28.44
"Put
what need is there of instances drawn from other lands and other times to
remind us how much depends upon taking the aggressive and removing
danger from ourselves by making it recoil upon others? It makes all the
difference in the world whether you are devastating the territory of another
nation or seeing your own destroyed by fire and sword. It shows more
courage to attack than to repel attacks. Then again, the unknown always
inspires terror, but when you have entered your enemy's country you have a
nearer view of his strength and weakness. Hannibal never hoped that so
many communities would go over to him after Cannae; how much less could
the Carthaginians, faithless allies, harsh and tyrannical masters as they are,
count upon the firmness and stability of their African empire! So far, even
when deserted by our allies, we stood in our own strength, the soldiery of
Rome. The Carthaginians have no citizen army, their soldiers are all
mercenaries, ready to change sides on the smallest provocation. If only
nothing stops me, you will hear that I have landed, that Africa is wrapped in
the flames of war, that Hannibal is tearing himself away from Italy, that
Carthage is besieged -all at one stroke. You may look for more cheerful and
more frequent news from Africa than you received from Spain. Everything
inspires me with hope -the Fortune which waits on Rome, the gods who
witnessed the treaty which the enemy has broken, the two princes Syphax
and Masinissa, whose fidelity I shall so far trust as to protect myself from
any perfidy they may attempt. Many advantages which at this distance are
not apparent will be disclosed as the war goes on. A man proves his capacity
for leadership by seizing every opportunity that presents itself, and making
every contingency subserve his plans. I shall have the adversary whom you,
Q. Fabius assign to me -Hannibal -but I would rather draw him away than
that he should keep me here; I would compel him to fight in his own
country, and Carthage shall be the prize of victory rather than the half-ruined
strongholds of Bruttium.
"And now as to any injury that may befall the republic during my
voyage or whilst I am disembarking my men on the shores of Africa or
during my advance on Carthage. As the consul, P. Licinius, is also Pontifex
Maximus, and cannot be absent from his sacred duties, it is impossible for
him to ballot for so distant a province. Would it not be almost an insult to
say that he cannot accomplish the task, after Hannibal's power has been
shaken and almost shattered, which you, Q. Fabius, were able to accomplish
when Hannibal in the hour of victory was flying about in every part of Italy?
And even if the war should not be brought to a more speedy termination by
the plan which I suggest, the dignity of Rome and her prestige amongst
foreign kings and nations would surely require us to show that we possess
sufficient courage not only to defend Italy but to carry our arms even as far
as Africa. We must not let the idea get abroad that no Roman general durst
do what Hannibal has done, or that whilst in the First Punic War, when the
struggle was for Sicily, Africa was frequently attacked by our fleets and
armies, in this war, when the struggle is for Italy, Africa is left in peace. Let
Italy, which has been so long harassed, have some rest at last; let Africa take
its turn of fire and ruin; let a Roman camp threaten the gates of Carthage
rather than that we should see the enemy's lines from our walls. Let Africa be
the seat of war henceforth; let us roll back there all the terror and the flight,
all the wasting of our lands and the defection of our allies, all the other
miseries of war which have been assailing us for the last fourteen years.
Enough has been said as to the republic and the present war and the
allocation of provinces. It would be a long and uninteresting discussion if I
were to follow the example of Q. Fabius, and as he has depreciated my
services in Spain, so I were to pour ridicule on his glory and extol my own. I
will do neither the one nor the other, senators, and if, young as I am, I
cannot have the advantage over an old man in anything else, I will at least
prove his superior in moderation and restraint of language. My life and my
conduct of affairs have been such that I am quite content to accept in silence
the judgment which you have spontaneously formed."