I Haue an vndiscret and hastie Marshal of the feelde.

This is somwhat a more dangerous matter, I must needes confesse. Aske of your legions that were slayne at Trebeia, at Thrasumenus, at Cannas, and in many other places moe. If thou looke for remedie, leaue vncertayne warfare. But yf thou mayest not do so, neuerthelesse apply thou thy callyng valiantly, and diligently, so that thy valure may appeare among the er∣rours of thy captaynes, and that the ruine of an other man op∣presse not thee, but that thou rather, yf there be any meanes at al, mayest beare vp the common losse vpon thy souldiers. It is a difficult matter, I confesse, but neyther impossible, nor Page  249vnaccustomable, which I commaund. For as the dastardlinesse of one Captaine hath often times ben the destruction of many soul∣diers, euen so somtime the valiencie of one man, hath saued the Captaine & the whole army. But to the end I be not longer then I ought to be: seke thou euery matter in order accordingly, for me it sufficeth to haue recited the names & times. Publius Decius in the Samnitike warre, Calphurnius Flamina in the first punike warre, Africanus the younger in the thyrd punike warre, all the Tribunes of the Souldiers, the defenders of theyr Captaynes and armies. But such & so great may be thy prowesse and good hap, that the infamie of another, may turne to thy exceedyng re∣nowme. A doubtful matter truely, but yet the onely meane in exte ame necessitie. And therefore, howsoeuer fortune haue tossed and turmoyled other, yet yf thou wylt be ruled by mee, thou shalt not forsake to be gouerned by vertue, neyther in peace, nor in warre, nor in lyfe, no nor in death it selfe.