disguised as slaves and entrusted with the task of spying out the strength of the king. These men, in order to examine more freely the situation of the camp, purposely let loose a horse and chased it around the greatest part of the fortifications, pretending it was running away. After they had reported the results of their observations, the destruction of the camp by fire[1] brought the war to a close.[2]
During the war with Etruria, when shrewd methods of reconnoitering were still unknown to Roman leaders, Quintus Fabius Maximus commanded his brother, Fabius Caeso, who spoke the Etruscan language fluently, to put on Etruscan dress and to penetrate into the Ciminian Forest, where our soldiers had never before ventured. He showed such discretion and energy in executing these commands, that after traversing the forest and observing that the Umbrians of Camerium were not hostile to the Romans, be brought them into an alliance.[3]
When the Carthaginians saw that the power of Alexander was so great that it menaced even Africa, they ordered one of their citizens, a resolute man named Hamilcar Rhodinus, to go to the king, pretending to be an exile, and to make every effort to gain his friendship. When Rhodinus had succeeded in this, he disclosed to his fellow-citizens the king's plans.[4]
The same Carthaginians sent men to tarry a long time at Rome, in the role of ambassadors, and thus to secure information of our plans.
When Marcus Cato was in Spain, being unable otherwise to arrive at a knowledge of the enemy's
- ↑ i.e. the information furnished by the spies enabled Scipio to set fire to the camp of Syphax.
- ↑ 203 B.C. Cf. Livy xxx. 4 ff.
- ↑ 310 B.C. Cf. Livy ix. 38.
- ↑ 331 B.C. Cf. Justin. xxi. vi. 1.
