, sirnamed Luscinus, an illustrious Roman, was much and justly celebrated
, sirnamed Luscinus, an illustrious Roman, was much and justly celebrated for his inflexible integrity, and contempt of riches. He was twice consul, first in the year before Christ 282, when he obtained
a triumph for his victories over the Samnites, Lucani, and
Bruttii. Two years after this, Pyrrhus invaded Italy; and,
after the defeat of the Romans near Tarentum, Fabricius
was sent to that monarch to treat of the ransom and exchange of prisoners, on which occasion he manifested a,
noble contempt of every endeavour that could be made, in
any shape, to shake his fidelity, and excited the admiration
of Pyrrhus. His second consulship was in the year 273,
when, his refined generosity yet further secured the esteem
of the royal enemy, whom he informed of the treacherous
design of his physician to give him poison. According to
some authors, he again triumphed this year over the allies
of Pyrrhus. It was remarked, that when the comitia were
held for the ensuing consuls, Cornelius Rufinus, a man of
notorious avarice, and detested by Fabricius for that vice,
but an excellent general, obtained the consulship chiefly
by his interest. Being asked the reason of this unexpected
proceeding, he said, “In times of danger it is better that
the public purse should be plundered, than the state betrayed to the enemy.
” But when he became censor in the
year