the very day he got sight of the enemy.  His colleague Paulus made but one speech, on the day before they set out from the city, which was more true than gratifying to the people, in which nothing was said severely against Varro, except this only.  “That he wondered how any general, before he knew any thing of his own army, or that of the enemy, the situation of the places, or the nature of the country, even now while in the city, and with the gown on, could tell what he must do when in arms, and could even foretell the day on which he would fight standard to standard with the enemy.  That, for his own part, he would not, before the time arrived, prematurely anticipate those measures which circumstances imposed on men, rather than men on circumstances.  He could only wish that those measures which were taken with due caution and deliberation might turn out prosperously.  That temerity, setting aside its folly, had hitherto been also unsuccessful.”  This obviously appeared, that he would prefer safe to precipitate counsels; but that he might persevere the more constantly in this, Quintus Fabius Maximus is reported to have thus addressed him on his departure.

39.  “If you either had a colleague like yourself, Lucius Aemilius, which is what I should prefer, or you were like your colleague, an address from me would be superfluous.  For were you both good consuls, you would do every thing for the good of the state from your own sense of honour, even without my saying a word:  and were you both bad consuls, you would neither receive my words into your ears, nor my counsels into your minds.  As the case now is, looking at your colleague and yourself, a man of such character, my address will be solely to you; who, I feel convinced, will prove yourself a good man and a worthy citizen in vain, if the state on the other hand should halt.  Pernicious counsels will have the same authority and influence as those which are sound.  For you are mistaken, Lucius Paulus, if you imagine that you will have a less violent contest with Caius Terentius than with Hannibal.  I know not whether the former, your opponent, or the latter, your open enemy, be the more hostile.  With the latter you will have to contend in the field only; with the former, at every place and time.  Hannibal, moreover, you have to oppose with your own horse and foot; while Varro will head your own soldiers against you.  Let Caius Flaminius be absent from your thoughts, even for the omen’s sake.  Yet he only began to play the madman’s consul, in his province, and at the head of the army.  This man is raving before he put up for the consulship, afterwards while canvassing for it, and now having obtained it, before he has seen the camp or the enemy.  And he who by talking largely of battles and marshalled armies, even now excites such storms among the citizens with their gowns on, what do you think he will effect among the youth in arms, where words are followed forthwith by acts?  But be assured, if this man,