in time of war. Finally he
put forward his colleague Cornelius to preside in the senate and public
council, that from day to day he might advise what should be done. For
in those times these tribunes were ready either to command or obey as
the welfare of their country might require.

We may gather from this passage how a brave and prudent man should
act, how much good he may effect, and how serviceable he may be to his
country, when by the force of his character and worth he succeeds in
extinguishing envy. For this often disables men from acting to the best
advantage, not permitting them to obtain that authority which it is
essential they should have in matters of importance. Now, envy may be
extinguished in one or other of two ways: first, by the approach of some
flagrant danger, whereby seeing themselves like to be overwhelmed, all
forego their own private ambition and lend a willing obedience to him
who counts on his valour to rescue them. As in the case of Camillas, who
from having given many proofs of surpassing ability, and from having
been three times dictator and always exercised the office for the public
good and not for his private advantage, had brought men to fear nothing
from his advancement; while his fame and reputation made it no shame for
them to recognize him as their superior. Wisely, therefore, does Titus
Livius use concerning him the words which I have cited.

The other way in which envy may be extinguished, is by the death,
whether by violence or in the ordinary course of nature, of those who
have been your rivals in the pursuit of fame or power, and who seeing
you better esteemed than themselves, could never acquiesce in your
superiority or put up with it in patience. For when these men have been
brought up in a corrupt city, where their training is little likely to
improve them, nothing that can happen will induce them to withdraw their
pretensions; nay, to have their own way and satisfy their perverse
humour, they will be content to look on while their country is ruined.
For envy such as this there is no cure save by the death of those of
whom it has taken possession. And when fortune so befriends a great man
that his rivals are removed from his path by a natural death, his glory
is established without scandal or offence, since he is then able to
display his great qualities unhindered. But when fortune is not thus
propitious to him, he must contrive other means to rid himself of
rivals, and mus