day.

Hannibal perceived, that his own artifices were now employed against
him.(763) It is in such junctures as these, that a general has need of
unusual presence of mind and fortitude, to view danger in its utmost
extent, without being dismayed; and to find out sure and instant
expedients without deliberating. Immediately, the Carthaginian general
caused two thousand oxen to be got together, and ordered small bundles of
vine-branches to be tied to their horns. Towards the dead of night, having
commanded the branches to be set on fire, he caused the oxen to be driven
with violence to the top of the hills where the Romans were encamped. As
soon as these creatures felt the flame, the pain rendering them furious,
they flew up and down on all sides, and set fire to the shrubs and bushes
they met in their way. This squadron, of a new kind, was sustained by a
good number of light-armed soldiers, who had orders to seize upon the
summit of the mountain, and to charge the enemy, in case they should meet
them. All things happened as Hannibal had foreseen. The Romans who guarded
the defile, seeing the fires spread over the hills which were above them,
and imagining that it was Hannibal making his escape by torch-light, quit
their post, and run up to the mountains to oppose his passage. The main
body of the army not knowing what to think of all this tumult, and Fabius
himself not daring to stir, while it was dark, for fear of a surprise,
wait for the return of the day. Hannibal seizes this opportunity, marches
his troops and the spoils through the defile, which was now unguarded, and
rescues his army out of a snare in which, had Fabius been but a little
more vigorous, it would either have been destroyed, or at least very much
weakened. It is glorious for a man to turn his very errors to his
advantage, and make them subservient to his reputation.

The Carthaginian army returned to Apulia, still pursued and harassed by
the Romans. The dictator, being obliged to take a journey to Rome on
account of some religious ceremonies, earnestly entreated his general of
horse, before his departure, not to fight during his absence. However,
Minucius did not regard either his advice or his entreaties; but the very
first opportunity he had, whilst part of Hannibal's troops were foraging,
he charged the rest, and gained some advantage. He immediately sent advice
of this to Rome, as if he had obtained a considerable victory. The news of
this, with w