[47]
Let then, that great man be present for a while to your thoughts, as he
cannot appear before you in reality, so that you may behold him with your
minds whom you cannot behold with your eyes. Let him state to you that he
has not been altogether unversed in treaties, nor wholly inexperienced in
the nature of precedents, nor entirely ignorant of war; that he was the
pupil and soldier of Publius Africanus; that he was trained in campaigns and
in many warlike lieutenancies; that if he had read of as many wars as he has
served in and conducted, and brought to a termination,—that if he
had served under consuls as often as he himself was consul, he might have
learnt and become thoroughly acquainted with all the laws of war; that he
never doubted for a moment that no treaty could hinder him from doing
anything which was for the advantage of the republic; that he carefully
selected all the bravest men out of every city which was closely connected
with and friendly to us; that none of the people of Iguvium or of Camertum were excepted
by treaty, so that their citizens were incapable of receiving from the Roman
people the rewards of their virtue.
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