Ad inferenda propulsandaque bella sollertissime cautus, aestu Martii pulveris induratus, boni pravique suasor et desuasor admodum prudens, militaris rei ordinum scrutantissimus: scribens decore, venusteque pingens et fingens, et novorum inventor armorum: memoria sermoneque incitato quidem sed raro, facundiae proximo vigens, amator munditiarum, laetusque non profusis epulis sed excultis.
In war, whether offensive or defensive, he was most skilful and careful, a veteran in the heat and dust of the battlefield. In council he was a fore-sighted persuader of what was right and a dissuader of wrong, most strict in examining all ranks of the military service. He wrote a neat hand, was an elegant painter and modeller, and an inventor of new kinds of arms. His memory was lively; so was his speech (although he spoke seldom), and he was vigorous therein, almost to the point of eloquence. He loved neatness, and enjoyed banquets that were choice but not extravagant.
final_alignments\Ammianus_Marcellinus_Book30.json