hat
were formidable, they might at last assume courage and grow eager to
engage them in battle. The part thus prudently taken by Marius, should
be carefully imitated by others who would escape the dangers above
spoken of and not have to betake themselves like the Gauls to a
disgraceful flight, on sustaining some trifling defeat.

But since in this Discourse I have referred by name to Valerius
Corvinus, in my next Chapter I shall cite his words to show what manner
of man a captain ought to be.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.--_Of the Qualities of a Captain in whom his Soldiers
can confide._

Valerius Corvinus, as I have said already, was sent in command of an
army against the Samnites, who were then new enemies to Rome. Wherefore,
to reassure his soldiers and familiarize them with their adversaries, he
made them engage with them in various unimportant passages of arms.
But not thinking this enough, he resolved before delivering battle to
address his men, and by reminding them of their valour and his own, to
make it plain how little they should esteem such enemies. And from the
words which Titus Livius puts in his mouth we may gather what manner of
man the captain ought to be in whom an army will put its trust. For he
makes him say:--"_Bear ye also this in mind under whose conduct and
auspices you are about to fight, and whether he whom you are to obey
be great only in exhorting, bold only in words, and all unpractised in
arms; or whether he be one who himself knows how to use his spear, to
march before the eagles, and play his part in the thickest of the fight.
Soldiers! I would have you follow my deeds and not my words, and look to
me for example rather than for commands; for with this right hand I have
won for myself three consulships, and an unsurpassed renown._" Which
words rightly understood give every one to know what he must do to merit
a captain's rank. And if any man obtain it by other means, he will soon
discover that advancement due to chance or intrigue rather takes away
than brings reputation, since it is men who give lustre to titles and
not titles to men.

From what has been said it will likewise be understood that if great
captains when matched against an unfamiliar foe have had to resort to
unusual methods for reassuring the minds even of veteran soldiers, much
more will it be necessary for them to use all their address when in
command of a raw and untried army which has never before looked an enemy
in the fa