Machivael's [sic] discourses upon the first decade of T. Livius, translated out of the Italian. To which is added his Prince. With some marginal animadversions noting and taxing his errors. By E.D.

CHAP. XXXI.

That the Roman Commanders were never ex∣traordinarily punish'd for any error commit∣ted; nor at all punish'd, when either by their ignorance, or upon some unlucky resolution taken by them the Commonwealth suffer'd loss.

THE Romans, as formerly we have dis∣cours'd, were not only less ungrateful, than other Commonwealths, but also were more pitifull, and more advised in the punishment of the Generalls of their ar∣mies, than any else. For if their fault procee∣ded from malice, yet they gently chastis'd them; but if it was through ignorance, they were so far from punishing them, that they re∣warded and honour'd them. This manner of proceeding was well consider'd by them;

for they judg'd it a matter of great importance to those that commanded their armies, to have their mind free, without any clog upon it, and without any outwards respects to restrain them in their resolutions; because they would not add new difficulties and danger to a thing by it self hard and dangerous: advising well that with these hindrances a man cannot brave∣ly execute his designs. For example, when they sent an army into Greece, against Philip of Macedon, or into Italy against Anniball, or against those people they first overcame; That Commander to whom the imployment was committed had the vexation of all those cares that follow such charges which are of weight and importance. Now if to such cares, this were added, that many examples of the Romans were recorded, where they had cru∣cifyed or otherwise put to death those that had lost any battels, it was impossible, that that Cap∣tain among so many suspicions cou'd resolve any thing couragiously. Therefore they deeming these sufficiently punish'd with the shame of their loss, they were not willing to startle them with any more grievous punishment Here is one example, of a fault committed, and not through ignorance. Sergius and Ʋerginius were incamp'd against the Veyans, each of them commanding a part of the army: Sergius was to incounter the Tuscans, and Verginius was to set upon the other side: It chanc'd, that Sergius being assaulted by the Falisci, and other people, endur'd ra∣ther to be quite rout'd and put to flight, be∣fore he would send for ayd to Verginius. And on the other side, Verginius, staying til til he should humble himself, would rather see

the dishonour of his country, and the ruine of the army, than succour him. A case indeed very exemplary, and of much malice; neither would it have bin for the Common-wealth of Romes reputation, to have let the one or the other pass without censure. True it is, that where another Republique would have punish'd them with death, this punish'd them only in a sum of money. The cause hereof was, not that their offences deserv'd not greater punish∣ment, but because the Romans would in this case, for the reasons already alleadged, con∣tinue their ancient customes. And touching errors of ignorance, we have no better ex∣ample, than that of Maro; through whose rash∣ness the Romans having bin broken at Canne by Hanniball, where the Republique came indan∣ger to lose her liberty, yet because it was igno∣rance, and not malice, they not only did not chas∣ise him; but honor'd him, and the whole order of the Senat••rs m••thim upon the way in his re∣turn to Rome; and because they could not thank him for the battel fought, they thankt him yet that he was return'd to Rome, and had not de∣spair'd of the Roman State. When Papirius Cur∣sor would have put Fabius to death, for having contrary to his command fought with the Samnites, among other reasons which Fabius his Father brought against the Dictators obsti∣nacy was this, that the people of Rome, in any loss that ever her Captains had made, had never done that which Papirius in a vict∣ory would have done.