It will be a solace to thy soldiers that thy toil is as heavy as theirs; be the first to mount the arduous hill and, should [157] A well-known Roman method of attack by which the troops advanced to the point of attack in close formation, each man holding his shield above his head. The protection thus afforded to the assaulting band was likened to the shell of the tortoise (_testudo_). * * * * * Page 312 primus ini; silvam si caedere provocat usus, sumpta ne pudeat quercum stravisse bipenni. 345 calcatur si pigra palus, tuus ante profundum pertemptet sonipes. fluvios tu protere cursu haerentes glacie, liquidos tu scinde natatu. nunc eques in medias equitum te consere turmas; nunc pedes adsistas pediti. tum promptius ibunt te socio, tum conspicuus gratusque geretur 351 sub te teste labor.” Dicturum plura parentem voce subis: “equidem, faveant modo numina coeptis, haec effecta dabo, nec me fratrique tibique dissimilem populi commissaque regna videbunt. 355 sed cur non potius, verbis quae disseris, usu experior? gelidas certe nunc tendis in Alpes. duc tecum comitem; figant sine nostra tyrannum spicula; pallescat nostro sine barbarus arcu. Italiamne feram furiis praedonis acerbi 360 subiectam? patiar Romam servire clienti? usque adeone puer? nec me polluta potestas nec pia cognati tanget vindicta cruoris? per strages equitare libet. da protinus arma. cur annos obicis? pugnae cur arguor impar? aequalis mihi Pyrrhus erat, cum Pergama solus 365 verteret et patri non degeneraret Achilli. denique si princeps castris haerere nequibo, vel miles veniam.” Delibat dulcia nati oscula miratusque refert: “laudanda petisti; 370 sed festinus amor, veniet robustior aetas; ne propera. necdum decimas emensus aristas adgrederis metuenda viris: vestigia magnae * * * * * Page 313 necessity demand the felling of a forest, be not ashamed to grasp the axe and hew down the oak. If a stagnant marsh must be crossed let thy horse be the first to test the depth of it. Boldly tread the frozen river; swim the flood. Mounted thyself, ride amid thy squadrons of horse or again stand foot to foot with the infantry. They will advance the bolder for thy presence, and with thee to witness glorious and glad shall be the fulfilment of their task.”