any thing of the feeling, I say not of fellow-citizens, but of human
beings, how much more ought you to favour, and, as far as in you lay, to
promote rather the kindly demeanour of the patricians and the
tractability of the commons! And if such concord were once permanent,
who would not venture to engage, that this empire would in a short time
become the highest among the neighbouring states?

4. "I shall hereafter explain to you how not only expedient, but even
necessary has been this plan of my colleagues, according to which they
would not draw off the army from Veii until the business has been
completed. For the present I am disposed to speak concerning the
condition of the soldiers. Which observations of mine I think would
appear reasonable not only before you, but even, if they were delivered
in the camp, in the opinion of the soldiers themselves; on which subject
if nothing could suggest itself to my own mind to say, I certainly
should be satisfied with that which is suggested by the arguments of my
adversaries. They lately said, that pay should not be given to the
soldiers because it had never been given. How then can they now feel
displeased, that additional labour should be imposed in due proportion
on those to whom some addition of profit has been added? In no case is
there either labour without emolument, nor emolument in general without
the expense of labour. Toil and pleasure, in their natures most unlike,
are yet linked together by a sort of natural connexion. Formerly the
soldier thought it a hardship that he gave his labour to the
commonwealth at his own expense; at the same time he was glad for a part
of the year to till his own ground; to acquire that means whence he
might support himself and family at home and in war. Now he feels a
pleasure that the republic is a source of advantage to him, and gladly
receives his pay. Let him therefore bear with patience that he is a
little longer absent from home and his family affairs, to which no heavy
expense is now attached. Whether if the commonwealth should call him to
a settlement of accounts, would it not justly say, You have pay by the
year, perform labour by the year? do you think it just to receive a
whole year's pay for six months' service? Romans, with reluctance do I
dwell on this topic; for so ought those persons proceed who employ
mercenary troops. But we wish to treat as with fellow-citizens, and we
think it only just that you treat with us as with