Chapter 4

10 “When I was young I loved Quintus Maximus, the man who recovered Tarentum, as though he were my contemporary, though he was old. His gravity was seasoned with courtesy, and age had not altered his character. When I began to cultivate his acquaintance he was not extremely old, but already advanced in years. His first consulship fell the year after my birth; during his fourth, I went as a very young soldier to Capua, and five years later to Tarentum. Four years after that I became quaestor, holding office in the consulship of Tuditanus and Cethegus. By then a very old man, he spoke in favor of the Cincian law on gifts and payments. Though well advanced in years he still waged war like a young man, and by his patience wore down Hannibal in all his youthful exultation. Our friend Ennius said admirably of him:One man, by waiting, restored our state;He set no public clamor above its safety;So now his glory shines ever more brightly.”

11 “And with what vigilance and judgment he recovered Tarentum! I heard Salinator, who had lost the town and fled into the citadel, boast to him: ‘Through my efforts, Quintus Fabius, you recovered Tarentum.’ ‘Certainly,’ he answered with a laugh, ‘for if you had not lost it, I should never have recovered it.’ Nor was he more distinguished in war than in civil life. During his second consulship, while his colleague Spurius Carvilius remained inactive, he opposed, as long as he could, the tribune Gaius Flaminius, who was distributing land in Picenum and Gaul to individuals against the Senate’s authority. And though an augur himself, he dared to say that whatever was done for the state’s safety was done under the best auspices, while measures brought against the state were brought against the auspices.”

12 “I learned of many splendid qualities in that man, but nothing more admirable than the way he bore the death of his son, a distinguished man and former consul. His funeral oration is still in circulation: when we read it, what philosopher does not seem small beside him? Great as he was in public and before his fellow citizens, he was greater still within his home. What conversation, what counsel! What knowledge of antiquity and of augural law! And, for a Roman, what wide learning! He remembered everything, wars abroad as well as at home. I listened to him then with such eager delight that I seemed already to foresee what came to pass: after his death I should have no one left to teach me.”

10 “When I was young, I loved Quintus Fabius Maximus, who recaptured Tarentum, as though we were the same age, although he was old. His seriousness was softened by friendliness, and old age had not changed his character. When I first became close to him, he was not extremely old, but he was already well along in years. His first consulship came the year after I was born. During his fourth consulship, I went to Capua as a very young soldier under his command, and five years later I went to Tarentum. Four years after that, I became quaestor. I held that office when Tuditanus and Cethegus were consuls. By then he was very old, but he spoke in support of the Cincian law on gifts and presents. Even at an advanced age, he fought wars like a young man. His patience wore down Hannibal, who was bursting with youthful confidence. Our friend Ennius wrote these fine lines about him:‘One man saved our state by delaying;He did not put public gossip ahead of our safety;So now his glory shines brighter and brighter.’”

11 “And what watchfulness and planning he showed in recapturing Tarentum! Salinator had lost the town and escaped into the citadel. I was there when he boasted to him, ‘It was through my efforts, Quintus Fabius, that you recaptured Tarentum.’ He laughed and replied, ‘Certainly. If you had not lost it, I could never have recaptured it.’ He was just as outstanding in civilian life as in war. During his second consulship, while his colleague Spurius Carvilius did nothing, he resisted Gaius Flaminius as far as he could. Flaminius, a tribune of the people, was dividing the Picentine and Gallic territory into individual allotments against the Senate’s wishes. And as an augur, he dared to say that whatever was done to keep the state safe was done under the best omens. Anything directed against the state went against the omens.”

12 “I saw many outstanding qualities in that man. The most remarkable was his response to losing his son, a man of distinction who had himself held the consulship. His funeral speech is still available. Reading it makes us look down on every philosopher. He was great not only in public, before the eyes of his fellow citizens. He was even more remarkable in the privacy of his home. What conversation! What advice! How much he knew about the past and the rules governing augury! For a Roman, he was also very well read. He remembered everything, not just wars at home but foreign wars too. I listened eagerly to his conversation, as though I already foresaw what did happen: once he died, no one would be left for me to learn from.”