Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/138

 lxxxvi Look, speaks sternly to them, Soldiers, says he, you'd best murther your General, and add Villany to your Ungovernableness. This bold stroak frighten'd the Soldiers, who are most afraid where they are least fear'd, and dishearten'd the Enemies, who concluding that an Army under such exact Discipline, where even a Victory out of Rule was punish'd, must needs be invincible, made it their Business to negotiate a Peace.

Farther, Cassius was the first who order'd the Hands of Deserters to be chop'd off, or their Hams cut, and forbid the Soldiers carrying any other Provision but Bacon, Biscuit, and Vinegar. He muster'd his Men every Week, examined their Arms, and their Cloaths, and oblig'd them to be Exercised. For twas a shame, he said, since Wrastlers, and Fencers were always practising in their Faculty, that Soldiers should not be used to Training, who when they are kept in constant Exercise find it much more easy than otherwise: He would not endure any thing of Luxury, or unnecessary Accommodation in the Camp: And when any Soldier was catch'd in a Fault of this kind, he would not suffer him to go into Quarters all the Winter: This Rigour in Discipline made Antoninus give him the Command of the Legions which Veruss