Quite angrily, Cotta retaliates

Have you no honour, Scipio? These men invaded, pillaged and burned our country. They were beaten back through the courage, sacrifice and lives our grand armies. Now, you wish you offer them a choice to recuperate, to replenish their coffers with Roman gold? I swear, on my father's name, that Rome shall not fund her enemies. I have no wish to abandon our direction to the north; Epirus will wait. But while it waits, I refuse to take part in it's recovery.

With that, Cotta sat, silently daring the young Tribune to challange him further.