But though they had not courage to sally forth from the camp, had they courage to defend it strenuously?
Having endured a siege for several days and nights, did they protect their rampart by their arms, and themselves by their rampart?
At length, having dared and suffered every extremity, every support of life being gone, their strength exhausted with famine, and unable to hold their arms, were they subdued by the necessities of nature rather than by arms?
At sunrise, the enemy approached the rampart: before the second hour, without hazarding any contest, they delivered up their arms and themselves.

Here is their military service for you during two days.
When they ought to have stood firm in array and fight on, then they fled back into their camp; when they ought to have fought before their rampart, they delivered up their camp: good for nothing, either in the field or the camp.

I redeem you.

When you ought to sally from the camp, you linger and hesitate; and when you ought to stay and protect your camp in arms, you surrender the camp, your arms, and yourselves to the enemy.

I am of opinion, conscript fathers, that these men should no more be ransomed, than that those should be surrendered to Hannibal, who sallied from the camp through the midst of the enemy, and, with the most distinguished courage, restored themselves to their country." 61.