t without
losing sight of Hannibal; never approaching near enough to come to an
engagement; nor yet keeping at such a distance, as might give him an
opportunity of escaping him. He never suffered his soldiers to stir out of
the camp, except to forage, nor ever on those occasions without a numerous
convoy. If ever he engaged, it was only in slight skirmishes, and so very
cautiously, that his troops had always the advantage. By this conduct he
revived, by insensible degrees, the courage of the soldiers, which the
loss of three battles had entirely damped; and enabled them to rely, as
they had formerly done, on their valour and good fortune.

Hannibal, having got an immense booty in Campania, where he had resided a
considerable time, left that country, in order that he might not consume
the provisions he had laid up, and which he reserved for the winter
season. Besides, he could no longer continue in a country of gardens and
vineyards, which were more agreeable to the eye than useful for the
subsistence of an army; a country where he would have been forced to take
up his winter quarters among marshes, rocks, and sands; while the Romans
would have drawn plentiful supplies from Capua, and the richest parts of
Italy. He therefore resolved to settle elsewhere.

Fabius naturally supposed, that Hannibal would be obliged to return the
same way he came, and that he might easily annoy him during his march. He
began by throwing a considerable body of troops into Casilinum, and
thereby securing that small town, situated on the Vulturnus, which
separated the territories of Falernum from those of Capua: he afterwards
detached four thousand men, to seize the only pass through which Hannibal
could come out; and then, according to his usual custom, posted himself
with the remainder of the army on the hills adjoining to the road.

The Carthaginians arrive, and encamp in the plain at the foot of the
mountains. And now the crafty Carthaginian falls into the same snare he
had laid for Flaminius at the defile of Thrasymenus; and it seemed
impossible for him ever to extricate himself out of this difficulty, there
being but one outlet, of which the Romans were possessed. Fabius, fancying
himself sure of his prey, was only contriving how to seize it. He
flattered himself, and not without the appearance of probability, with the
hopes of putting an end to the war by this single battle. Nevertheless, he
thought fit to defer the attack till the next