After the senate had heard both parties, the legates from Marcellus were introduced.
When the house saw that these also were pacifically inclined, and that the general himself was more disposed to favour the enemy than the allies, they replied to the Aravacae and to the allies,
that Marcellus would inform both parties in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> of the decision of the senate.
But their private opinion being that what the allies said was both true and to the advantage of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, that the Aravacae still had a high opinion of themselves, and that the general was afraid of the war,
they gave secret orders to the legates he had sent to continue to fight bravely and worthily of their country.
Having thus determined to pursue the war, they first of all, as they distrusted Marcellus, were minded to send another general to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> —
for Aulus Postumius Albinus and Lucius Licinius Lucullus had already been designated as consuls and had entered on their office —
and in the next place began to make energetic and lavish preparations for the campaign, thinking that the future of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> depended on its issue.
For they supposed that if this enemy were vanquished, all others would submit to their authority, but that if the enemy could avert their present peril, not only would the Aravacae be encouraged to resist, but all the other tribes also.
Walbank Commentary