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39: The Bacchanalia in Rome and Italy Translation by Rev. Canon
Roberts (1905)    While these incidents were occurring in Rome -
if indeed they did occur in this year - both consuls were
engaged in war with the Ligurians. That enemy seemed born to
keep up the military discipline of the Romans in the intervals
between the more important wars; no other field of operations
did more to whet the soldiers' courage. In Asia the pleasures of
city life, the ample supply of luxuries furnished by land and
sea, the effeminacy of the enemy, and the princely wealth had
enriched the armies instead of making them more efficient.
Especially under the command of Manlius they became careless and
undisciplined, and so the somewhat rougher march through Thrace
and a more warlike enemy gave them a much-needed lesson through
severe defeat. In Liguria there was everything to try a
soldier's mettle; a rough an