Quamvis fortitudini vestrae confidentiam tribuat
parentum vestrorum innumerabilis multitudo; quamvis Attilam
potentem reminiscamini Visigotharum viribus inclinatum;
tamen quia populorum ferocia corda longa pace mollescunt,
cavete subito in aleam mittere, quos constat tantis
temporibus exercitia non habere.
Such was the salutary but fruitless advice of peace, of reason, and of Theodoric (Cassiodor. 1. iii. Ep. 2 [ed. Rotom. 1679]).