1.  Being frustrated, therefore, in his expectations, Cin’eas returned to his master, extolling both the virtues and the grandeur of the Romans.  The senate, he said, appeared a reverend assembly of demi-gods; and the city, a temple for their reception. 2.  Of this Pyr’rhus soon after became sensible, by an embassy from Rome, concerning the ransom and exchange of prisoners. 3.  At the head of this venerable deputation was Fabri’cius, an ancient senator, who had long been a pattern to his countrymen of the most extreme poverty, joined to the most cheerful content. 4.  Pyr’rhus received this celebrated old man with great kindness; and willing to try how far fame had been just in his favour, offered him rich presents; but the Roman refused. 5.  The day after, he was desirous of examining the equality of his temper, and ordered one of his largest elephants to be placed behind the tapestry, which, upon a signal given, being drawn aside, the huge animal raised its trunk above the ambassador’s head, making a hideous noise, and using other arts to intimidate him. 6.  But Fabri’cius, with an unchanged countenance, smiled upon the king, and told him, that he looked with an equal eye on the terrors of that day, as he had upon the allurements of the preceding. 7.  Pyr’rhus, pleased to find so much virtue in one he had considered as a barbarian, was willing to grant him the only favour which he knew could make him happy; he released the Roman prisoners, entrusting them to Fabri’cius alone, upon his promise, that, in case the senate were determined to continue the war, he might reclaim them whenever he thought proper.

8.  By this time the Roman army was recovered from its late defeat, and Sulpi’cius and De’cius, the consuls for the following year, were placed at its head.

[Sidenote:  U.C. 474.]

9.  The panic which had formerly seized it from the elephants, now began to wear off, and both armies met near the city of As’culum, pretty nearly equal in numbers. 10.  Here again, after a long and obstinate fight, the Grecian discipline prevailed.  The Romans, pressed on every side, particularly by the elephants, were obliged to retire to their camp, leaving six thousand men upon the field of battle. 11.  But the enemy had no great reason to boast of their triumph, as they had four thousand slain.  Pyr’rhus again observed, to a soldier who was congratulating him upon his victory, “Another such a triumph, and I shall be undone.”  This battle finished the campaign. 12.  The next season began with equal vigour on both sides; Pyr’rhus having received new succours from home. 13.  While the two armies were approaching, and yet but a small distance, from each other, a letter was brought to old Fabri’cius, the Roman general, from the king’s physician, importing that, for a proper reward, he would take him off by poison, and thus rid the Romans of a powerful enemy, and a dangerous war. 14.  Fabri’cius felt all the honest indignation at this base proposal that was consistent