He supped privately with a few intimate friends.

On rising from the table, he took one of his officers aside, and, pressing his hand, said to him that he felt great misgivings in respect to the result of the contest.

"It is against my judgment," said he, "that we thus hazard the liberty of Rome on the event of one battle, fought under such circumstances as these.

Whatever is the result, I wish you to bear me witness hereafter that I was forced into this measure by circumstances that I could not control.

I suppose, however, that I ought to take courage, notwithstanding the reasons that I have for these gloomy forebodings.