§44.22.1senatus consultis perfectis L. Aemilius consul e curia in contionem processit orationemque talem habuit: §44.22.2“animadvertisse videor, Quirites, maiorem mihi sortito Macedoniam provinciam gratulationem factam, quam cum aut consul sum renuntiatus, aut quo die magistratum inii, neque id ob aliam causam, quam quia bello in Macedonia, quod diu trahitur, existimastis dignum maiestate populi Romani exitum per me inponi posse.
The senate's decrees having been completed, the consul Lucius Aemilius went out from the senate house to the public assembly and delivered a speech to this effect: "I seem to have noticed, Quirites, that a greater congratulation was offered to me on having been allotted the province of Macedonia than when I was declared consul, or on the day I entered upon my magistracy; and for no other reason than because you estimated that through me an end worthy of the majesty of the Roman people could be imposed on the war in Macedonia, which has been dragged out for a long time.
§44.22.3deos quoque huic favisse sorti spero eosdemque in rebus gerendis adfuturos esse.
I hope that the gods also have favored this lot, and that the same gods will be present to assist in the conduct of affairs.
§44.22.4haec partim ominari, partim sperare possum; illud adfirmare pro certo audeo, me omni ope adnisurum esse, ne frustra vos hanc spem de me conceperitis.
These things I can partly augur, partly hope for; that other thing I dare to affirm for certain, that I will strive with all my might so that you may not have conceived this hope about me in vain.
§44.22.5quae ad bellum opus sunt et senatus decrevit, et, quoniam extemplo proficisci placet neque ego in mora sum, C. Licinius collega, vir egregius, aeque enixe parabit ac si ipse id bellum gesturus esset.
What things are necessary for the war, the senate has both decreed, and, since it is decided to set out immediately and I am not causing any delay, my colleague Gaius Licinius, an excellent man, will prepare with equal diligence as if he himself were about to wage that war.
§44.22.6vos quae scripsero senatui ac vobis, iis modo credite et cavete rumores credulitate vestra alatis, quorum auctor nemo extabit.
As for you, believe only those things which I shall write to the senate and to you, and beware of nourishing by your credulity rumors for which no author will stand forth.
§44.22.7nam nunc quidem, quod vulgo fieri, hoc praecipue bello, animadverti, nemo tam famae contemptor est, cuius non debilitari animus possit.
For indeed now, as I have observed to happen commonly, especially in this war, no one is so contemptuous of gossip that his mind cannot be weakened by it.
§44.22.8in omnibus circulis atque etiam, si dis placet, in conviviis sunt, qui exercitus in Macedoniam ducant, ubi castra locanda sint sciant, quae loca praesidiis occupanda, quando aut quo saltu intranda Macedonia, ubi horrea ponenda, qua terra, mari subvehantur commeatus, quando cum hoste manus conserendae, quando quiesse sit melius.
In all social circles, and even, if the gods please, at dinner parties, there are those who lead armies into Macedonia, who know where camps should be pitched, what places should be occupied by garrisons, when or by what pass Macedonia should be entered, where granaries should be placed, by what land or sea provisions should be conveyed, when to join battle with the enemy, and when it is better to remain quiet.
§44.22.9nec, quid faciendum sit, modo statuunt, sed, quidquid aliter, quam ipsi censuere, factum est, consulem veluti dicta die accusant.
And they do not only decide what ought to be done, but whatever is done otherwise than they themselves have judged, they accuse the consul as if on a day of trial.
§44.22.10haec magna impedimenta res gerentibus sunt: neque enim omnes tam firmi et constantis animi contra adversum rumorem esse possunt, quam Q. Fabius fuit, qui suum imperium minui per vanitatem populi maluit, quam secunda fama male rem publicam gerere.
These are great hindrances to those who conduct affairs; for indeed, not all can be of so firm and constant a mind against adverse rumor as Gnaeus Fabius was, who preferred to have his authority diminished through the vanity of the people than to conduct the public business badly with a favorable reputation.
§44.22.11non sum is, Quirites, qui non existumem admonendos duces esse: immo eum, qui de sua unius sententia omnia gerat, superbum iudico magis quam sapientem.
I am not one, Quirites, who does not think that generals ought to be advised; on the contrary, I judge him who conducts everything according to his own single opinion to be proud rather than wise.
§44.22.12quid ergo est? primum a prudentibus et proprie rei militaris peritis et usu doctis monendi imperatores sunt;
What then is the case?
deinde ab iis, qui intersunt gerendis rebus, qui loca, qui hostem, qui temporum opportunitatem vident, qui in eodem velut navigio participes sunt periculi.
First, generals should be advised by the prudent, and those who are properly skilled in military affairs and taught by experience; secondly, by those who are present at the conduct of affairs, who see the places, the enemy, the opportuneness of the moments, who are, as it were, participants of the danger in the same ship.
§44.22.13itaque si quis est, qui, quod e re publica sit, suadere se mihi in eo bello, quod gesturus sum, confidat, is ne deneget operam rei publicae et in Macedoniam mecum veniat.
Therefore, if there is anyone who trusts that he can advise me, for the benefit of the state, in this war which I am about to wage, let him not deny his assistance to the state and let him come with me to Macedonia.
nave, equo, tabernaculo, viatico etiam a me iuvabitur; §44.22.14si quem id facere piget et otium urbanum militiae laboribus praeoptat, e terra ne gubernaverit.
He will be assisted by me with a ship, a horse, a tent, and even with traveling money; if anyone is loath to do this and prefers the leisure of the city to the labors of military service, let him not steer from the land.
§44.22.15sermonum satis ipsa praebet urbs; iis loquacitatem suam contineat: nos castrensibus consiliis contentos futuros esse sciat. ” §44.22.16ab hac contione, Latinis, quae pridie kal. Apriles fuerunt, in monte sacrificio rite perpetrato protinus inde et consul et praetor Cn. Octavius in Macedoniam profecti sunt.
The city itself provides enough of talk; let him confine his loquacity to those talks: let him know that we shall be content with counsels from the camp." After this assembly, the sacrifice having been duly performed on the mount during the Latin Festival, which was on the day before the Kalends of April, immediately from there both the consul and the praetor Gnaeus Octavius set out for Macedonia.
§44.22.17traditum memoriae est maiore quam solita frequentia prosequentium consulem celebratum, ac prope certa spe ominatos esse homines, finem esse Macedonico bello maturumque reditum cum egregio triumpho consulis fore.
It is recorded in memory that the consul was escorted by a greater crowd of well-wishers than was usual, and that people augured with an almost certain hope that there would be an end to the Macedonian war, and a speedy return of the consul with a splendid triumph.