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

34. After the consul had said what he wished, Spurius Ligustinus, one of the men who had appealed to the tribunes of the people, asked of the consul and the tribunes that he be permitted to address a few words to the people. [2] With everyone's permission he is said to have spoken as follows:

"I, Spurius Ligustinus of the tribe of Crustumina,¹ come of Sabine stock, fellow-citizens. My father left me an acre² of land and a little hut, in which I was born and brought up, and to this day I live there. [3] When I first came of age, my father gave me as wife his brother's daughter,³ who brought with her nothing but her free birth and her chastity, and [p. 391]with these a fertility which would be enough even⁴ for a wealthy home. [4] We have six sons, and two daughters, both of whom are now married. Four of our sons have assumed the toga of manhood,⁵ two wear the boys' stripe. [5] I became a soldier in the consulship of Publius Sulpicius and Gaius Aurelius.⁶ In the army which was taken over to Macedonia I served two years as a private soldier against King Philip; in the third year, for my bravery, Titus Quinctius Flamininus made me centurion of the tenth maniple of the advance formation.⁷ [6] After the defeat of Philip and the Macedonians, when we had been brought back to Italy and discharged, immediately I set out for Spain as a volunteer soldier with Marcus Porcius the consul.⁸ [7] No one, of all the generals now living, was a keener observer and judge of bravery, as those know who have had experience of him and other leaders, too, through long service. This general judged me worthy to be assigned as centurion of the forward first century of the advance formation. [8] For the third time I enlisted, again voluntarily, in the army which was sent against the Aetolians and King Antiochus.⁹ By Manius Acilius I was given the rank of centurion of the forward first century of the main formation. [9] When King Antiochus had been driven out and the Aetolians beaten, we were brought back to Italy; and twice [p. 393]after that I was in campaigns where the legions¹⁰ served for a year. Then I campaigned twice in Spain, once when Quintus Fulvius Flaccus was praetor,¹¹ and again when Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus held [10] that office.¹² I was brought home by Flaccus along with the others whom he brought with him from the province for his triumph because of their bravery;¹³ I went back to the province because Tiberius Gracchus [11] asked me. Four times within a few years I held the rank of chief centurion; thirty-four times I was rewarded for bravery by my generals; I have received six civic crowns.¹⁴ I have done twenty-two years of service in the army, and I am over fifty [12] years old. But if all my years of service had not been completed and my age did not yet give me exemption, still, since I could give you four soldiers in my place, Publius Licinius, it would be fair to [13] discharge me. But I should like you to accept these things that I have said on my side of the case; for my part, as long as anyone who is enrolling armies considers me fit for service, I will never [14] beg off. Of what rank the military tribunes think me worthy is for them to decide; I shall see to it that no one in the army surpasses me in bravery; and that I have always done so, both my generals and those who have served with me [15] are witnesses. It is fair for you too, fellow-soldiers, even though you are within your rights in this appeal, since, when you were young you never did anything against the authority of the magistrates and the senate, now also [p. 395]to submit to the consuls and the senate, and to¹⁵ consider every place honourable in which you will be defending the state."