e thought it would reflect dishonour upon
him, should he suffer Hannibal to ransack Italy without control, and even
advance to the very walls of Rome without meeting any resistance. He
rejected with scorn the prudent counsels of those who advised him to wait
the arrival of his colleague, and to be satisfied, for the present, with
putting a stop to the devastation of the enemy.

In the mean time, Hannibal was still advancing towards Rome, having
Cortona on the left hand, and the lake Thrasymenus on his right. When he
saw that the consul followed close after him, with design to give him
battle, in order to stop him in his march; having observed that the ground
was convenient for an engagement, he thought only of making preparations
for it. The lake Thrasymenus and the mountains of Cortona form a very
narrow defile, which leads into a large valley, lined on both sides with
hills of a considerable height, and closed, at the outlet, by a steep hill
of difficult access. On this hill, Hannibal, after having crossed the
valley, came and encamped with the main body of his army; posting his
light-armed infantry in ambuscade upon the hills on the right, and part of
his cavalry behind those on the left, as far almost as the entrance of the
defile, through which Flaminius was obliged to pass. Accordingly, this
general, who followed him very eagerly with the resolution to fight him,
being come to the defile near the lake, was forced to halt, because night
was coming on; but he entered it the next morning at daybreak.

Hannibal having permitted him to advance, with all his forces, above half
way through the valley, and seeing the Roman van-guard pretty near him,
gave the signal for the battle, and commanded his troops to come out of
their ambuscade, in order that he might attack the enemy at the same time
from all quarters. The reader may guess at the consternation with which
the Romans were seized.

They were not yet drawn up in order of battle, neither had they got their
arms in readiness, when they found themselves attacked in front, in rear,
and in flank. In a moment, all the ranks were put into disorder.
Flaminius, alone undaunted in so universal a consternation, animates his
soldiers both with his hand and voice, and exhorts them to cut themselves
a passage with their swords through the midst of the enemy. But the tumult
which reigned every where, the dreadful shouts of the enemy, and a fog
that was risen, prevented his being s