Res Gestae

Finally, if you wish to follow my sound advice, disregard this small tract, always a source of woe and bloodshed, so that you may rule the rest in security, wisely recalling that even expert physicians sometimes cauterize, lance, and even cut away some parts of the body, in order to save the rest sound for use; and that even wild beasts do this: for when they observe for what possession they are being relentlessly hunted, they give that up of their own accord, so as afterwards to live free from fear.[*](Cf. Cic., pro Scauro, 2, 7; Juv. xii. 34 f., of the beaver.)

This assuredly I declare, that if this embassy of mine returns unsuccessful, after the time of the winter

After this letter had long been pondered, answer was made with upright heart, as they say, and circumspectly, as follows:—