1Now, since there were four military tribunes there, Quintus Fabius Maximus of the first legion, whose father had been dictator the year before, and of the second legion Lucius Publicius Bibulus and Publius Cornelius Scipio, and of the third legion Appius Claudius Pulcher, who had lately been aedile, by general consent the supreme command was conferred on Publius Scipio, still a very young man, and on Appius Claudius. 4While they were consulting with a few others about the general situation, Publius Furius Philus, the son of a man of consular rank, reports that they were cherishing a lost hope in vain, that the state was despaired of and mourned as dead: certain young nobles, whose leader was Lucius Caecilius Metellus, were looking to the sea and ships, intending to abandon Italy and flee over to one of the kings.
6When this evil, besides being dreadful, new as well on top of so many disasters, had rooted those present to the spot, numb with stupefaction and amazement, and they were proposing that a council should be called about it, the young Scipio, the general destined by fate for this war, says that it is no matter for a council. 7In so great an evil, he says, they must dare and act, not deliberate. 7Let those who wished the state to be safe come with him at once, armed; 8no camp was more truly an enemy camp than one where such things were being contemplated. 9He goes on, with a few following, to Metellus' lodging, and when he had found a gathering there of the young men who had been reported, drawing his sword over the heads of those conferring, he said: 'From my heart and soul I swear that I will not desert the state of the Roman people, nor allow any other Roman citizen to desert it; 11if I knowingly break my oath, then may Jupiter Best and Greatest bring my house, my family and my fortune to the worst of destruction.
12I demand that you swear in these words, Lucius Caecilius, and the rest of you who are here; 12whoever does not swear, let him know that this sword is drawn against him.' 13Terrified no less than if they were looking on the victorious Hannibal, they all swear and hand themselves over to Scipio to be kept in custody.