ome in a spirit
worthy of her. No one so much as breathed the thought of negotiations
with the enemy, not even a soldier was recalled from the army of Spain.
Quintus Fabius Maximus was chosen dictator, and he with two newly raised
legions marched to Ariminum and assumed the command of the army there,
raised by the reinforcements he brought with him to fifty thousand men.

Stringent orders were issued to the inhabitants of the districts through
which Hannibal would march on his way to Rome to destroy their crops,
drive off their cattle, and take refuge in the fortified towns.
Servilius was appointed to the command of the Roman fleet, and ordered
to oppose the Carthaginians at sea. The army of Fabius was now greatly
superior to that of Hannibal, but was inferior in cavalry. He had,
moreover, the advantage of being in a friendly country, and of being
provisioned by the people through whose country he moved, while Hannibal
was obliged to scatter his army greatly to obtain provisions.

Fabius moved his army until within six miles of that of Hannibal,
and then took up his position upon the hills, contenting himself with
watching from a distance the movements of the Carthaginians. Hannibal
marched unmolested through some of the richest provinces of Italy till
he descended into the plain of Campania. He obtained large quantities of
rich booty, but the inhabitants in all cases held aloof from him, their
belief in the star of Rome being still unshaken in spite of the reverses
which had befallen her.

Fabius followed at a safe distance, avoiding every attempt of Hannibal
to bring on a battle.

The Roman soldiers fretted with rage and indignation at seeing the
enemy, so inferior in strength to themselves, wasting and plundering
the country at their will. Minucius, the master of horse and second in
command, a fiery officer, sympathized to the full with the anger of the
soldiers, and continually urged upon Fabius to march the army to the
assault, but Fabius was immovable. The terrible defeats which Hannibal
had inflicted upon two Roman armies showed him how vast would be the
danger of engaging such an opponent unless at some great advantage.

Such advantage he thought he saw when Hannibal descended into the
plain of Campania. This plain was inclosed on the south by the river
Vulturnus, which could be passed only at the bridge at Casilinum,
defended by the Roman garrison at that town, while on its other sides
it was surrounded by