raetor, he
returned to Rome, in order to adjust measures for carrying on the war,
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. 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. 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. 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
Volumnius. 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." When the advice of the praetor influenced a great
part of the members, they say that Publius Decius recommended that
every thing 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; and with
what number of troops, and by how many generals, it should be carried
on.

26. Fabius, as soon as he returned to Rome, qualified his discourses,
both in the senate and when brought before the people, in such a
manner as to appear neither to exaggerate or lessen, any particular
relating to the war; and to show, that, in agreeing to another general
being joined with him, he rather indulged the apprehensions of others,
than guarded against any danger to himself, or the public. "But if
they chose," he said, "to give him an assistant in the war, and
associate in command, how could he overlook Publius Decius the consul,
whom he had tried during so many associations in office? There was no
man living whom he would rather wish to be joined in commission with
him: with Publius Decius he should have forc