t a semblance of
gain or loss, or it seems a spirited course or a base one. When any
proposal submitted to the people holds out promise of advantage, or
seems to them a spirited course to take, though loss lie hid behind,
nay, though the ruin of their country be involved in it, they will
always be easily led to adopt it; whereas it will always be difficult to
persuade the adoption of such courses as wear the appearance of disgrace
or loss, even though safety and advantage be bound up with them. The
truth of what I say is confirmed by numberless examples both Roman and
foreign, modern and ancient. Hence grew the ill opinion entertained in
Rome of Fabius Maximus, who could never persuade the people that it
behoved them to proceed warily in their conflict with Hannibal, and
withstand his onset without fighting. For this the people thought a base
course, not discerning the advantage resulting from it, which Fabius
could by no argument make plain to them. And so blinded are men in
favour of what seems a spirited course, that although the Romans had
already committed the blunder of permitting Varro, master of the knights
to Fabius, to join battle contrary to the latter's desire, whereby the
army must have been destroyed had not Fabius by his prudence saved it,
this lesson was not enough; for afterwards they appointed this Varro to
be consul, for no other reason than that he gave out, in the streets and
market-places, that he would make an end of Hannibal as soon as leave
was given him to do so. Whence came the battle and defeat of Cannae, and
well-nigh the destruction of Rome.

Another example taken from Roman history may be cited to the same
effect. After Hannibal had maintained himself for eight or ten years in
Italy, during which time the whole country had been deluged with Roman
blood, a certain Marcus Centenius Penula, a man of mean origin, but who
had held some post in the army, came forward and proposed to the senate
that were leave given him to raise a force of volunteers in any part of
Italy he pleased, he would speedily deliver Hannibal into their hands,
alive or dead. To the senate this man's offer seemed a rash one; but
reflecting that were they to refuse it, and were the people afterwards
to hear that it had been made, tumults, ill will, and resentment against
them would result, they granted the permission asked; choosing rather
to risk the lives of all who might follow Penula, than to excite fresh
discontent on