Then too if, laying hatred aside, thou shouldest weigh the cause that won them pardon from their doom, surely to spare a fallen foe is itself a triumph and to see him on his knees punishment enough. What vengeance so satisfying as when terror makes pride stoop, and want bows down him who before bore spoils? But our clemency was in part due to another cause, for we thought of thee, O Rome. Concern for thee constrained us to offer a way of escape to the beleaguered foe lest, with the fear of death before their eyes, their rage should grow the more terrible for being confined. An enemy before thy very walls would have been too heavy a price to pay for the destruction of the race and name of the Getae. May Jove from on high forbid that the barbarian should outrage even with a glance Numa’s shrine or Romulus’ temple, or discover aught of the secrets of our empire. * * * * * Page 134 Quamquam, si veterum certamina rite recordor, tunc etiam, pulchra cum libertate vigerent 105 et proprio late florerent milite patres, semper ab his famae petiere insignia bellis, quae diversa procul tuto trans aequora vires exercere dabant: currus regumque catenae inter abundantis fati ludibria ductae. 110 at vero Italiam quotiens circumstetit atrox tempestas ipsumque caput laesura pependit, non illis vani ratio ventosa furoris, sed graviter spectata salus ductorque placebat, non qui praecipiti traheret semel omnia casu, 115 sed qui maturo vel laeta vel aspera rerum consilio momenta regens, nec tristibus impar nec pro successu nimius, spatiumque morandi vincendique modum mutatis nosset habenis. cautius ingentes morbos et proxima cordi 120 ulcera Paeoniae tractat sollertia curae parcendoque secat, ferro ne largius acto inrevocandus eat sectis vitalibus error. Sublimi certe Curium canit ore vetustas, Aeaciden Italo pepulit qui litore Pyrrhum, 125 nec magis insignis Pauli Mariique triumphus, qui captos niveis reges egere quadrigis; plus fuga laudatur Pyrrhi quam vincla Iugurthae; et, quamvis gemina fessum iam clade fugavit, post Decii lituos et nulli pervia culpae 130 pectora Fabricii, donis invicta vel armis, * * * * * Page 135