Now a soldier’s spirit is keenest in the morning;
Always provided, I suppose, that he has had breakfast. At the
battle of the Trebia, the Romans were foolishly allowed to fight
fasting, whereas Hannibal’s men had breakfasted at their leisure.
See Livy, XXI, liv. 8, lv. 1 and 8.
by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is bent
only on returning to camp.