faith and correct your former folly. For when repentance comes at the
fitting time upon those who have done wrong, it is accustomed to make
those who have been injured indulgent; and service which comes in season
is wont to bring another name to those who have been called ungrateful.

"And it will be needful for you to know well this also, that if at the
present time you shew yourselves completely loyal to the emperor, no
remembrance will remain of what has gone before. For in the nature of
things every course of action is characterized by men in accordance with
its final outcome; and while a wrong which has once been committed can
never be undone in all time, still, when it has been corrected by better
deeds on the part of those who committed it, it receives the fitting
reward of silence and generally comes to be forgotten. Moreover, if you
act with any disregard of duty toward these accursed rascals at the
present time, even though afterwards you fight through many wars in
behalf of the Romans and often win the victory over the enemy, you will
never again be regarded as having requited the emperor as you can
requite him to-day. For those who win applause in the very matter of
their former wrong-doing always gain for themselves a fairer apology. As
regards the emperor, then, let each one of you reason in some such way.
But as for me, I have not voluntarily done you any injustice, and I have
displayed my good-will to you by all possible means, and now, facing
this danger, I have decided to ask this much of you all: let no man
advance with us against the enemy contrary to his judgement. But if
anyone of you is already desirous of arraying himself with them, without
delay let him go with his weapons to the enemy's camp, granting us this
one favour, that it be not stealthily, but openly, that he has decided
to do us wrong. Indeed, it is for this reason that I am making my
speech, not in Carthage, but after coming on the battle-field, in order
that I might not be an obstacle to anyone who desires to desert to our
opponents, since it is possible for all without danger to shew their
disposition toward the state." Thus spoke Germanus. And a great uproar
ensued in the Roman army, for each one demanded the right to be the
first to display to the general his loyalty to the emperor and to swear
the most dread oaths in confirmation.

XVII

Now for some time the two armies remained in position opposite each
other. But when the