History of Rome

“If we had either peace in Italy, or such a war and such an enemy where there was broader scope for negligence, anyone who should offer any delay to your zeal, which you bring into the Field for the purpose of entrusting offices of honor to whomsoever you wish, would seem to me to have too little regard for your liberty;

​but since in this war, against this enemy, no mistake has ever been made by any general without immense disaster to us, it is fitting that you should enter upon the voting for the creation of consuls with the same care with which you go down armed into the battle line, and that each one should say thus to himself:

‘I nominate a consul who is a match for Hannibal as a commander.’ In this year, at Capua, against Vibellius Taurea, the foremost Campanian knight, who offered a challenge, Asellus Claudius, the foremost Roman knight, was opposed.

​Against a Gaul who once offered a challenge on the bridge of the Anio, our ancestors sent Titus Manlius, who was confident in both his spirit and his strength.

​I would not deny that there was the same reason, not many years later, why Marcus Valerius was not distrusted when he took up arms for a contest against a Gaul who similarly challenged him.

​Just as we pray to have infantry and cavalry who are stronger than, or if not, at least a match for the enemy, so let us seek a commander who is a match for the leader of the enemy.

​Even when we have chosen him who is the foremost general in the state, nevertheless, chosen suddenly and appointed for a year, he will be matched against a veteran and perpetual commander, who is hemmed in by no limitations of either time or law to prevent him from conducting and managing all things just as the exigencies of the war shall demand;

​but for us, in the midst of our very preparations and when we are only beginning our operations, the year revolves.

​Since enough has been said as to what kind of men it is fitting for you to create as consuls, it remains for me to say a few words concerning those toward whom the favor of the prerogative century has inclined.

​Marcus Aemilius Regillus is the Flamen Quirinalis, whom we can neither send away from his sacred duties nor retain without abandoning our care either for the gods or for the war.

​Otacilius has my sister’s daughter as his wife, and children by her; but your merits toward me and my ancestors are not such that I should not hold the commonwealth dearer than private relationships.

​Any one of the sailors and passengers can steer in a calm sea; when a fierce storm has arisen and the ship is swept by the wind on a turbulent sea, then there is need of a man and a helmsman.

​We are not sailing in a calm, but have already been almost submerged by several tempests; therefore, you must provide and guard with the utmost care as to who should sit at the helm. We have tried you, Titus Otacilius, in a smaller matter; you have certainly given no proof of why we should trust you with greater ones.

​In this year, we prepared the fleet which you commanded for three purposes: to ravage the coast of Africa, to keep the shores of Italy safe for us, and, above all, to prevent reinforcements with pay and provisions from being transported from Carthage to Hannibal.

​I do not say select Titus Otacilius as consul if he has performed all these things for the commonwealth, but even if he has performed any one of them. But if, while you held command of the fleet, all the reinforcements of war came to Hannibal from home safe and untouched by ships, as if on a peaceful sea, ​if the coast of Italy has been more dangerous this year than that of Africa, what can you say as to why we should oppose you, of all men, as commander against our enemy Hannibal?

​If you were consul, we should think that a dictator ought to be appointed according to the example of our ancestors, nor could you feel indignant at this, that someone in the Roman state is held to be better in war than you. It is of more interest to no one than to yourself, Titus Otacilius, that a burden should not be laid upon your shoulders under which you would fall.

​I earnestly advise and warn you that, with the same mind with which, if you were standing armed in the battle line and suddenly had to choose two commanders under whose leadership and auspices you were to fight, ​you should today also create consuls to whom your children may take the oath, at whose edict they may assemble, and under whose protection and care they may serve.

​Lake Trasimene and Cannae are sad examples to remember, but useful as a warning to prevent similar disasters. Herald, recall the younger men of the Aniensis tribe to vote.”