Annulus.”[[20]]
Nor do I choose to pass it over in silence. Since it is to be remembered that the highest pride of a Roman was to do his duty; and his duty was whatever his country ordered. So that, however odious the task imposed, and we know too much of this man’s character not to be sure that the embassy to Prusias was odious, a consular of Rome had no choice but to obey Rome’s bidding.
There was, moreover, much in the pertinacity with which Hannibal journeyed from barbarous court to barbarous court, in the hope of kindling a fire-brand for Rome’s conflagration, even after his own country was prostrate beyond the chance of resurrection, to palliate if not justify the rancor of Romans. The inextinguishable hater has no right to complain if the hatred against himself be inextinguishable.
The last office held by Flamininus, was the censorship—the highest, noblest, purest dignity in the gift of the state; and never—at least in those days—bestowed on any but the noble and the pure. It was the Corinthian capital to the career of the honored and honorable Roman magistrate, and such was Titus Quinctius Flamininus.
After this he passes from our sight, and is heard of no more in history.
He was a great general, a great statesman; perhaps of the greatest.
But he was something more than a general, more than a statesman—he was every inch a man.
| [2] | We have been favored by Mr. Charles Scribner of New York, with the advanced sheets of Mr. Herbert’s new work, “The Captains of the Roman Republic,” from which we select the following spirited sketch of Titus Quinctius Flamininus. We give it as our decided opinion that this work will prove superior to its predecessor, “The Captains of the Old World.” |
| [3] | “To spare the conquered and subdue the proud”—the former of which she never did. |