BOOK VII. XXVIII. 104-106 



But, although these cases exhibit great achieve- ExpioUsof 

 ments of valour, yet they involve still gi-eater ^^^^' 

 achievements of fortune ; whereas nobody, in my 

 judgement at all events, can rightly rank any 

 human being above Marcus Sergius, albeit his 

 greatgrandson Catiline diminishes the credit of his 

 name. Scrgius in liis second campaign lost his right 

 hand ; in two campaigns he was wounded twenty- 

 three times, with the result that he was crippled 

 in both hands and both feet, only his spirit being 

 intact ; yet although disabled, he served in numerous 

 subsequent campaigns. He A^as twice taken prisoner 

 by Hannibal (for it was with no ordinary foe that 

 lie was engaged), and t^vice escaped from HannibaKs 

 fetters, although he was kept in chains or shackles 

 on every single day for twenty months. Ple fought 

 four times with only his left hand, having two horses 

 he was riding stabbed under him. He had a 

 right hand of iron made for him and going into 

 action with it tied to his arm, raised the siege of 

 Cremona, saved Piacenza, captured twelve enemy 

 camps in Gaul : all of which expkiits are testified 

 by his speech dehvered during his praetorship when 

 his colleagues wanted to debar hini from the sacri- 

 fices as infirm — a man who with a different foe would 

 have accumulated what piles of wreaths ! inasmuch 

 as it makes the greatest difference with what period 

 of history a particular man's valour happens to 

 coincide. What civic vvTcaths were bestowed by 

 Trebbia or Ticino or Trasimeno ? what crown was 

 won at Cannae, where successful flight was valour's 

 highest exploit ? " All other victors truly have 

 conquered men, but Sergius vanquished fortune 

 also. 



575 



