Nor is it that you are discontented with your present situation. When was everything so abundant, when had <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> enjoyed more success, when had her soldiers brighter hopes than now?
But perhaps one of the more despondent among you will tell me that with the enemy there would be more profit for you and greater and more certain expectations!
Who are these enemies? Are they Andobales and Mandonius? Who among you is not aware that, to begin with, they revolted to us after betraying <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> and now again, breaking their oaths and pledges to us, have proclaimed themselves our enemies?
A fine thing truly to rely on these men and become enemies of your own country!
Again you could not hope to conquer <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> by your own arms, for you were not a match for me even if you joined Andobales\' army, much less by yourselves.
What then was in your minds I should very much like to learn that from you. Unless indeed the fact was that you relied on the skill and valour of the leaders you have just appointed or on the and axes that are carried before them, about which it is disgraceful even to speak further.
No, my men, it was nothing of the sort, and you could not give the slightest reason to justify yourselves in my eyes or in those of your country.
I, therefore, will plead for you to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and to myself, using a plea universally acknowledged among men:
and that is that all multitudes are easily misled and easily impelled to every excess, so that a multitude is ever liable to the same vicissitudes as the sea.
For as the sea is by its own nature harmless to those who voyage on it and quiet, but when winds fall violently upon it seems to those who have dealings with it to be of the same character as the winds that happen to stir it, so a multitude ever appears to be and actually is to those who deal with it of the same character as the leaders and counsellors it happens to have.
Therefore I, too, on the present occasion and all the superior officers of the army consent to be reconciled with you and engage to grant you amnesty.
But with the guilty parties we refuse to be reconciled and have decided to punish them for their offences against their country and ourselves."
Walbank Commentary