102 On the UTILITY of defining 
“ PETREIUS atque AFRANIUS quum ftipendum ab legionibus 
“* poene feditione facta flagitarentur, cujus illi diem nondum 
“* venifle dicerent, Cxsar ut cognofceret po/ulatum ef *.”” The 
requeft made by the foldiers, in order to obtain their pay be- 
fore it was due, was very different from that made to Casar 
in order to have the matter fettled. 
THERE is a paflage in Tacitus, in which the three laft of 
the five verbs confidered are fo placed, that the meaning of each 
is very elegantly and decifively brought forth. The hiftorian 
is defcribing the fentiments both of Oruo and of the army at 
Bedriacum, which he had left juft before the engagement that 
was to decide the conteft between him and Virexttius. ‘“ Ibi 
“* de proelio dvbitatum ; OTHONE per literas flagitante ut ma- 
** turarent; militibus ut imperator pugne adeffet po/centibus ; 
“* plerique copias trans Padum agentes acciri po/fulabant +.” 
By forming this anticlimax, Tacitus gives information to the 
grammarian which is worthy of his attention. The terms of 
the Emperor’s meffage, in which flagitare is ufed, are expref- 
five of his authority, and intimate the danger of not comply- 
ing with his requeft. Thofe which announce the fentiments of 
the foldiers, by means of fofcere, are. expreffive of no unbe- 
coming menace towards their commander, but make the ful- 
filment of their right to be led on to battle by him, the condi- — 
tion of their obedience. Many, again, whofe requeft is an- 
nounced by pofulare, fuggeft a reafonable claim, in. which 
there is not even the fhadow of contumacy. They are willing 
to obey the orders of their commander with all prudent dif- 
patch, and even in his abfence, and they require a reinforce- 
ment, not asaright, but as the means of doing juftice to their 
own courage, and to the caufe which they had efpoufed. The 
delicacy exhibited by the hiftorian in this defcription, will pleafe 
the more the longer it is contemplated. He not only delights 
his 
* Caf Bell. Civ. 1. 87. + Tac. Hilt, 2. 39. 
