_The Battle of Lake Trasimene, 217 B.C._ (3)
Dumque ea commemorat densosque obit obvius hostes, Advolat ora ferus mentemque Ducarius. Acri 645 Nomen erat gentile viro, fusisque catervis Boiorum quondam patriis, antiqua gerebat Vulnera barbaricae mentis, noscensque superbi Victoris vultus, ‘Tune, inquit, maximus ille Boiorum terror? libet hoc cognoscere telo, 650 Corporis an tanti manet de vulnere sanguis. Nec vos poeniteat, populares, fortibus umbris Hoc mactare caput: nostros hic curribus egit Insistens victos alta ad Capitolia patres. Ultrix hora vocat.’ Pariter tunc undique fusis 655 Obruitur telis, nimboque mente per auras Contectus nulli dextra iactare reliquit Flaminium cecidisse sua. Nec pugna perempto Ulterior ductore fuit; namque agmine denso Primores iuvenum, laeva ob discrimina Martis 660 Infensi superis dextrisque, et cernere Poenum Victorem plus morte rati, super ocius omnes Membra ducis stratosque artus certamine magno Telaque corporaque et non fausto Marte cruentas Iniecere manus. Sic densi caedis acervo 665 Ceu tumulo, texere virum.
[Linenotes: 644. +Dum ... hostes+, i.e. after Flaminius’ vain attempt to rally and form his men, and his consequent resolve to atone for his fault (_inexplorato_[32] _angustiis superatis_) with his life. 646. +Ducarius+--Livy, ‘an Insubrian (Lombard) trooper.’ 651. +mānet+ = _will flow_. Cf. _emanate_. 652. +populares+ = _fellow-countrymen_, but of Romans usu. _civis_. 658-666. Livy says more simply ‘He (Ducarius) was trying to despoil the corpse, when some veterans screened it with their shields.’ 660. +laeva+ = _unfavourable_, lit. ‘on the left side.’ Cf. _sinister_.]
[Footnote 32: See p. 124, l. 2, note.] [[Selection C17, “inexplorato”]]
+Parallel Passages.+--Livy, xxii. 6; Polyb. iii. 84.
+Character of Flaminius.+ ‘The party feelings which have so coloured the language of the ancient writers (e.g. Livy, Polybius) respecting him need not be shared by a modern historian. Flaminius was indeed an unequal antagonist to Hannibal; but, in his previous life, as Consul and as Censor, he had served his country well; and if the defile of Trasimene witnessed his rashness, it also contains his honourable grave.’ Arnold, _Hist. Rome_, iii. 110.