#Purpose clauses with _quô_; ablative with _potior_; unreal conditions;
_quîn_ clauses; ablative with _dîgnus_.#
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.
[Footnotes:
1: Abl. abs.
2: #quam.#
3: See p. 3, n. 2.
4: Cf. l. 43.
5: Cf. #Tarentô#, l. 58, and note.
6: See l. 88, and Ex. XVIII, n. 4.
7: See Ex. XV, sent. 11.]