hat had just before happened at the passage of the defile,
raised complaints and murmurs against the slow and timorous circumspection
of Fabius. In a word, matters were carried so far, that the Roman people
gave his general of horse an equal authority with him; a thing unheard-of
before. The dictator was upon the road when he received advice of this:
for he had left Rome, in order that he might not be an eye-witness of what
was contriving against him. His constancy, however, was not shaken. He was
very sensible, that though his authority in the command was divided, yet
his skill in the art of war was not so.(764) This soon became manifest.

Minucius, grown arrogant at the advantage he had gained over his
colleague, proposed that each should command a day alternately, or even a
longer time. But Fabius rejected this proposal, as it would have exposed
the whole army to danger whilst under the command of Minucius. He
therefore chose to divide the troops, in order that it might be in his
power to preserve, at least, that part which should fall to his share.

Hannibal, fully informed of all that passed in the Roman camp, was
overjoyed to hear of this dissension between the two commanders. He
therefore laid a snare for the rash Minucius, who accordingly plunged
headlong into it; and engaged the enemy on an eminence, in which an
ambuscade was concealed. But his troops being soon put into disorder, were
just upon the point of being cut to pieces, when Fabius, alarmed by the
sudden outcries of the wounded, called aloud to his soldiers: "Let us
hasten to the assistance of Minucius: let us fly and snatch the victory
from the enemy, and extort from our fellow-citizens a confession of their
fault." This succour was very seasonable, and compelled Hannibal to sound
a retreat. The latter, as he was retiring, said, "That the cloud which had
been long hovering on the summit of the mountain, had at last burst with a
loud crack, and caused a mighty storm." So important and seasonable a
service done by the dictator, opened the eyes of Minucius. He accordingly
acknowledged his error, returned immediately to his duty and obedience,
and showed, that it is sometimes more glorious to know how to atone for a
fault, than not to have committed it.

_The state of Affairs in Spain._(_765_)--In the beginning of this campaign,
Cn. Scipio, having suddenly attacked the Carthaginian fleet, commanded by
Hamilcar, defeated it, and took twenty-five ships, wit