"O Conscript Fathers, the hour grows grave, and death hangs over us. While we yet live, we must redouble our efforts to live virtuously to remove the divine impetus for this most incisive defeat. One of our consuls is dead, Romans.
It is therefore incumbent upon the People's Assembly to select another Consul and for the Senate to nominate the candidates. I had planned to wait until I was older and wiser to present myself in the service of Rome in her highest office, however.
I speak only of my accomplishments in so far as I may prove my worth to the Senate and the People. Were I to seek the consulship only for the glory and prestige, I would not run as consul sufectus, but rather ordinarus, such that a year may be given my name.
My record against Hannibal, while short as all of ours have been in the face of this new and exceedingly dangerous threat has been one of success. With inferior forces, my fellow legates elected me as coordinator. Without the loss of even the weakest of Rome's sons in combat, reports indicate Carthage and her band of faithless mercenaries and sellswords lost over 4,000 in the perilous march they were forced into. At the time, I did not consider this to be much, however, given the martial aptitude of our adversary, it may be notable.
I served faithfully in my former offices, among them Praetor Urbanus only last year, which many of you will remember.
As for my motivation, if ever the patriotism which swells in my breast, O Conscript Fathers, was in doubt, all my wealth save my villa beyond Rome's walls is on the front lines of the present conflict, either the silver mines I earned my cognomen from in Sardinia or the land I own in Magna Graecia.
On the subject of recruitment reforms, I encourage them, but only to a limited extent. If soldiers of meagre means are to be drafted, they may be indulged with the patronage of a wealthy legate and thus lose loyalty to the central government.
I therefore propose a compromise. The Senate may pass a law authorizing the disregarding, not abolition, of military property requirements for whatever period it presently deems fit. This would prevent, O Conscript Fathers, both the destruction of the state and our traditions.
I also recommend the expansion of Roman citizenship bolster our manpower and knit we italians into a tighter weave, one not easily rent by the Punics.
The words of Argentus are ended."