[Linenotes: 2. +Dictator+ = L. Papirius Cursor, noted for the strictness of his military discipline. At this time he had gone to Rome to take the auspices anew (_ad auspicium repetendum_) and had given strict orders to his Master of the Horse, Q. Fabius Rullianus, to avoid all collision with the enemy during his absence. 7. +permisit+ = _gave them their heads_. Cf. _immittere habenas_. 9. +turbatis ... signa+ = _attacked the enemy_ (dative) _when in confusion_. 11. +spoliis+, i.e. the _arms_ taken from the fallen. 13-14. +seu credere ... factum+ = lit. _or whether one prefer to credit the authority of Fabius that it was done on this account_ (+eo+) ... +Fabius Pictor+, the earliest Roman historian, wrote in Greek and served in the 2nd Punic War. 15. +ibi+ (sc. _hostilia arma_) = _on them_. These, set up as a trophy with the victor’s name inscribed, would have been borne in the triumphal procession. 19. +Ita certe ... accepit+ = _so_ (+ita+) _no doubt the Dictator interpreted his_ (Fabius’) _action_.]
+The Cause of the War.+ The actual _casus belli_ was a dispute between Rome and the Samnites for the possession of Palaeopolis (= _old city_) near Neapolis (= _new city_). Cf. the First Punic War, 241 B.C., due to the struggle for the possession of Messana, and the war with Pyrrhus, 281 B.C., for the possession of Tarentum.
+Historic Parallel.+ Fabius Cunctator and Minucius. --Livy, xxii. 24-30.
Duae ad Luceriam ferebant viae, altera praeter oram superi maris, patens apertaque, sed quanto tutior, tanto fere longior, altera per Furculas Caudinas, brevior; sed ita natus locus est. Saltus duo alti, angusti silvosique sunt, montibus circa perpetuis { 5} inter se iuncti. Iacet inter eos satis patens, clausus in medio, campus herbidus aquosusque, per quem medium iter est; sed antequam venias ad eum, intrandae primae angustiae sunt, et aut eadem, qua te insinuaveris, retro via repetenda, aut, si ire { 10} porro pergas, per alium saltum, artiorem impeditioremque, evadendum. In eum campum via alia per cavam rupem Romani demisso agmine cum ad alias angustias protinus pergerent, saeptas deiectu arborum saxorumque ingentium obiacente mole { 15} invenere. Cum fraus hostilis apparuisset, praesidium etiam in summo saltu conspicitur. Citati inde retro, qua venerant, pergunt repetere viam; eam quoque clausam sua obice armisque inveniunt. Sistunt inde gradum sine ullius imperio, intuentesque alii alios { 20} diu immobiles silent.