Aemilius Paulus   

Almost all agree that the Aemilii were one of the ancient and patrician
houses in Rome; and those authors who affirm that King Numa was pupil
to Pythagoras tell us that the first who gave name to his posterity
was Mamercus, the son of Pythagoras, who, for his grace and address
in speaking, was called Aemilius. Most of this race that have risen
through their merit to reputation also enjoyed good fortune: and even
the misfortune to Lucius Paulus at the battle of Cannae gave testimony
to his wisdom and valour. For not being able to persuade his colleague
not to hazard the battle, he, though against his judgment, joined
with him in the contest, but was no companion in his flight: on the
contrary, when he that was so resolute to engage deserted him in the
midst of danger he kept the field and died fighting. This Aemilius
had a daughter named Aemilia, who was married to Scipio the Great,
and a son Paulus, who is the subject of my present history.
In his early manhood, which fell at a time when Rome was flourishing
with illustrious characters, he was distinguished for not attaching
himself to the studies usual with the young men of mark of that age,
nor treading the same paths to fame. For he did not practise oratory
with a view to pleading causes, nor would he stoop to salute, embrace,
and entertain the vulgar, which were the usual insinuating arts by
which many grew popular. Not that he was incapable of either, but
he chose to purchase a much more lasting glory by his valour, justice,
and integrity, and in these virtues he soon oustripped all his equals.
The first honourable office he aspired to was that of aedile, which
he carried against twelve competitors of such merit that all of them
in process of time were consuls. Being afterwards chosen into the
number of priests called augurs, appointed amongst the Romans to observe
and register divinations made by the flight of birds or prodigies
in the air, he so carefully studied the ancient customs of his country,
and so thoroughly understood the religion of his ancestors, that this
office which was before only esteemed a title of honour and merely
upon that account sought after, by this means rose to the rank of
one of the highest arts, and gave a confirmation to the correctness
of the definition, which some philosophers have given of religion,
that it is the science of worshipping the gods. When he performed
any part of his duty, he did it with great skill and utmost care,
making it, when he was engaged in it, his only business, not omitting
any one ceremony, or adding the least circumstance, but always insisting,
with his companions of the same order, even on points that might seem
inconsiderable, and urging upon them, that though they might think
the Deity was easily pacified, and ready to forgive faults of inadvertency,
yet any such laxity was a very dangerous thing for a commonwealth
to allow; because no man ever began the disturbance of his country's
peace by a notorious breach of its laws; and those who are careless
in trifles give a precedent for remissness in important duties. Nor
was he less severe in requiring and observing the ancient Roman discipline
in military affairs; not endeavouring, when he had the command, to
ingratiate himself with his soldiers by popular flattery, though this
custom prevailed at that time amongst many, who, by favour and gentleness
to those that were under them in their first employment, sought to
be promoted to a second; but, by instructing them in the laws of military
discipline with the same care and exactness a priest would use in
teaching ceremonies and dreadful mysteries, and by severity to such
as transgressed and contemned those laws, he maintained his country
in its former greatness, esteeming victory over enemies itself but
as an accessory to the proper training and disciplining of the citizens.
Whilst the Romans were engaged in war with Antiochus the Great, against
whom their most experienced commanders were employed, there arose
another war in the west, and they were all up in arms in Spain. Thither
they sent Aemilius, in the quality of praetor, not with six axes,
which number other praetors were accustomed to have carried before
them, but with twelve; so that in his praetorship he was honoured
with the dignity of a consul. He twice overcame the barbarians in