II
TO HIS ARMY BEFORE HIS DEFEAT IN
BATTLE[1]
(63 B.C.)
I am well aware, soldiers, that words can not inspire courage; and that a spiritless army can not be rendered active, or a timid army valiant, by the speech of its commander. Whatever courage is in the heart of a man, whether from nature or from habit, so much will be shown by him in the field; and on him whom neither glory nor danger can move, exhortation is bestowed in vain; for the terror in his breast stops his ears.
I have called you together, however, to give you a few instructions, and to explain to you, at the same time, my reasons for the course which I have adopted. You all know, soldiers, how severe a penalty the inactivity and cowardice of
- ↑ Delivered in the field near Pistoria, whence he had hoped to escape into Gaul, in 63 B.C. Reported by Sallust. Translated by John S. Watson.
lowing: "There were some at that time who said that Catiline, having ended his speech, and wishing to bind his accomplices in guilt by an oath, handed round among them, in goblets, the blood of a human body mixed with wine and that when all, after an imprecation, had tasted of it, as is usual in sacred rites, he disclosed his designs, and they asserted that he did this in order that they might be the more closely attached to one another, by being mutually conscious of such an atrocity." Sallust adds: "The evidence which I have obtained in support of this charge is not at all in proportion to its magnitude."
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