20. ¶The same man, when as he was retreating it occurred to him to wonder [Footnote:  Gap supplied by van Herwerden.] how he beheld the army of Laevinus much larger than it was before, declared that the Roman troops when cut to pieces grew whole again, hydra-fashion.  This did not, however, cause him to lose courage:  he made preparations in his turn, but did not come to the issue of battle. (Mai, p.173.  Zonaras, 8,4.)

21. ¶Pyrrhus, who learned that Fabricius and other envoys were approaching, to treat in behalf of the captives, sent a guard to them as far as the border, to the end that they should suffer no violence at the hands of the Tarentini, met them in due time, escorted them to the city, entertained them brilliantly and honored them in other ways, expecting that they would ask for a truce and make such terms as was proper for a defeated party. (Ursinus, p.376.  Zonaras, 8, 4.)

22. ¶When Fabricius made this statement merely:  “The Romans sent us to bring back the men captured in battle, and to pay ransoms of such size for them as shall be agreed upon by both of us,” he was quite dumbfounded because the man did not say that he was commissioned to treat about peace; and after removing them he took counsel with the friends who were usually his advisers partly, to be sure, about the return of the captives, but chiefly about the war and its management, whether with vehemence or in some other way it [lacuna] (Four pages are lacking.) (Mai, p.173.  Zonaras, 8, 4.)

23 [lacuna]. “to manage, or to run the risk of battles and combats, the outcome of which is doubtful. [Footnote:  Cineas is the speaker.] Hence, if you heed me, Milo, and the old proverb, you will not employ violence for any purpose rather than skill, where the latter is feasible, since Pyrrhus knows precisely what he has to do and does not need to be enlightened by us regarding a single detail of his program.”  By this speech they were all brought to one decision, particularly because this course entailed neither loss nor danger, whereas the others were likely to bring both.  And Pyrrhus, being of this mind, said to the ambassadors:  “Not willingly, Romans, did I previously make war upon you, and I would not war against you now:  I feel that it is of the highest importance to become your friend, and for this reason I release all the captives without ransom and make a treaty of peace.”  Privately, also, he did them favors, in order that, if possible, they might take his part, or at any rate obtain friendship for him. (Mai, p.173.  Zonaras, 8, 4.)

24.  Pyrrhus made friends of nearly all, and with Fabricius he conversed as follows:  “Fabricius, I do not want to be at war with you any longer, and indeed I repent that I heeded the Tarentini in the first place and came hither, although I have beaten you badly in battle.  I would gladly, then, become a friend to all the Romans, but most of all to you.  For I see that you are a thoroughly excellent and