1At that time Vettius Bolanus was governing Britain, more mildly than befits a fierce province. 1Agricola tempered his energy and curbed his ardour, so that it should not grow too great, being skilled in obedience and trained to combine the useful with the honourable. 2Soon afterwards Britain received the consular Petilius Cerialis. 2His virtues now had scope to show themselves, but at first Cerialis shared with him only toils and dangers, later glory too: often he put him in command of part of the army as a test, sometimes, depending on the result, of larger forces. 3Nor did Agricola ever boast of his achievements to enhance his own fame; 3as a subordinate he attributed his good fortune to his commander and leader.
3Thus by his merit in obeying and his modesty in speaking of himself he was beyond envy, yet not beyond glory.