Kitap 23
5.18
Those emperors, indeed, their own desire, inclined as they were to lofty enterprises, drove to undertake noteworthy exploits, but we are urged on to our present purpose by the pitiful fate of recently captured cities, by the unavenged shades of armies destroyed, by the great disasters that have been suffered, and by the loss of many a camp. For everybody’s desires are one with ours to make good the past and give strength to our country by making this side of her domain safe, and thus leave to future generations material for singing our praises.
5.19
Everywhere shall I, with the help of the eternal deity, be by your side, as emperor, as leader, and as fellow horseman, antesignanus et conturmalis seems to imply playing the part now of a leader of the infantry and now of the cavalry. and (as I think) under favourable auspices. But if fickle fortune should overthrow me in any battle, I shall be content with having sacrificed myself for the Roman world, after the example of the CurtiiCf. Livy, vii. 6, 1 ff. and MuciiCf. Livy, ii. 12. of old and the noble family of the Decii.See xvi. 10, 3. We must wipe out a most mischievous nation, on whose sword-blades the blood of our kinsmen is not yet dry.
