uires that, since you have now by
your resolute decision raised me, your Caesar, to the highest of all
dignities, I should briefly set before you the state of affairs, in
order that safe and prudent remedies for their new condition may be
devised.

4. "While little more than a youth, as you well know, I was for form's
sake invested with the purple, and by the decision of the emperor was
intrusted to your protection. Since that time I have never forgotten my
resolution of a virtuous life: I have been seen with you as the partner
of all your labours, when, in consequence of the diminution of the
confidence felt in us by the barbarians, terrible disasters fell upon
the empire, our cities being stormed, and countless thousands of men
being slain, and even the little that was left to us being in a very
tottering condition. I think it superfluous to recapitulate how often,
in the depth of winter, beneath a frozen sky, at a season when there is
usually a cessation from war both by land and sea, we have defeated with
heavy loss the Allemanni, previously unconquered.

5. "One circumstance may neither be passed over nor suppressed. On that
glorious day which we saw at Strasburg, which brought perpetual liberty
to Gaul, we together, I throwing myself among the thickly falling darts,
and you being invincible by your vigour and experience, repelled the
enemy who poured upon us like a torrent; slaying them as we did with the
sword, or driving them to be drowned in the river, with very little loss
of our own men, whose funerals we celebrated with glorious panegyrics
rather than with mourning.

6. "It is my belief that after such mighty achievements posterity will
not be silent respecting your services to the republic, in every
country, if you now, in case of any danger or misfortune, vigorously
support with your valour and resolution me whom you have raised to the
lofty dignity of emperor.

7. "But to maintain things in their due order, so as to preserve to
brave men their well-merited rewards and prevent underhand ambition from
forestalling your honours, I make this rule in the honourable presence
of your counsel. That no civil or military officer shall be promoted
from any other consideration than that of his own merits; and he shall
be disgraced who solicits promotion for any one on any other ground."

8. The lower class of soldiers, who had long been deprived of rank or
reward, were encouraged by this speech to entertain bett