§1. A truce is peace in the camp, as Varro defines it. Gellius, book 1, chapter 25:
“A truce is not peace, for the war remains though fighting ceases; and we therefore think indutiae to be so called as though inde uti iam, ‘from then onward to act now.’ For a pact of truce is of this kind: that until a fixed day there should be no fighting and no harm inflicted, but that from that day onward all things should now be conducted under the law of war. Aurelius Opilius, in the first of the books which he entitled The Muses, defined a truce as occurring when enemies from both sides go among one another, from the one side to the other, with impunity and without fighting, so that the name seems to have been formed as though from intus and introitus, ‘within’ and ‘an entrance.’”
Truces differ from peace because peace is considered perpetual, whereas truces, however long, are defined by a fixed period. The Veientes obtained from Romulus a truce of one hundred years, afterward one of forty. Livy, book 2. Yazdegerd the Persian, appointed guardian of Theodosius the Younger, likewise made a truce of one hundred years. Nicephorus, book 14, chapter 1.
§2. Truces must not be made deceitfully so that one who is in danger may escape necessity; safety must be sought by another way. Lysander, through perfidy toward the Thasians, killed those who had favored the Athenians after he had promised them impunity. Polyaenus, book 1.
The Corcyraeans acted wickedly and after the custom of their nation. For when the captives had submitted themselves to the judgment of the Athenian people, but in such a way that the treaty which had been made would become void if they broke it, the Corcyraeans advised flight because they feared that the Athenian people would judge too leniently. Thus they were delivered to the Corcyraeans as though breakers of the treaty and were all killed. Polyaenus, book 6.
The perfidy of Galba toward the Lusitanians was remarkable: after persuading them to lay down their arms as though they were friends, he stationed them in three places and killed them. Sulla, Archelaus, and Hasdrubal acted without sufficient honor when they escaped through lies and the pretense of truces.
§3. Let truces be made upon just and equitable conditions. Brasidas the Spartan proposed excellent conditions to the Amphipolitans. For when he saw that the city could be conquered only with difficulty, he promised the Athenians the opportunity to depart, and liberty to the Amphipolitans if they entered into an alliance with the Spartans. Polyaenus, book 1.
In entering into agreements and making peace, virtue and equality should be employed instead. Scipio brought the Spaniards to his side by virtue, returning the betrothed maiden and the money which was given for her ransom. In the same manner Alexander too joined entire nations to himself.