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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Plutarch's Lives by A. H. Clough: separated their enemies, but they charged them, some on their side where
they were naked and exposed, and others, making a circuit, behind; and
thus destroyed the force of the phalanx, which consisted in common action
and close union. And now, come to fight man to man, or in small parties,
the Macedonians smote in vain upon firm and long shields with their
little swords, whilst their slight bucklers were not able to sustain the
weight and force of the Roman swords, which pierced through all their
armor to their bodies; they turned, in fine, and fled.
The conflict was obstinate. And here Marcus, the son of Cato, and son-
in-law of Aemilius, whilst he showed all possible courage, let fall his
sword. Being a young man, carefully brought up and disciplined, and, as
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