erein courage is needed
for resolving, this uncertainty will always be met with, whenever those
who have to deliberate and decide are weak.

Not less mischievous than doubtful resolves are those which are late and
tardy, especially when they have to be made in behalf of a friend. For
from their lateness they help none, and hurt ourselves. Tardy resolves
are due to want of spirit or want of strength, or to the perversity
of those who have to determine, who being moved by a secret desire to
overthrow the government, or to carry out some selfish purpose of their
own, suffer no decision to be come to, but only thwart and hinder.
Whereas, good citizens, even when they see the popular mind to be bent
on dangerous courses, will never oppose the adoption of a fixed plan,
more particularly in matters which do not brook delay.

After Hieronymus, the Syracusan tyrant, was put to death, there being
at that time a great war between the Romans and the Carthaginians, the
citizens of Syracuse fell to disputing among themselves with which
nation they should take part; and so fierce grew the controversy between
the partisans of the two alliances, that no course could be agreed on,
and they took part with neither; until Apollonides, one of the foremost
of the Syracusan citizens, told them in a speech replete with wisdom,
that neither those who inclined to hold by the Romans, nor those who
chose rather to side with the Carthaginians, were deserving of blame;
but that what was utterly to be condemned was doubt and delay in taking
one side or other; for from such uncertainty he clearly foresaw the ruin
of their republic; whereas, by taking a decided course, whatever it
might be, some good might come. Now Titus Livius could not show more
clearly than he does in this passage, the mischief which results
from resting in suspense. He shows it, likewise, in the case of the
Lavinians, of whom he relates, that being urged by the Latins to aid
them against Rome, they were so long in making up their minds, that when
the army which they at last sent to succour the Latins was issuing
from their gates, word came that the Latins were defeated. Whereupon
Millionius, their praetor, said, "_With the Romans this short march will
cost us dear_." But had the Lavinians resolved at once either to grant
aid or to refuse it, taking a latter course they would not have given
offence to the Romans, taking the former, and rendering timely help,
they and the Latins tog