But why do I charge those men with cowardice, when I might tax them with villany?
They not only refused to follow him who gave them good advice, but endeavoured to oppose and hold him back, had not some men of the greatest bravery, drawing their swords, removed the cowards.

Publius Sempronius, I say, was obliged to force his way through a band of his countrymen, before he burst through the enemy's troops.

Can our country regret such citizens as these, whom if all the rest resembled, she would not have one citizen of all those who fought at Cannae?
Out of seven thousand armed men, there were six hundred who had courage to force their way, who returned to their country free, and in arms; nor did forty thousand of the enemy successfully oppose them.

How safe, think you, would a passage have been for nearly two legions?
Then you would have had this day at Canusium, conscript fathers, twenty thousand bold and faithful.

But now how can these men be called faithful and good citizens, (for they do not even call themselves brave,) except any man suppose that they showed themselves such when they opposed those who were desirous of forcing their way through the enemy?
or, unless any man can suppose, that they do not envy those men their safety and glory acquired by valour, when the must know that their timidity and cowardice were the cause of their ignominious servitude?
Skulking in their tents they preferred to wait for the light and the enemy together, when they had an opportunity of sallying forth during the silence of the night.