a great multitude."
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. 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 the Roman people, for
having sent them such a commander. 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?" 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." 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." Next day the camp was moved from thence, and the
praetor, Appius, was dismissed to Rome. 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. 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 prop