About fifteen thousand Romans, with Flamin'ius himself, fell in the valley, and six thousand more were obliged to yield themselves prisoners of war.
9.

Upon the news of this defeat, after the general consternation was allayed, the senate resolved to elect a commander with absolute authority, in whom they might repose their last and greatest expectations.10.The choice fell upon Fa'bius Max'imus, a man of great courage, with a happy mixture of caution.11.He was apprised that the only way to humble the Carthaginians at such a distance from home, was rather by harassing than fighting.

For this purpose, he always encamped upon the highest grounds, inaccessible to the enemy's cavalry.

Whenever they moved, he watched their motions, straitened their quarters, and cut off their provisions.
12.

By these arts, Fa'bius had actually, at one time, enclosed Han'nibal among mountains, where it was impossible to winter, and from which it was almost impracticable to extricate his army without imminent danger.13.In this exigence, nothing but one of those stratagems of war, which only men of great abilities invent, could save him.14.He ordered a number of small faggots and lighted torches to be tied to the horns of two thousand oxen, which should be driven towards the enemy.