stances
would have afforded him fair pretexts for refusal. But carried away by
the suddenness and urgency of the demand, he yielded. And in like manner
the Etruscans yielded to the instances of the Samnites, the presence
of whose army decided them to renew hostilities which before they had
declined to renew.

CHAPTER XLV.--_Whether in battle it is better to await and repel the
Enemy's attack, or to anticipate it by an impetuous onset._

Decius and Fabius, the Roman consuls, were each of them in command of a
separate army, one directed against the Samnites, the other against
the Etruscans: and as both delivered battle, we have to pronounce, in
respect of the two engagements, which commander followed the better
method. Decius attacked his enemy at once with the utmost fury and with
his whole strength. Fabius was content, at first, merely to maintain his
ground; for judging that more was to be gained by a later attack, he
reserved his forces for a final effort, when the ardour of the enemy had
cooled and his energy spent itself. The event showed Fabius to be more
successful in his tactics than Decius, who being exhausted by his first
onset, and seeing his ranks begin to waver, to secure by death the glory
he could no longer hope from victory, followed the example set him by
his father, and sacrificed himself to save the Roman legions. Word
whereof being brought to Fabius, he, to gain, while he yet lived, as
much honour as the other had earned by his death, pushed forward all
the troops he had reserved for his final effort, and so obtained an
unexampled victory. Whence we see that of the two methods, that of
Fabius was the safer and the more deserving our imitation.

CHAPTER XLVI.--_How the Characteristics of Families come to be
perpetuated._

Manners and institutions differing in different cities, seem here to
produce a harder and there a softer race; and a like difference may also
be discerned in the character of different families in the same city.
And while this holds good of all cities, we have many instances of it
in reading the history of Rome. For we find the Manlii always stern and
stubborn; the Valerii kindly and courteous; the Claudii haughty and
ambitious; and many families besides similarly distinguished from one
another by their peculiar qualities.

These qualities we cannot refer wholly to the _blood_, for that must
change as a result of repeated intermarriages, but must ascribe rather
to the di