For me, whom a little while ago you saw advancing my standards to the walls of Rome, after pitching my camp between the Anio and your city, you now behold here, bereft of my two brothers, men of consummate bravery, and most renowned generals, standing before the walls of my native city, which is all but besieged, and deprecating, in behalf of my own city, those severities with which I terrified yours.

In all cases, the most prosperous fortune is least to be depended upon.

While your affairs are in a favourable and ours in a dubious state, you would derive honour and splendour from granting peace; while to us who solicit it, it would considered as necessary rather than honourable.

A certain peace is better and safer than a victory in prospect; the former is at your own disposal, the latter depends upon the gods.

Do not place at the hazard of a single hour the successes of so many years.