Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng3
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Paulus Aemilius, when he was a candidate for a second term as consul, failed of election. But when the war against Perseus and the Macedonians dragged on because of the inexperience and effeminacy of the generals, the people appointed him consul. But he said he owed no thanks to them; for it was not because he wanted office, but because they wanted an officer, that he was chosen general.
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Coming home from the Forum and finding Tertia, his little daughter, in tears, he asked the reason. And she said,
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Our Perseus is dead.
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(It
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was a pet dog which had that name.)
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Good luck be with me, my girl,
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said he;
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I accept the omen.
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Finding at camp much boldness and talk on the part of would-be generals and meddlers, he told them to keep quiet, and only sharpen their swords, and he would attend to everything else.
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He gave orders that the sentinels at night should stand guard without spear or sword, so that, with no hope of defending themselves against the enemy, they might better contend against sleep.
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Having invaded Macedonia by way of the mountains, and seeing the enemy standing in battle array, he said, in answer to Nasica’s urgings to attack at once,
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Oh yes, if I were of your age; but much experience forbids me to fight, immediately after a march, against an army standing in battle array.
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Having vanquished Perseus, he said, as he was carrying out the entertainments to celebrate the victory, that it was a part of the same proficiency to provide an army most terrifying to an enemy and a party most agreeable to friends.
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Perseus, having been made a prisoner, indignantly spurned the thought of being made a part of his victor’s triumph.
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That rests with you,
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said Aemilius, thereby giving him leave to make away with himself.
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Of the unlimited treasure which was found he took nothing himself, but to his son-in-law Tubero
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he gave a silver goblet of five pounds weight in recognition of his supreme valour. And this, they say, is the first silver heirloom that ever found its way into the Aelian house.
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Of the four male children that were born to him, two he happened to have given to others for adoption.
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Of the two that were at home one died five days before his triumph, at the age of fourteen, and the other five days after the triumph, at the age of twelve. When he went forth, and the people expressed their compassion and sympathy, he said that now he had no fears or misgivings about his country, since Fortune had thrust upon his house the retribution due for all their good fortune, and he had received this in behalf of all.
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