Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 42
Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. and Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D., Ed.

49. During these days, as it happened, the consul Publius Licinius, after announcing his vows on the Capitol, set out from the city in military dress. [2] Such a departure is always indeed conducted with great solemnity and pomp; it particularly draws the eyes and minds of men when they escort a consul going against an enemy great and famous either for bravery or for good fortune. [3] For not only care in paying their respects, but also eagerness for the spectacle brings crowds to see their leader, to whose command and wisdom they have entrusted the whole welfare of the state. [4] Thereupon there steals over their minds a thought of the calamities of war, and how uncertain is the outcome of fortune and how impartial the god of war —a [5] thought of reverses and successes, of what disasters have often occurred through the ignorance and rashness of leaders, of what gains, on the other hand, prudence and courage have produced. [6] What mortal knows, men think, which kind of mind and fortune belongs to this consul whom we are sending to war? Shall it be in swift triumph, as he climbs the Capitol with a conquering army toward those gods from whom he now takes his leave, that we shall see him, or are we to give that joy to the enemy?¹ To King Perseus in particular, against whom the consul was going, fame had come from the brilliance of the Macedonian nation in war and from Philip, the king's father, whose reputation sprang from many successful achievements and, besides, even from the war with Rome. [7] Then, too, Perseus' own name, because of the expectation of war with him, [p. 443]never from the time he mounted [8??] the throne had² ceased to be on men's lips. With such thoughts, men of all classes escorted the departing consul. [9] Two ex-consuls were sent with him as military tribunes, Gaius Claudius and Quintus Mucius³ and three noted young men, Publius Lentulus and two named Manlius Acidinus —one was the son of Marcus Manlius, the other of Lucius Manlius. [10] With these the consul left for the army at Brundisium and crossing thence with all his forces, pitched camp near the Place of the Nymphs⁴ in the territory of Apollonia.