ore now devoted ages to cause the
destruction of enemies who harassed them. Carthage was overthrown after
a long and distressing war; and its great conqueror feared to let it
survive his victory. After a long and often disastrous siege, Scipio
utterly destroyed Numantia. Rome destroyed Fidenae, that it might not
grow up as a rival to the empire; and so entirely laid waste Falisci and
Veii, that it is not easy to attach so much faith to ancient records as
to believe that those cities ever were powerful.

21. "These transactions I have related to you as one acquainted with
ancient history. It follows that all should lay aside, as unworthy of
him, the love of plunder, which has often been the insidious bane of the
Roman soldier, and that every one should keep steadily to his own troop
and his own standard, when the necessity for fighting arises, knowing
that should he loiter anywhere he will be hamstrung and left to his
fate. I fear nothing of our over-crafty enemies but their tricks and
perfidy.

22. "Finally, I promise you all, that when our affairs have met with
success, without entrenching myself behind my imperial prerogative, so
as to consider all my own decisions and opinions irrefragably just and
reasonable because of my authority, I will give, if required, a full
explanation of all that I have done, that you may be able to judge
whether it has been wise or not.

23. "Therefore, I entreat you, now summon all your courage, in full
reliance on your good fortune, sure at all events that I will share all
dangers equally with you, and believing that victory ever accompanies
justice."

24. When he had ended his harangue with this pleasant peroration, the
soldiers, exulting in the glory of their chief, and elated with the
hopes of success, lifted up their shields on high, and cried out that
they should think nothing dangerous nor difficult under an emperor who
imposed more toil on himself than on his common soldiers.

25. And above all the rest his Gallic troops showed this feeling with
triumphant shouts, remembering how often while he as their leader was
marshalling their ranks, they had seen some nations defeated and others
compelled to sue for mercy and peace.

VI.

Sec. 1. Our history here leads us to a digression explanatory of the
situation of Persia. It has been already dilated upon by those who
describe different nations, though but few of them have given a correct
account; if my story should be a littl