indifference of the king withheld him from pursuing his victory, and
disposed him to make terms with the Church.

The arguments put forward by the Pope's advisers had a certain show of
reason in their favour, which looked at from a distance seemed plausible
enough; but were in reality wholly contrary to truth; since it rarely
happens that the captain who wins a victory loses any great number of
his men, his loss being in battle only, and not in flight. For in the
heat of battle, while men stand face to face, but few fall, chiefly
because such combats do not last long; and even when they do last, and
many of the victorious army are slain, so splendid is the reputation
which attends a victory, and so great the terror it inspires, as far to
outweigh any loss the victor suffers by the slaughter of his soldiers;
so that an enemy who, trusting to find him weakened, should then venture
to attack him, would soon be taught his mistake, unless strong enough to
give him battle at any time, before his victory as well as after. For in
that case he might, as fortune and valour should determine, either win
or lose; though, even then, the army which had first fought and won
would have an advantage. And this we know for a truth from what befell
the Latins in consequence of the mistake made by Numitius their prætor,
and their blindness in believing him. For when they had already suffered
defeat at the hands of the Romans, Numitius caused it to be proclaimed
throughout the whole country of Latium, that now was the time to fall
upon the enemy, exhausted by a struggle in which they were victorious
only in name, while in reality suffering all those ills which attend
defeat, and who might easily be crushed by any fresh force brought
against them. Whereupon the Latins believed him, and getting together a
new army, were forthwith routed with such loss as always awaits those
who listen to like counsels.