there, in which he might conceal a very large number of troops.  After thoroughly inspecting and exploring the place on all sides, a day was agreed upon for the execution of the affair.  Flavius came to the Roman general, and said, that “he had begun a business of great importance, for the completion of which, it was necessary to have the assistance of Gracchus himself.  That he had persuaded the praetors of all the states which had revolted to the Carthaginians in the general defection of Italy, to return into the friendship of the Romans, since now the Roman power too, which had almost come to ruin by the disaster at Cannae. was daily improving and increasing, while the strength of Hannibal was sinking into decay, and was almost reduced to nothing.  He had told them that the Romans would be disposed to accept an atonement for their former offence; that there never was any state more easy to be entreated, or more ready to grant pardon; how often, he had observed to them, had they forgiven rebellion even in their own ancestors!  These considerations,” he said, “he had himself urged, but that they would rather hear the same from Gracchus himself in person, and touching his right hand, carry with them that pledge of faith.  That he had agreed upon a place with those who were privy to the transaction, out of the way of observation, and at no great distance from the Roman camp; that there the business might be settled in few words, so that all the Lucanian states might be in the alliance and friendship of the Romans.”  Gracchus, not suspecting any treachery either from his words or the nature of the proposal, and being caught by the probability of the thing, set out from the camp with his lictors and a troop of horse, under the guidance of his host, and fell headlong into the snare.  The enemy suddenly arose from their lurking-place, and Flavius joined them; which made the treachery obvious.  A shower of weapons was poured from all sides on Gracchus and his troop.  He immediately leaped from his horse, and ordering the rest to do the same, exhorted them, that “as fortune had left them only one course, they would render it glorious by their valour.  And what is there left,” said he, “to a handful of men, surrounded by a multitude, in a valley hemmed in by a wood and mountains, except death?  The only question was, whether, tamely exposing themselves to be butchered like cattle, they should die unavenged; or whether, drawing the mind off from the idea of suffering and anticipation of the event, and giving full scope to fury and resentment, they should fall while doing and daring, covered with hostile blood, amid heaps of arms and bodies of their expiring foes.”  He desired that “all would aim at the Lucanian traitor and deserter;” adding, that “the man who should send that victim to the shades before him, would acquire the most distinguished glory, and furnish the highest consolation for his own death.”  While thus speaking, he wound his cloak round his left arm, for they had not even