Events soon made the loss of Perikles felt and regretted by the Athenians.  Those who during his lifetime had complained that his power completely threw them into the shade, when after his death they had made trial of other orators and statesmen, were obliged to confess that with all his arrogance no man ever was really more moderate, and that his real mildness in dealing with men was as remarkable as his apparent pride and assumption.  His power, which had been so grudged and envied, and called monarchy and despotism, now was proved to have been the saving of the State; such an amount of corrupt dealing and wickedness suddenly broke out in public affairs, which he before had crushed and forced to hide itself, and so prevented its becoming incurable through impunity and licence.

LIFE OF FABIUS MAXIMUS.

I. Such a man did Perikles show himself to be in his most memorable acts, as far as they are extant.

Let us now turn our attention to Fabius.

The first of the family is said to descend from one of the nymphs, according to some writers, according to others from an Italian lady who became the mother of Fabius by Hercules near the river Tiber.  From him descended the family of the Fabii, one of the largest and most renowned in Rome.  Some say that the men of this race were the first to use pitfalls in hunting, and were anciently named Fodii in consequence; for up to the present day ditches are called fossae, and to dig is called fodere in Latin:  and thus in time the two sounds became confused, and they obtained the name of Fabii.  The family produced many distinguished men, the greatest of whom was Rullus, who was for that reason named Maximus by the Romans.  From him Fabius Maximus, of whom I am now writing, was fourth in descent.  His own personal nickname was Verrucosus, because he had a little wart growing on his upper lip.  The name of Ovicula, signifying sheep, was also given him while yet a child, because of his slow and gentle disposition.  He was quiet and silent, very cautious in taking part in children’s games, and learned his lessons slowly and with difficulty, which, combined with his easy obliging ways with his comrades, made those who did not know him think that he was dull and stupid.  Few there were who could discern, hidden in the depths of his soul, his glorious and lion-like character.  Soon, however, as time went on, and he began to take part in public affairs, he proved that his apparent want of energy was really due to serenity of intellect, that he was cautious because he weighed matters well beforehand, and that while he was never eager or easily moved, yet he was always steady and trustworthy.  Observing the immense extent of the empire, and the numerous wars in which it was engaged, he exercised his body in warlike exercises, regarding it as his natural means of defence, while he also studied oratory as the means by which to influence the people, in a style suited to his own life and character.  In his speeches there were no flowery passages, no empty graces of style, but there was a plain common sense peculiar to himself, and a depth of sententious maxims which is said to have resembled Thucydides.  One of his speeches is extant, a funeral oration which he made in public over his son who died after he had been consul.