Rome, the Capitol, meeting of all Senators.
Enter Lucius Aemilius Paullus, Cnaeus Servilius, Fabius Maximus, Gaius Terentius Varro, Scipio the Younger and others members of the Senate.
Cnaeus Servilius: Two crushing defeats have befallen us; the strategies must be rethought.
Fabius Maximus: Noble Consuls and honourable senators, might I, humble Fabius, put forth mine thoughts in front of the house?
Senators: Thou mayst do so, Noble Fabius.
Fabius Maximus: We have seen the consequences of two open wars; and it seemeth that our foe butchers us, each time we venture forth to pursue and persecute them. These tactics, have thus far lead to the two heaviest defeats of our times, which hath ravaged Rome of many of its noblest and bravest souls. Thus to slow him down, we must not confront him, for direct conflict is Hannibal’s desire. Therein he shallst be by us damned, for ‘tis certain that he doth not possess the resources to besiege Rome itself. Roman cities and the defensive posts he canst not remove by directly assaulting these places. He therefore doth try an incite a general revolt, by slaughtering innocent men to show Roman apathy towards their own subjects. Noble Romans, we shalt not fall to this hideous trap that seem to lure us as does the light the bug…this shan’t be! We must put up our defensive posts to prevent his advance and thereby his progress, which shall mean that he shalt be consumed by ague and malady and his tired troops shall revolt ‘gainst him, then at the opportune moment, an attack shalt seize him hostage, thereby ending this grueling war.
Lucius Aemilius Paullus: Ay, but Hannibal, me fears is too shrewd to be taken in by such a stance. Slowly, slyly but surely, he shallst muster up men from our fellow republics, by laying waste to their newly harvested crops. This way before we mayst convince our fellow states, they shallst already side with him, to plot our downfall. This may bolster him to barge in to our defenses and take Rome itself.
Fabius Maximus: Well thoughtest thou, many o’th’other Italians mayst feel Rome is inept in its duties but, we shalt not allow Hannibal to pillage our prime fields, by proper positioning of troops to cut him off. This way slowly, we shalt debar him from supplies and then once surely surrounded, Hannibal shalt be mercilessly pounded. So now that my attritional ways are told, let us see what our fate holds.
Cnaeus Servilius: I see both thy views and the senate too feels the need to change yet, these attritional ways suite us Romans not, for mine own part, ‘tis cowardice to sit around and see even an acre of land go waste, then farmer’s sorrow, which shalt know no bounds.
Scipio the younger: I have faced him, and now feel that ‘tis not wise to on an open battle with the legions we now possess, wait we must till we can assemble a large enough army to crush him completely, which mayst take a lot o’th’time, before which we shallst catch him by following the ways of noble Fabius.
Cnaeus Servilius: Then most agree to follow the path of Fabius even though it be similar to cowardice?
Scipio the younger: It isn’t cowardice; it is an interim measure to curb the upheavals caused by Hannibal.
Senators: Then ‘tis settled, to prevent catastrophic defeats we shallst have to take measures which are in the states' best interests. Noble Fabius, on thee we henceforth vest the powers of a dictator, who at this military emergency shallst have the sway over all the legions of Rome. Actest from this hour, thou, as the supreme commander of all forces and try thy best to stop Hannibal.
Alarum, Fabius Maximus is presented a laurel wreath as he is formally proclaimed dictator.
Fabius Maximus: These powers I shallst use true to my knowledge and to the best of my abilities as general. I vow to purge Rome of all its myriad ailments. All hail Rome!
Others: All hail!
