n thought fit, that the two consuls of the foregoing year, Servilius
and Attilius, should serve in the army as proconsuls; but the latter could
not go into the field, by reason of his great age.

Varro, at his setting out from Rome, had declared openly, that he would
fall upon the enemy the very first opportunity, and put an end to the war;
adding, that it would never be terminated, so long as men such as Fabius
should be at the head of the Roman armies. An advantage which he gained
over the Carthaginians, of whom near seventeen hundred were killed,
greatly increased his boldness and arrogance. As for Hannibal, he
considered this loss as a real advantage; being persuaded that it would
serve as a bait to the consul's rashness, and prompt him on to a battles
which he wanted extremely. It was afterwards known, that Hannibal was
reduced to such a scarcity of provisions, that he could not possibly have
subsisted ten days longer. The Spaniards were already meditating to leave
him. So that there would have been an end of Hannibal and his army, if his
good fortune had not thrown a Varro in in his way.

Both armies, having often removed from place to place, came in sight of
each other near Cannae, a little town in Apulia, situated on the river
Aufidus. As Hannibal was encamped in a level open country, and his cavalry
much superior to that of the Romans, AEmilius did not think proper to
engage in such a place. He wished to draw the enemy into a spot, where the
infantry might have the greatest share in the action. But his colleague,
who was unexperienced, was of a contrary opinion. Such is the
inconveniency of a divided command; jealousy, a disparity of tempers, or a
diversity of views, seldom failing to create a dissension between the two
generals.

The troops on each side were, for some time, contented with slight
skirmishes. But, at last, one day, when Varro had the command, (for the
two consuls took it by turns,) preparations were made on both sides for
battle. AEmilius had not been consulted; yet, though he extremely
disapproved the conduct of his colleague, as it was not in his power to
prevent it, he seconded him to the utmost.

Hannibal, after having made his soldiers observe, that, being superior in
cavalry, they could not possibly have pitched upon a better spot for
fighting, had it been left to their choice: "Return, then," says he,
"thanks to the gods for having brought the enemy hither, that you may
triumph over th