Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata
Plutarch
Plutarch. Moralia, Vol. III. Babbitt, Frank Cole, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1931 (printing).
Inasmuch as the Numantians seemed invincible in battle and had vanquishedany generals, the people made Scipio consul the second time [*](In 134 B.C.) for this war. When many were eager to enlist for the campaign, the Senate intervened, on the ground that Italy would be unprotected. Moreover, they would not allow him to take money from what was already on hand, but set aside for his use the revenues from taxes not yet due. Scipio said that he did not need monev, for his own and that of his friends would be sufficient; but in regard to the soldiers he did find fault. [*](Cf. Appian, Roman History, the Wars in Spain, xiv. 84.) For he said that the war was a hard war; if it was owing to the bravery of the enemy that they had been vanquished so many times, then it was hard because it was against such men; if it was owing to the want of bravery in their own citizens, then it was hard because it must be conducted with such men.
When he arrived at the camp, and found there much disorder, licentiousness, superstition, and luxury, he straightway drove out the soothsayers, diviners, and panders, and issued orders to send
away all camp-utensils except a pot, a spit, and an earthenware drinking-cup. But he conceded a goblet of silverware of not more than two pounds weight to those who wished to keep such. He forbade bathing, and of those who took a rub-down he required that each man should rub himself, saying that the pack-animals, not being provided with hands, needed somebody to rub them. He also issued orders that the soldiers should eat their luncheon standing, and that it should be something uncooked, but that they might recline at dinner, and this should be bread or porridge simply, and meat roasted or boiled. He himself went about with a black cloak pinned around him, saying that he was in mourning for the disgrace of the army. [*](Appian, Roman History, The Wars in Spain, xiv. 85; Polyaenus, Strategemata, viii. 16. 2; Livy, Epitome of Book lvii.; Valerius, Maximus, ii. 7. 1.)He detected in the baggage carried by the pack-animals of Memmius, a military tribune, wine coolers set with precious stones, the work of Thericles, [*](A famous Corinthian potter.) and said to him, By such conduct you have made yourself useless to me and your country for thirty days, [*](Presumably the period of his disgrace and punishment.) but useless to yourself for your whole lifetime. [*](Cf. Frontinus, Strategemata, iv. 1. 1.)