... who reminded all of us, that millennia pass but, as Lucius Aemilius wrote:
Do you give full credit to whatever I shall write to you, or to the
senate; but do not by your credulity encourage mere rumours, of which no
man shall appear as the responsible author.
[7]
For, no man is so entirely regardless of reputation, as that his
spirits cannot be damped; which I have observed has commonly occurred,
especially in this war.
[8]
In every circle, and, truly, at every table, there are people
who lead armies into Macedonia; who know where the camp ought to be
placed; what posts ought to be occupied by troops; when and through what
pass Macedonia should be entered; where magazines should be formed; how
provisions [p. 2081]should be conveyed by land and sea; and when it is proper to engage the enemy, when to lie quiet.
[9]
And they not only determine what is best to be done, but if any
thing is done in any other manner than what they have pointed out, they
arraign the consul, as if he were on his trial.
[10]
These are great impediments to those who have the management of
affairs; for every one cannot encounter injurious reports with the same
constancy and firmness of mind as Fabius did, who chose to let his own
authority be diminished through the folly of the people, rather than to
mismanage the public business with a high reputation.
[11]
I am not one of those who think that commanders ought never to
receive advice; on the contrary, I should deem that man more proud than
wise, who did every thing of his own single judgment. What then is my
opinion?
[12]
That commanders should be counselled, chiefly, by persons of
known talent; by those, especially, who are skilled in the art of war,
and who have been taught by experience; and next, by those who are
present at the scene of action, who see the country, who see the enemy;
who see the advantages that occasions offer, and who, embarked, as it
were, in the same ship, are sharers of the danger.
[13]
If, therefore, any one thinks himself qualified to give advice
respecting the war which I am to conduct, which may prove advantageous
to the public, let him not refuse his assistance to the state, but let
him come with me into Macedonia. He shall be furnished by me with a
ship, a horse, a tent; and even with his travelling charges.
[14]
But if he thinks this too much trouble, and prefers the repose
of a city life to the toils of war, let him not, on land, assume the
office of a pilot. The city, in itself, furnishes abundance of topics
for conversation;
[15]
let it confine its passion for talking, and rest assured, that
we shall be content with such councils as shall be framed within our
camp.”
[16]
Soon after this speech, the Latin festival having been
celebrated on the day before the calends of April, and the sacrifice on
the mount affording favourable omens, the consul, and Cneius Octavius,
the prae- tor, set out directly for Macedonia.
[17]
There is a tradition that the consul, at his departure, was
escorted by multitudes unusually numerous; and that people, with
confident hope, presaged a conclusion of the Macedonian war, and the
speedy return of the consul, to a glorious triumph.
It never rang truer than today.
