Original: According to Livy the conversation went like this : after Maharbal expressed interest on marching to Rome immediately : '' I commend your zeal , '' he ( Hannibal ) said to Maharbal , '' but I need time to weigh the plan which you propose . ''
Simplified: '' I commend your zeal '' , Hannibal said to Maharbal ; '' but I need time to weigh the plan that you propose . ''