Flaminius Enticed Out
Nor was Hannibal mistaken in his calculations in
note
regard to Flaminius. For no sooner had he
left the neighbourhood of Faesulae, and,
advancing a short way beyond the Roman
camp, made a raid upon the neighbouring country, than
Flaminius became excited, and enraged at the idea that he was
despised by the enemy: and as the devastation of the country
went on, and he saw from the smoke that rose in every
direction that the work of destruction was proceeding, he could
not patiently endure the sight. Some of his officers advised
that they should not follow the enemy at once nor engage
him, but should act on the defensive, in view of his great
superiority in cavalry; and especially that they should wait for
the other Consul, and not give battle until the two armies were
combined. But Flaminius, far from listening to their advice,
was indignant at those who offered it; and bade them consider
what the people at home would say at the country being laid
waste almost up to the walls of Rome itself, while they
remained encamped in Etruria on the enemy's rear. Finally,
with these words, he set his army in motion, without any settled
plan of time or place; but bent only on falling in with the
enemy, as though certain victory awaited him. For he had
managed to inspire the people with such confident expectations,
that the unarmed citizens who followed his camp in hope of
booty, bringing chains and fetters and all such gear, were more
numerous than the soldiers themselves.
Meanwhile Hannibal was advancing on his way to Rome
through Etruria, keeping the city of Cortona and its hills on
his left, and the Thrasymene lake on his right; and as he
marched, he burned and wasted the country with a view of
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rousing the wrath of the enemy and tempting him to come out.
And when he saw Flaminius get well within distance, and
observed that the ground he then occupied was suited to his
purpose, he bent his whole energies on preparing for a general
engagement.
