The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook

166 The Roman Army
from home. Soldiers clearly formed the largest group of those who served away
from home, and the praetorians were also included in this category, as Antoninus
Pius confirmed, although normally those who served the state in Rome were
not classified as absent on public business (D 4. 6. 5. 1; 6. 35. 4).
275 Juvenal (1st–2nd C.AD), Satires 16
Gallius, who can count up the benefits of a successful career in the
army? If military service is profitable, I hope that the gate of the camp
will welcome me, a terrified recruit, under a lucky star. For one moment
of good fortune brings more benefit than a letter of recommendation
to Mars from Venus (line 5) or from his mother Juno who delights in
the shore of Samos.
Let us discuss first the benefits shared by all soldiers, of which not
the least is that no civilian would dare to beat you up, and if he gets a
thrashing he will conceal it and will not dare to show the praetor his
teeth which have been knocked out (line 10), and the black lumps and
swelling bruises on his face, and his one remaining eye for which the
doctor holds out little hope. If a man seeks to gain redress for this, he
is granted a military judge in hobnailed boots and hefty jurors sitting
on mighty benches, in accordance with the ancient law of the military
camps and the practice of Camillus (line 15), that a soldier may not be
involved in litigation outside the wall of the camp and far from the
military standards. Of course the judgment of the centurions in the
case of soldiers is extremely just, and I am certain to obtain retribution
if I lodge a legitimate complaint! But the whole unit is against you, and
all the soldiers (line 20) unite in complete agreement to make sure that
your retribution is something that needs medical treatment and is worse
than the original offence. So, it would be an act of incredible stupidity,
since you have two legs, to provoke so many boots and thousands of
hobnails. Besides, what witness would dare to come so far from the
city? (line 25) Who is such a faithful friend that he would come inside
the wall of the military camp? Therefore dry your tears at once and do
not bother your friends who are going to make excuses anyway. When
the judge says: ‘Produce a witness’, let somebody or other who witnessed
the assault declare: ‘I saw it’ (line 30), and I shall believe him worthy of
our bearded and long-haired ancestors. You can more easily find a
dishonest witness who will speak out against a civilian, than one
prepared to tell the truth against the interests and honour of a soldier.
Let us now examine other benefits and emoluments (line 35) of taking
the military oath. If a dishonest neighbour steals from me a valley or