48.12Since the battle at Lake Trasumenus (XIX, 17), there had been no general engagement between the Romans and Hannibal. The latter, closely watched and followed by Fabius, had marched into southern Italy, hoping to induce the peoples there to desert Rome and join him. When Fabius resigned the dictatorship at the end of the legal period, C. Terentius Varro and L. Aemilius Paulus were elected consuls. Their army numbered 80,000 men, and their instructions were to fight as speedily as possible.49.1A further cause of trouble between the consuls was the fact that Paulus was a patrician, Varro a plebeian.49.2invītō conlēgā: abl. abs.: ‘though opposed by his colleague.’ How literally? The consuls held supreme command on alternate days.49.3Construe withadversī.49.4H 83, 5 (51, 5): M 152: A 40,c: G 33, 2: B 25, 1.49.5sc.inquit.49.6Tū . . . estō: ‘God bless you!’ Cf.p. 32, n. 1.49.7cavē . . . perdās=cavē nē . . . perdās: ‘Take care lest,’ etc. For this form see H 561, 2 (489, 2): M 715: A 269,a, 3: G 271, 2: B 276,c. We really have two commands here side by side, thus: ‘Take care’; ‘Don’t waste,’ etc.49.8imperative ofpatior.49.9in . . . suae: ‘to prove his victory.’49.10The custom of wearing rings was universal among the Romans, having arisen out of their use as signets. Originally they were of iron. When gold rings were first used they served to distinguish the higher classes.50.1minimē . . . ratus: ‘thinking that there ought to be no delay.’ Withcessandumsc.esse, and seep. 16, n. 8.50.2victor . . . epulātūrus: ‘for he would surely dine as victor on the Capitol.’ The fut. part. is often thus used to denote the certain occurrence of a future event. Further, the clause expresses the reason why Maharbal urged H. to proceed to Rome. What were Maharbal’s exact words?50.3dat. sing.50.4Cf.p. 25, n. 6. Contrast the words of a modern historian: “Hannibal knew Rome better than the simpletons who, in ancient and modern times, have fancied that he might have terminated the struggle by a march on the enemy’s capital.”50.5cūius . . . fuisse: a gross exaggeration. Hannibal successfully maintained himself in Italy till recalled in 203.50.6Capua, at this time the most powerful city in Italy next to Rome, had formed an alliance with Hannibal after the battle of Cannae.50.7Sc.fuit.50.8quīn etiam: ‘on the contrary.’50.9For the construction, seep. 47, n. 12. For the fact, cf. XVI, 19 ff.50.10superfuisse . . . approbāvit: ‘he showed that he had effected his escape (lit., had survived).’50.11‘let grow.’ This manner of showing grief is often mentioned.50.12The Romans reclined on the left side at meals. Varro’s act was a kind of penance, since it indicated that he denied himself the pleasures of the table.51.1magistrātibus . . . esse: cf.p. 37, notes 3 and 4.51.2‘to repair their losses’; lit., ‘to get their breath again.’51.3dat.; cf.p. 2, n. 7. After a victory, captured arms, as well as a portion of the captured treasure, were hung up in some temple as a thank-offering to the gods.51.4singulīs . . . ānulīs: ‘a ring apiece.’51.5vix . . . manūs: i.e. they hardly had clerks and tablets sufficient to keep the record of contributions.51.6redimendī suī: ‘of ransoming themselves.’ H 626, 3 (542,I,N. 1): M 1000: A 298,a: G 428,R. 1: B 339, 5.51.7velutī . . . oblītus: ‘pretending to have forgotten something.’ How literally?51.8A neuter pronoun or adjective is often used with verbs of remembering or forgetting. Contrastoblīta frātrum, IV, 37, and note.51.9‘maintained, held.’52.1abl. abs.: ‘though their affairs were at the lowest ebb.’Text-only versionXXI.Pūblius Cornēlius Scīpiō Āfricānussee captionSCĪPIŌPūblius Cornēlius Scīpiō2nōndum annōspueritiae ēgressus patrem singulārī virtūteservāvit; quī3cum pūgnā4apud Tīcīnum5contrā Hannibalem commissā graviter vulnerātus5in hostium manūs iam iam6ventūrusesset, fīlius interiectō7corpore Poenīs inruentibussē opposuit et patrem perīculō līberāvit.Quae8pietās Scīpiōnī posteā aedīlitātempetentī favōrem populī conciliāvit. Cum obsisterent10tribūnī plēbis, negantēs9ratiōnem ēius esse habendam,quod nōndum ad petendum lēgitima10aetās esset, “Sī mē” inquitScīpiō “omnēs Quirītēs aedīlem facere volunt, satis annōrumhabeō.” Tantō inde favōre ad suffrāgia itum11est, ut tribūnīinceptō dēsisterent.15Post clādem Cannēnsem Rōmānī exercitūs reliquiae Canusiumperfūgerant; cumque ibi tribūnī mīlitum quattuor essent, tamenomnium cōnsēnsū ad Pūblium Scīpiōnem, admodum12adulēscentem,summa imperiī dēlāta est. Quibus cōnsultantibus nūntiatPūblius Fūrius Philus, cōnsulāris virī fīlius, nōbilēs quōsdam20iuvenēs propter dēspērātiōnem cōnsilium dē Italiā dēserendāinīre. Statim in hospitium Metellī, quī cōnspīrātiōnis erat prīnceps,sē contulit Scīpiō, et cum concilium ibi iuvenum, dē quibusadlātum1erat, invēnisset, strictō super cāpita cōnsultantiumgladiō, “Iūrāte” inquit “vōs neque ipsōs rem pūblicam populī25Rōmānī dēsertūrōs, neque alium cīvem Rōmānum dēsererepassūrōs2: quī3nōn iūrāverit, in sē hunc gladium strictum essesciat.”4Haud5secus pavidī, quam sī victōrem Hannibalemcernerent,6iūrant omnēs cūstōdiendōsque sēmet ipsōs Scīpiōnītrādunt.B.C.212.30Cum Rōmānī duās clādēs in Hispāniā accēpissent duoque ibisummī imperātōrēs7intrā diēs trīgintā cecidissent, placuit8exercitum augērī eōque prōcōnsulem mittī; nec tamenquem mitterent9satis cōnstābat. Eā dē rē indicta sunt comitia.Prīmō populus exspectābat ut, quī sē tantō dīgnōs imperiō35crēderent,10nōmina profitērentur; sed nēmō audēbat illud imperiumsuscipere. Maesta igitur cīvitās ac prope inops11cōnsiliī12comitiōrum diē in campum dēscendit. Subitō P. Cornēlius Scīpiō,quattuor et vīgintī fermē annōs nātus, professus sē petere,13insuperiōre, unde14cōnspicī posset, locō cōnstitit. In quem40postquam omnium ōra conversa sunt, ad ūnum omnēs Scīpiōnem inHispāniā prōcōnsulem esse iussērunt. At postquam animōrum15impetus resēdit, populum16Rōmānum coepit factī paenitēre:aetātī Scīpiōnis māximē diffīdēbant. Quod ubi animadvertitScīpiō, advocātā cōntiōne ita māgnō ēlātōque animō dē bellō,45quod gerendum esset, disseruit, ut hominēs cūrā līberāret spēquecertissimā implēret.Profectus igitur in Hispāniam Scīpiō Carthāginem Novam,quō1diē vēnit, expūgnāvit. Eō2congestae3erant omnēs paeneĀfricae et Hispāniae opēs, ibi arma, ibi pecūnia, ibi tōtīus Hispāniae50obsidēs erant: quibus omnibus potītus est Scīpiō. Intercaptīvōs ad eum adducta est eximiae fōrmae adulta virgō. Quamubi comperit inlūstrī locō inter Celtibērōs nātam prīncipīque ēiusgentis adulēscentī dēspōnsam esse, arcessītīs parentibus et spōnsōeam reddidit. Parentēs virginis, quī ad eam redimendam satis455māgnum aurī pondus attulerant, Scīpiōnem ōrābant ut id ā sēdōnum acciperet. Scīpiō aurum ante pedēs pōnī iūssit vocātōquead sē virginis spōnsō, “Super dōtem” inquit “quam acceptūrusā socerō es, haec tibi ā mē dōtālia dōna accēdent” aurumquetollere āc sibi habēre iūssit. Ille domum reversus ad referendam60Scīpiōnī grātiam Celtibērōs Rōmānīs conciliāvit.Deinde Scīpiō Hasdrubalem5victum6ex Hispāniā expulit.Castrīs hostium potītus omnem praedam mīlitibus concessit,captīvōs7Hispānōs sine pretiō domum dīmīsit; Āfrōs vērō vēndīiussit. Erat inter eōs puer adultus rēgiī generis,8fōrmā65īnsīgnī8: quem cum percontārētur Scīpiō quis et cūiās esset, etcūr id9aetātis in castrīs fuisset, “Numida sum” inquit puer,“Massīvam populārēs vocant: orbus ā patre relīctus, apud avummāternum, Numidiae rēgem, ēducātus sum. Cum avunculō Masinissā,quī nūper subsidiō Carthāginiēnsibus vēnit, in Hispāniam70trāiēcī; prohibitus propter aetātem ā Masinissā numquam anteproelium iniī. Eō diē, quō pūgnātum est cum Rōmānīs, īnsciōavunculō, clam armīs equōque sūmptō, in aciem exiī: ibi, prōlāpsōequō, captus sum ā Rōmānīs.” Scīpiō eum interrogat velletne1ad avunculum revertī. Cum, effūsīs2gaudiō lacrimīs, id75vērō sē cupere puer dīceret, tum Scīpiō puerō ānulum aureumequumque ōrnātum dōnat datīsque quī3tūtō dēdūcerent equitibusdīmīsit.Cum Pūblius Cornēlius Scīpiō sē ergā Hispānōs clēmenter gessisset,circumfūsa multitūdō eum rēgem ingentī cōnsēnsū appellāvit;80at Scīpiō, silentiō per praecōnem factō, “Nōmen imperātōris”inquit, “quō4mē meī mīlitēs appellārunt, mihi5māximum est:rēgium6nōmen, alibī māgnum, Rōmae intolerābile est. Sī idamplissimum iūdicātis, quod rēgāle est, vōbīs licet exīstimāre rēgālemin mē esse animum; sed ōrō vōs ut ā rēgis appellātiōne abstineātis.”85Sēnsēre etiam barbarī māgnitūdinem animī, quā Scīpiō idāspernābātur, quod cēterī mortālēs admīrantur et concupīscunt.Scīpiō receptā Hispāniā cum iam bellum in ipsam Āfricamtrānsferre meditārētur, conciliandōs7prius rēgum et gentiumanimōs exīstimāvit. Syphācem, Maurōrum rēgem, opulentissimum90tōtīus Āfricae rēgem, quem8māgnō ūsuī9sibi9fore10spērāret,prīmum tentāre statuit. Itaque lēgātum cum dōnīs ad eum mīsitC. Laelium, quōcum intimā familiāritāte vīvēbat. Syphāx amīcitiamB.C.206.Rōmānōrum sē accipere adnuit, sed fidem nec darenec accipere, nisi cum ipsō cōram duce Rōmānō, voluit.95Scīpiō igitur in Āfricam trāiēcit. Forte ita incidit, ut eō ipsōtempore Hasdrubal1pulsus Hispāniā ad eundem portum appelleret,2Syphācis amīcitiam pariter petītūrus.3Uterque ā rēge inhospitium invītātus. Cēnātum4simul apud rēgem est; eōdemetiam lectō5Scīpiō atque Hasdrubal accubuērunt. Tanta autem100inerat cōmitās in Scīpiōne, ut nōn Syphācem modo, sed etiamhostem īnfēstissimum Hasdrubalem sibi conciliāret. Scīpiō, foedereīctō cum Syphāce, in Hispāniam ad exercitum rediit.Masinissa quoque amīcitiam cum Scīpiōne iungere iam dūdum6cupiēbat. Quārē ad eum trēs Numidārum prīncipēs mīsit ad105tempus locumque conloquiō statuendum. Duōs prō obsidibus retinērīā Scīpiōne iubet; remissō tertiō, quī Masinissam ad locumcōnstitūtum addūceret, Scīpiō et Masinissa cum paucīs inconloquium vēnērunt. Cēperat iam ante Numidam ex fāmā rērumgestārum admīrātiō virī, sed māior praesentis7venerātiō cēpit:110erat enim in vultū māiestās summa; accēdēbat prōmissa caesariēshabitusque corporis, nōn cultus8munditiīs, sed virīlis vērē acmīlitāris, et flōrēns iuventa. Prope attonitus ipsō congressūNumida grātiās dē9fīliō frātris remissō agit: adfīrmat sē ex eōtempore eam quaesīvisse10occāsiōnem, quam tandem oblātam11115nōn omīserit; cupere sē illī et populō Rōmānō operam nāvāre.Laetus eum Scīpiō audīvit atque in societātem recēpit.Scīpiō deinde Rōmam rediit et ante annōs12cōnsul factus est.Sicilia eī prōvincia dēcrēta est permissumque ut in Āfricam indetrāiceret. Quī cum vellet ex fortissimīs peditibus Rōmānīs120trecentōrum equitum numerum complēre, nec posset illōs subitōarmīs et equīs īnstruere, id prūdentī cōnsiliō perfēcit. Namqueex omnī Siciliā trecentōs iuvenēs nōbilissimōs et dītissimōs, quīequīs mīlitārent1et sēcum in Āfricam trāicerent,1lēgit diemqueiīs ēdīxit, quā2equīs armīsque īnstrūctī atque ōrnātī adessent.1125Gravis ea mīlitia, procul domō, terrā marīque multōs labōrēs,māgna perīcula adlātūra vidēbātur; neque ipsōs modo, sed parentēscōgnātōsque eōrum ea cūra angēbat. Ubi diēs quae dictaerat advēnit, arma equōsque ostendērunt, sed omnēs ferēlonginquum et grave bellum horrēre appārēbat. Tunc Scīpiō mīlitiam130iīs sē remissūrum ait, sī arma et equōs mīlitibus Rōmānīsvoluissent3trādere. Laetī condiciōnem accēpērunt iuvenēs Siculī.Ita Scīpiō sine pūblicā impēnsā suōs īnstrūxit ōrnāvitque equitēs.Tunc Scīpiō ex Siciliā in Āfricam ventō secundō profectus esttantō mīlitum ārdōre, ut nōn ad bellum dūcī vidērentur, sed ad135certa victōriae praemia. Celeriter nāvēs ē cōnspectū Siciliaeablātae sunt cōnspectaque brevī Āfricae lītora. Scīpiō cum ēgrediēnsad terram nāvī prōlāpsus esset et ob hōc attonitōs mīlitēscerneret, id, quod trepidātiōnem adferēbat, in hortātiōnem convertēns,“Āfricam oppressī” inquit, “mīlitēs!” Expositīs cōpiīs in140proximīs tumulīs castra mētātus4est. Ibi speculātōrēs hostiumin castrīs dēprehēnsōs5et ad sē perductōs5nec suppliciō adfēcitnec dē cōnsiliīs ac vīribus Poenōrum percontātus est, sed circāomnēs Rōmānī exercitūs manipulōs cūrāvit dēdūcendōs; deininterrogātōs6num ea satis cōnsīderāssent, quae speculārī erant145iūssī, prandiō datō incolumēs dīmīsit.Scīpiōnī in Āfricam advenientī Masinissa sē coniūnxit cumparvā equitum turmā. Syphāx vērō ā Rōmānīs ad Poenōs dēfēcerat.Hasdrubal, Poenōrum dux, Syphāxque Scīpiōnī sē opposuērunt,quī utrīusque castra ūnā nocte perrūpit et incendit.150Syphāx ipse captus et vīvus ad Scīpiōnem pertrāctus est.Syphācem in castra addūcī cum esset nūntiātum, omnis velut adspectāculum triumphī multitūdō effūsa est; praecēdēbat ipse1vinctus, sequēbātur grex nōbilium Maurōrum. Movēbat omnēsfortūna2virī, cūius amīcitiam ōlim Scīpiō petierat. Rēgem155aliōsque captīvōs Rōmam mīsit Scīpiō; Masinissam, quī ēgregiē remRōmānam adiūverat, aureā corōnā dōnāvit.B.C.203.Haec et aliae, quae sequēbantur, clādēs Carthāginiēnsibustantum terrōris intulērunt, ut Hannibalem ex Ītaliā adtuendam patriam revocārent. Frendēns gemēnsque ac vix160lacrimīs3temperāns is dīcitur lēgātōrum vērba audīssemandātīsque pāruisse. Respexit saepe Ītaliae lītora, sēmet accūsāns,quod4nōn victōrem exercitum statim ab5Cannēnsī pūgnā Rōmamdūxisset. Zamam vēnerat Hannibal, quae urbs quīnque diērumiter6ā Carthāgine abest, et nūntium ad Scīpiōnem mīsit ut165conloquendī sēcum potestātem faceret. Scīpiō cum conloquium haudabnuisset, diēs locusque cōnstituitur. Itaque congressī sunt duoclārissimī suae aetātis ducēs. Stetērunt aliquamdiū tacitī mūtuāqueadmīrātiōne dēfīxī.7Cum vērō dē condiciōnibus pācis intereōs nōn convēnisset, ad suōs sē recēpērunt, renūntiantēs armīs8B.C.202.170dēcernendum esse. Commissō deinde proeliō Hannibalvictus cum quattuor equitibus fūgit. Cēterum9cōnstatutrumque dē alterō cōnfessum esse nec melius īnstruī aciem necācrius potuisse pūgnārī.Carthāginiēnsēs metū perculsī1ad petendam pācem ōrātōrēs175mittunt trīgintā cīvitātis prīncipēs. Quī ubi in castra Rōmānavēnērunt, veniam cīvitātī petēbant nōn culpam pūrgantēs,2sedinitium culpae in Hannibalem trānsferentēs.2Victīs lēgēsimposuit Scīpiō. Lēgātī, cum nūllās condiciōnēs recūsārent, Rōmamprofectī sunt, ut, quae ā Scīpiōne pacta3essent, ea patrum ac180populī auctōritāte cōnfīrmārentur. Ita pāce terrā marīquepartā,4Scīpiō exercitū in nāvēs impositō Rōmam revertit. Adquem advenientem concursus ingēns factus est; effūsa nōn exurbibus modo, sed etiam ex agrīs multitūdō viam obsidēbat.Scīpiō inter grātulantium plausūs triumphō omnium5clārissimō185urbem est invectus prīmusque nōmine victae ā sē gentis estnōbilitātus Āfricānusque appellātus.Ex hīs rēbus gestīs virum eum esse virtūtis dīvīnae vulgōcrēditum est. Id etiam dīcere haud piget,6quod scrīptōrēs dēeō litterīs mandāvērunt, Scīpiōnem cōnsuēvisse, priusquamsee captionTEMPLE OF IUPPITERCAPITŌLĪNUS190dīlūcēsceret, in Capitōlium7ventitāre ac iubēreaperīrī cellam Iovis ibi sōlum diū dēmorārī,quasi cōnsultantem dē rē pūblicā cum Iove:aedituōsque ēius templī saepe esse mīrātōs,quod eum id8temporis in Capitōlium195ingredientem canēs, semper in aliōs saevientēs,nōn lātrārent. Hās vulgī dē Scīpiōneopīniōnēs cōnfīrmāre atque approbāre vidēbanturdicta factaque ēius plēraque admīranda, exquibus est ūnum hūiuscemodī. Adsidēbat oppūgnābatque oppidum200in Hispāniā, sitū moenibusque ac dēfēnsōribus validum etmūnītum, rē etiam cibāriā cōpiōsum, neque ūlla ēius potiundīspēs erat. Quōdam diē iūs in castrīs sedēns dīcēbat Scīpiō atqueex eō locō id oppidum procul vidēbātur. Tum ē1mīlitibus, quīin iūre apud eum stābant, interrogāvit quispiam ex mōre in2205quem diem locumque vadēs sistī iubēret. Et Scīpiō manum adipsam oppidī, quod obsidēbātur, arcem prōtendēns, “Perendiē”inquit “sēsē3sistant illō in locō,” atque ita factum. Diē4tertiā,in quam vadēs sistī iusserat, oppidum captum est. Eōdem diēin arce ēius oppidī iūs dīxit.210Hannibal, ā Scīpiōne victus suīsque invīsus, ad Antiochum,Syriae rēgem, cōnfūgit eumque hostem Rōmānīs fēcit. Missīsunt Rōmā lēgātī ad Antiochum, in quibus erat Scīpiō Āfricānus,quī cum Hannibale Ephesī5conlocūtus ab eō quaesīvit, quemfuisse māximum imperātōrem crēderet. Respondit Hannibal215Alexandrum, Macedonum rēgem, māximum sibi vidērī, quodparvā manū innumerābilēs exercitūs fūdisset. Quaerentī deinde,quem secundum pōneret, “Pyrrhum” inquit, “quod prīmus castra6mētārī docuit nēmōque illō7ēlegantius loca8cēpit et praesidiadēposuit.” Scīscitantī dēnique quem tertium dūceret, sēmet ipsum220dīxit. Tum rīdēns Scīpiō “Quidnam tū dīcerēs9” inquit “sī mēvīcissēs9?” “Tum10mē vērō” respondit Hannibal “et anteAlexandrum et ante Pyrrhum et ante omnēs aliōs imperātōrēsposuissem.9” Ita imprōvīsō adsentātiōnis genere Scīpiōnem ēgrege imperātōrum velut inaestimābilem sēcernēbat.225Scīpiō ipse fertur quondam dīxisse, cum eum quīdam parumpūgnācem dīcerent, “Imperātōrem mē māter, nōn bellātōrem1peperit.2” Īdem dīcere solitus est nōn sōlum dandam esse viamfugientibus, sed etiam mūniendam.Dēcrētō adversus Antiochum bellō3cum Syria prōvincia230obvēnisset Lūciō Scīpiōnī, quia parum in eō putābātur esse animī,4parum rōboris,4senātus gerendī hūius bellī cūram mandārī volēbatconlēgae ēius C. Laeliō. Surgēns tunc Scīpiō Āfricānus,frāter māior Lūciī Scīpiōnis, illam familiae īgnōminiamdēprecātus est: dīxit in frātre suō summam esse virtūtem, summum235cōnsilium sēque eī lēgātum fore prōmīsit. Quod cum ab eō essetdictum, nihil5est dē Lūciī Scīpiōnis prōvinciā commūtātum:itaque frāter nātū māior minōrī lēgātus in Asiam profectus estet tam diū eum cōnsiliō operāque adiūvit, dōnec triumphum illeet cōgnōmen Asiāticī peperisset.240Eōdem bellō fīlius Scīpiōnis Āfricānī captus est et ad Antiochumdēductus. Benīgnē et līberāliter adulēscentem rēx habuit,6quamquam ab ēius patre tum7māximē fīnibus imperiī pellēbātur.Cum deinde pācem Antiochus ā Rōmānīs peteret, lēgātus ēiusPūblium Scīpiōnem adiit eīque fīlium sine pretiō redditūrum245rēgem dīxit, sī per eum pācem impetrāsset.8Cuī Scīpiō respondit“Abī, nūntiā rēgī, mē prō tantō mūnere grātiās9agere; sednunc aliam grātiam nōn possum referre, quam ut eī suādeam10utbellō absistat et pācis condiciōnem nūllam recūset.” Pāx nōnconvēnit11; tamen Antiochus Scīpiōnī fīlium remīsit tantīque virī250māiestātem venerārī quam dolōrem suum ulcīscī māluit.Victō Antiochō cum praedae ratiō ā L. Scīpiōne repōscerētur,Āfricānus prōlātum1ab eō librum, quō2acceptae et expēnsaesummae continēbantur et refellī inimīcōrum accūsātiō poterat,discerpsit, indīgnātus3dē eā rē dubitārī, quae sub ipsō lēgātō255administrāta esset. Quīn etiam hunc4in modum verba fēcit:“Nōn5est quod quaerātis, patrēs cōnscrīptī, num parvam pecūniamin aerārium rettulerim, quī anteā illud Pūnicō aurō replēverim,neque mea innocentia potest in dubium vocārī. CumĀfricam tōtam potestātī vestrae subiēcerim, nihil ex eā praeter260cōgnōmen rettulī. Nōn igitur mē Pūnicae, nōn frātrem meumAsiāticae gazae avārum reddidērunt; sed uterque nostrum6invidiā quam pecūniā est locuplētior.” Tam cōnstantem dēfēnsiōnemScīpiōnis ūniversus senātus comprobāvit.Deinde Scīpiōnī Āfricānō duo tribūnī plēbis diem dīxērunt,265quod praedā ex Antiochō captā aerārium fraudāsset. Ubi causaedīcendae diēs vēnit, Scīpiō māgnā hominum frequentiā in Forumest dēductus. Iussus causam dīcere rōstra cōnscendit et, corōnā7see captionCORŌNATRIUMPHĀLIStriumphālī capitī suō impositā, “Hōc ego diē”inquit “Hannibalem Poenum, imperiō nostrō270inimīcissimum, māgnō proeliō vīcī in terrāĀfricā pācemque nōbīs et victōriam peperīīnspērābilem. Nē8igitur sīmus adversus deōsingrātī, sed cēnseō relinquāmus9nebulōnēs hōseāmusque nunc prōtinus in Capitōlium Iovī275optimō māximō supplicātum.” Ā rōstrīs in Capitōlium āscendit;simul sē ūniversa cōntiō ab accūsātōribus āvertit et secūta Scīpiōnemest, nec quisquam praeter praecōnem, quī reum citābat, cumtribūnīs remānsit. Celebrātior is diēs favōre1hominum fuit, quamquō2triumphāns dē Syphāce rēge et Carthāginiēnsibus urbem est280ingressus. Inde, nē amplius tribūnīciīs iniūriīs vexārētur, inLīternīnum concessit, ubi reliquam ēgit aetātem sine urbis dēsīderiō.Cum in Līternīnā vīllā sē continēret, complūrēs praedōnumducēs ad eum videndum forte cōnfluxērunt. Quōs cum ad vimfaciendam venīre exīstimāsset, praesidium servōrum in tēctō285conlocāvit aliaque parābat, quae3ad eōs repellendōs opus erant.Quod ubi praedōnēs animadvertērunt, abiectīs armīs iānuaeappropinquant et clārā vōce nūntiant Scīpiōnī sē nōn vītae ēius hostēs,sed virtūtis admīrātōrēs vēnisse, cōnspectum4tantī virī, quasicaeleste aliquod beneficium, expetentēs; proinde nē5gravārētur290sē spectandum praebēre. Haec postquam audīvit Scīpiō, forēsreserārī eōsque intrōdūcī iussit. Illī postēs iānuae tamquamreligiōsissimam āram venerātī, cupidē Scīpiōnis dextramapprehendērunt ac diū deōsculātī sunt; deinde positīs antevēstibulumdōnīs laetī, quod sibi Scīpiōnem ut vidērent contigisset, domum295revertērunt. Paulō post mortuus est Scīpiō moriēnsque ab uxōrepetiit nē corpus suum Rōmam referrētur.Skip tonext selection.
48.12Since the battle at Lake Trasumenus (XIX, 17), there had been no general engagement between the Romans and Hannibal. The latter, closely watched and followed by Fabius, had marched into southern Italy, hoping to induce the peoples there to desert Rome and join him. When Fabius resigned the dictatorship at the end of the legal period, C. Terentius Varro and L. Aemilius Paulus were elected consuls. Their army numbered 80,000 men, and their instructions were to fight as speedily as possible.49.1A further cause of trouble between the consuls was the fact that Paulus was a patrician, Varro a plebeian.49.2invītō conlēgā: abl. abs.: ‘though opposed by his colleague.’ How literally? The consuls held supreme command on alternate days.49.3Construe withadversī.49.4H 83, 5 (51, 5): M 152: A 40,c: G 33, 2: B 25, 1.49.5sc.inquit.49.6Tū . . . estō: ‘God bless you!’ Cf.p. 32, n. 1.49.7cavē . . . perdās=cavē nē . . . perdās: ‘Take care lest,’ etc. For this form see H 561, 2 (489, 2): M 715: A 269,a, 3: G 271, 2: B 276,c. We really have two commands here side by side, thus: ‘Take care’; ‘Don’t waste,’ etc.49.8imperative ofpatior.49.9in . . . suae: ‘to prove his victory.’49.10The custom of wearing rings was universal among the Romans, having arisen out of their use as signets. Originally they were of iron. When gold rings were first used they served to distinguish the higher classes.50.1minimē . . . ratus: ‘thinking that there ought to be no delay.’ Withcessandumsc.esse, and seep. 16, n. 8.50.2victor . . . epulātūrus: ‘for he would surely dine as victor on the Capitol.’ The fut. part. is often thus used to denote the certain occurrence of a future event. Further, the clause expresses the reason why Maharbal urged H. to proceed to Rome. What were Maharbal’s exact words?50.3dat. sing.50.4Cf.p. 25, n. 6. Contrast the words of a modern historian: “Hannibal knew Rome better than the simpletons who, in ancient and modern times, have fancied that he might have terminated the struggle by a march on the enemy’s capital.”50.5cūius . . . fuisse: a gross exaggeration. Hannibal successfully maintained himself in Italy till recalled in 203.50.6Capua, at this time the most powerful city in Italy next to Rome, had formed an alliance with Hannibal after the battle of Cannae.50.7Sc.fuit.50.8quīn etiam: ‘on the contrary.’50.9For the construction, seep. 47, n. 12. For the fact, cf. XVI, 19 ff.50.10superfuisse . . . approbāvit: ‘he showed that he had effected his escape (lit., had survived).’50.11‘let grow.’ This manner of showing grief is often mentioned.50.12The Romans reclined on the left side at meals. Varro’s act was a kind of penance, since it indicated that he denied himself the pleasures of the table.51.1magistrātibus . . . esse: cf.p. 37, notes 3 and 4.51.2‘to repair their losses’; lit., ‘to get their breath again.’51.3dat.; cf.p. 2, n. 7. After a victory, captured arms, as well as a portion of the captured treasure, were hung up in some temple as a thank-offering to the gods.51.4singulīs . . . ānulīs: ‘a ring apiece.’51.5vix . . . manūs: i.e. they hardly had clerks and tablets sufficient to keep the record of contributions.51.6redimendī suī: ‘of ransoming themselves.’ H 626, 3 (542,I,N. 1): M 1000: A 298,a: G 428,R. 1: B 339, 5.51.7velutī . . . oblītus: ‘pretending to have forgotten something.’ How literally?51.8A neuter pronoun or adjective is often used with verbs of remembering or forgetting. Contrastoblīta frātrum, IV, 37, and note.51.9‘maintained, held.’52.1abl. abs.: ‘though their affairs were at the lowest ebb.’
48.12Since the battle at Lake Trasumenus (XIX, 17), there had been no general engagement between the Romans and Hannibal. The latter, closely watched and followed by Fabius, had marched into southern Italy, hoping to induce the peoples there to desert Rome and join him. When Fabius resigned the dictatorship at the end of the legal period, C. Terentius Varro and L. Aemilius Paulus were elected consuls. Their army numbered 80,000 men, and their instructions were to fight as speedily as possible.
49.1A further cause of trouble between the consuls was the fact that Paulus was a patrician, Varro a plebeian.
49.2invītō conlēgā: abl. abs.: ‘though opposed by his colleague.’ How literally? The consuls held supreme command on alternate days.
49.3Construe withadversī.
49.4H 83, 5 (51, 5): M 152: A 40,c: G 33, 2: B 25, 1.
49.5sc.inquit.
49.6Tū . . . estō: ‘God bless you!’ Cf.p. 32, n. 1.
49.7cavē . . . perdās=cavē nē . . . perdās: ‘Take care lest,’ etc. For this form see H 561, 2 (489, 2): M 715: A 269,a, 3: G 271, 2: B 276,c. We really have two commands here side by side, thus: ‘Take care’; ‘Don’t waste,’ etc.
49.8imperative ofpatior.
49.9in . . . suae: ‘to prove his victory.’
49.10The custom of wearing rings was universal among the Romans, having arisen out of their use as signets. Originally they were of iron. When gold rings were first used they served to distinguish the higher classes.
50.1minimē . . . ratus: ‘thinking that there ought to be no delay.’ Withcessandumsc.esse, and seep. 16, n. 8.
50.2victor . . . epulātūrus: ‘for he would surely dine as victor on the Capitol.’ The fut. part. is often thus used to denote the certain occurrence of a future event. Further, the clause expresses the reason why Maharbal urged H. to proceed to Rome. What were Maharbal’s exact words?
50.3dat. sing.
50.4Cf.p. 25, n. 6. Contrast the words of a modern historian: “Hannibal knew Rome better than the simpletons who, in ancient and modern times, have fancied that he might have terminated the struggle by a march on the enemy’s capital.”
50.5cūius . . . fuisse: a gross exaggeration. Hannibal successfully maintained himself in Italy till recalled in 203.
50.6Capua, at this time the most powerful city in Italy next to Rome, had formed an alliance with Hannibal after the battle of Cannae.
50.7Sc.fuit.
50.8quīn etiam: ‘on the contrary.’
50.9For the construction, seep. 47, n. 12. For the fact, cf. XVI, 19 ff.
50.10superfuisse . . . approbāvit: ‘he showed that he had effected his escape (lit., had survived).’
50.11‘let grow.’ This manner of showing grief is often mentioned.
50.12The Romans reclined on the left side at meals. Varro’s act was a kind of penance, since it indicated that he denied himself the pleasures of the table.
51.1magistrātibus . . . esse: cf.p. 37, notes 3 and 4.
51.2‘to repair their losses’; lit., ‘to get their breath again.’
51.3dat.; cf.p. 2, n. 7. After a victory, captured arms, as well as a portion of the captured treasure, were hung up in some temple as a thank-offering to the gods.
51.4singulīs . . . ānulīs: ‘a ring apiece.’
51.5vix . . . manūs: i.e. they hardly had clerks and tablets sufficient to keep the record of contributions.
51.6redimendī suī: ‘of ransoming themselves.’ H 626, 3 (542,I,N. 1): M 1000: A 298,a: G 428,R. 1: B 339, 5.
51.7velutī . . . oblītus: ‘pretending to have forgotten something.’ How literally?
51.8A neuter pronoun or adjective is often used with verbs of remembering or forgetting. Contrastoblīta frātrum, IV, 37, and note.
51.9‘maintained, held.’
52.1abl. abs.: ‘though their affairs were at the lowest ebb.’
Pūblius Cornēlius Scīpiō2nōndum annōspueritiae ēgressus patrem singulārī virtūteservāvit; quī3cum pūgnā4apud Tīcīnum5contrā Hannibalem commissā graviter vulnerātus5in hostium manūs iam iam6ventūrusesset, fīlius interiectō7corpore Poenīs inruentibussē opposuit et patrem perīculō līberāvit.Quae8pietās Scīpiōnī posteā aedīlitātempetentī favōrem populī conciliāvit. Cum obsisterent10tribūnī plēbis, negantēs9ratiōnem ēius esse habendam,quod nōndum ad petendum lēgitima10aetās esset, “Sī mē” inquitScīpiō “omnēs Quirītēs aedīlem facere volunt, satis annōrumhabeō.” Tantō inde favōre ad suffrāgia itum11est, ut tribūnīinceptō dēsisterent.
15Post clādem Cannēnsem Rōmānī exercitūs reliquiae Canusiumperfūgerant; cumque ibi tribūnī mīlitum quattuor essent, tamenomnium cōnsēnsū ad Pūblium Scīpiōnem, admodum12adulēscentem,summa imperiī dēlāta est. Quibus cōnsultantibus nūntiatPūblius Fūrius Philus, cōnsulāris virī fīlius, nōbilēs quōsdam20iuvenēs propter dēspērātiōnem cōnsilium dē Italiā dēserendāinīre. Statim in hospitium Metellī, quī cōnspīrātiōnis erat prīnceps,sē contulit Scīpiō, et cum concilium ibi iuvenum, dē quibusadlātum1erat, invēnisset, strictō super cāpita cōnsultantiumgladiō, “Iūrāte” inquit “vōs neque ipsōs rem pūblicam populī25Rōmānī dēsertūrōs, neque alium cīvem Rōmānum dēsererepassūrōs2: quī3nōn iūrāverit, in sē hunc gladium strictum essesciat.”4Haud5secus pavidī, quam sī victōrem Hannibalemcernerent,6iūrant omnēs cūstōdiendōsque sēmet ipsōs Scīpiōnītrādunt.
30Cum Rōmānī duās clādēs in Hispāniā accēpissent duoque ibisummī imperātōrēs7intrā diēs trīgintā cecidissent, placuit8exercitum augērī eōque prōcōnsulem mittī; nec tamenquem mitterent9satis cōnstābat. Eā dē rē indicta sunt comitia.Prīmō populus exspectābat ut, quī sē tantō dīgnōs imperiō35crēderent,10nōmina profitērentur; sed nēmō audēbat illud imperiumsuscipere. Maesta igitur cīvitās ac prope inops11cōnsiliī12comitiōrum diē in campum dēscendit. Subitō P. Cornēlius Scīpiō,quattuor et vīgintī fermē annōs nātus, professus sē petere,13insuperiōre, unde14cōnspicī posset, locō cōnstitit. In quem40postquam omnium ōra conversa sunt, ad ūnum omnēs Scīpiōnem inHispāniā prōcōnsulem esse iussērunt. At postquam animōrum15impetus resēdit, populum16Rōmānum coepit factī paenitēre:aetātī Scīpiōnis māximē diffīdēbant. Quod ubi animadvertitScīpiō, advocātā cōntiōne ita māgnō ēlātōque animō dē bellō,45quod gerendum esset, disseruit, ut hominēs cūrā līberāret spēquecertissimā implēret.
Profectus igitur in Hispāniam Scīpiō Carthāginem Novam,quō1diē vēnit, expūgnāvit. Eō2congestae3erant omnēs paeneĀfricae et Hispāniae opēs, ibi arma, ibi pecūnia, ibi tōtīus Hispāniae50obsidēs erant: quibus omnibus potītus est Scīpiō. Intercaptīvōs ad eum adducta est eximiae fōrmae adulta virgō. Quamubi comperit inlūstrī locō inter Celtibērōs nātam prīncipīque ēiusgentis adulēscentī dēspōnsam esse, arcessītīs parentibus et spōnsōeam reddidit. Parentēs virginis, quī ad eam redimendam satis455māgnum aurī pondus attulerant, Scīpiōnem ōrābant ut id ā sēdōnum acciperet. Scīpiō aurum ante pedēs pōnī iūssit vocātōquead sē virginis spōnsō, “Super dōtem” inquit “quam acceptūrusā socerō es, haec tibi ā mē dōtālia dōna accēdent” aurumquetollere āc sibi habēre iūssit. Ille domum reversus ad referendam60Scīpiōnī grātiam Celtibērōs Rōmānīs conciliāvit.
Deinde Scīpiō Hasdrubalem5victum6ex Hispāniā expulit.Castrīs hostium potītus omnem praedam mīlitibus concessit,captīvōs7Hispānōs sine pretiō domum dīmīsit; Āfrōs vērō vēndīiussit. Erat inter eōs puer adultus rēgiī generis,8fōrmā65īnsīgnī8: quem cum percontārētur Scīpiō quis et cūiās esset, etcūr id9aetātis in castrīs fuisset, “Numida sum” inquit puer,“Massīvam populārēs vocant: orbus ā patre relīctus, apud avummāternum, Numidiae rēgem, ēducātus sum. Cum avunculō Masinissā,quī nūper subsidiō Carthāginiēnsibus vēnit, in Hispāniam70trāiēcī; prohibitus propter aetātem ā Masinissā numquam anteproelium iniī. Eō diē, quō pūgnātum est cum Rōmānīs, īnsciōavunculō, clam armīs equōque sūmptō, in aciem exiī: ibi, prōlāpsōequō, captus sum ā Rōmānīs.” Scīpiō eum interrogat velletne1ad avunculum revertī. Cum, effūsīs2gaudiō lacrimīs, id75vērō sē cupere puer dīceret, tum Scīpiō puerō ānulum aureumequumque ōrnātum dōnat datīsque quī3tūtō dēdūcerent equitibusdīmīsit.
Cum Pūblius Cornēlius Scīpiō sē ergā Hispānōs clēmenter gessisset,circumfūsa multitūdō eum rēgem ingentī cōnsēnsū appellāvit;80at Scīpiō, silentiō per praecōnem factō, “Nōmen imperātōris”inquit, “quō4mē meī mīlitēs appellārunt, mihi5māximum est:rēgium6nōmen, alibī māgnum, Rōmae intolerābile est. Sī idamplissimum iūdicātis, quod rēgāle est, vōbīs licet exīstimāre rēgālemin mē esse animum; sed ōrō vōs ut ā rēgis appellātiōne abstineātis.”85Sēnsēre etiam barbarī māgnitūdinem animī, quā Scīpiō idāspernābātur, quod cēterī mortālēs admīrantur et concupīscunt.
Scīpiō receptā Hispāniā cum iam bellum in ipsam Āfricamtrānsferre meditārētur, conciliandōs7prius rēgum et gentiumanimōs exīstimāvit. Syphācem, Maurōrum rēgem, opulentissimum90tōtīus Āfricae rēgem, quem8māgnō ūsuī9sibi9fore10spērāret,prīmum tentāre statuit. Itaque lēgātum cum dōnīs ad eum mīsitC. Laelium, quōcum intimā familiāritāte vīvēbat. Syphāx amīcitiamB.C.206.Rōmānōrum sē accipere adnuit, sed fidem nec darenec accipere, nisi cum ipsō cōram duce Rōmānō, voluit.95Scīpiō igitur in Āfricam trāiēcit. Forte ita incidit, ut eō ipsōtempore Hasdrubal1pulsus Hispāniā ad eundem portum appelleret,2Syphācis amīcitiam pariter petītūrus.3Uterque ā rēge inhospitium invītātus. Cēnātum4simul apud rēgem est; eōdemetiam lectō5Scīpiō atque Hasdrubal accubuērunt. Tanta autem100inerat cōmitās in Scīpiōne, ut nōn Syphācem modo, sed etiamhostem īnfēstissimum Hasdrubalem sibi conciliāret. Scīpiō, foedereīctō cum Syphāce, in Hispāniam ad exercitum rediit.
Masinissa quoque amīcitiam cum Scīpiōne iungere iam dūdum6cupiēbat. Quārē ad eum trēs Numidārum prīncipēs mīsit ad105tempus locumque conloquiō statuendum. Duōs prō obsidibus retinērīā Scīpiōne iubet; remissō tertiō, quī Masinissam ad locumcōnstitūtum addūceret, Scīpiō et Masinissa cum paucīs inconloquium vēnērunt. Cēperat iam ante Numidam ex fāmā rērumgestārum admīrātiō virī, sed māior praesentis7venerātiō cēpit:110erat enim in vultū māiestās summa; accēdēbat prōmissa caesariēshabitusque corporis, nōn cultus8munditiīs, sed virīlis vērē acmīlitāris, et flōrēns iuventa. Prope attonitus ipsō congressūNumida grātiās dē9fīliō frātris remissō agit: adfīrmat sē ex eōtempore eam quaesīvisse10occāsiōnem, quam tandem oblātam11115nōn omīserit; cupere sē illī et populō Rōmānō operam nāvāre.Laetus eum Scīpiō audīvit atque in societātem recēpit.
Scīpiō deinde Rōmam rediit et ante annōs12cōnsul factus est.Sicilia eī prōvincia dēcrēta est permissumque ut in Āfricam indetrāiceret. Quī cum vellet ex fortissimīs peditibus Rōmānīs120trecentōrum equitum numerum complēre, nec posset illōs subitōarmīs et equīs īnstruere, id prūdentī cōnsiliō perfēcit. Namqueex omnī Siciliā trecentōs iuvenēs nōbilissimōs et dītissimōs, quīequīs mīlitārent1et sēcum in Āfricam trāicerent,1lēgit diemqueiīs ēdīxit, quā2equīs armīsque īnstrūctī atque ōrnātī adessent.1125Gravis ea mīlitia, procul domō, terrā marīque multōs labōrēs,māgna perīcula adlātūra vidēbātur; neque ipsōs modo, sed parentēscōgnātōsque eōrum ea cūra angēbat. Ubi diēs quae dictaerat advēnit, arma equōsque ostendērunt, sed omnēs ferēlonginquum et grave bellum horrēre appārēbat. Tunc Scīpiō mīlitiam130iīs sē remissūrum ait, sī arma et equōs mīlitibus Rōmānīsvoluissent3trādere. Laetī condiciōnem accēpērunt iuvenēs Siculī.Ita Scīpiō sine pūblicā impēnsā suōs īnstrūxit ōrnāvitque equitēs.
Tunc Scīpiō ex Siciliā in Āfricam ventō secundō profectus esttantō mīlitum ārdōre, ut nōn ad bellum dūcī vidērentur, sed ad135certa victōriae praemia. Celeriter nāvēs ē cōnspectū Siciliaeablātae sunt cōnspectaque brevī Āfricae lītora. Scīpiō cum ēgrediēnsad terram nāvī prōlāpsus esset et ob hōc attonitōs mīlitēscerneret, id, quod trepidātiōnem adferēbat, in hortātiōnem convertēns,“Āfricam oppressī” inquit, “mīlitēs!” Expositīs cōpiīs in140proximīs tumulīs castra mētātus4est. Ibi speculātōrēs hostiumin castrīs dēprehēnsōs5et ad sē perductōs5nec suppliciō adfēcitnec dē cōnsiliīs ac vīribus Poenōrum percontātus est, sed circāomnēs Rōmānī exercitūs manipulōs cūrāvit dēdūcendōs; deininterrogātōs6num ea satis cōnsīderāssent, quae speculārī erant145iūssī, prandiō datō incolumēs dīmīsit.
Scīpiōnī in Āfricam advenientī Masinissa sē coniūnxit cumparvā equitum turmā. Syphāx vērō ā Rōmānīs ad Poenōs dēfēcerat.Hasdrubal, Poenōrum dux, Syphāxque Scīpiōnī sē opposuērunt,quī utrīusque castra ūnā nocte perrūpit et incendit.150Syphāx ipse captus et vīvus ad Scīpiōnem pertrāctus est.Syphācem in castra addūcī cum esset nūntiātum, omnis velut adspectāculum triumphī multitūdō effūsa est; praecēdēbat ipse1vinctus, sequēbātur grex nōbilium Maurōrum. Movēbat omnēsfortūna2virī, cūius amīcitiam ōlim Scīpiō petierat. Rēgem155aliōsque captīvōs Rōmam mīsit Scīpiō; Masinissam, quī ēgregiē remRōmānam adiūverat, aureā corōnā dōnāvit.
Haec et aliae, quae sequēbantur, clādēs Carthāginiēnsibustantum terrōris intulērunt, ut Hannibalem ex Ītaliā adtuendam patriam revocārent. Frendēns gemēnsque ac vix160lacrimīs3temperāns is dīcitur lēgātōrum vērba audīssemandātīsque pāruisse. Respexit saepe Ītaliae lītora, sēmet accūsāns,quod4nōn victōrem exercitum statim ab5Cannēnsī pūgnā Rōmamdūxisset. Zamam vēnerat Hannibal, quae urbs quīnque diērumiter6ā Carthāgine abest, et nūntium ad Scīpiōnem mīsit ut165conloquendī sēcum potestātem faceret. Scīpiō cum conloquium haudabnuisset, diēs locusque cōnstituitur. Itaque congressī sunt duoclārissimī suae aetātis ducēs. Stetērunt aliquamdiū tacitī mūtuāqueadmīrātiōne dēfīxī.7Cum vērō dē condiciōnibus pācis intereōs nōn convēnisset, ad suōs sē recēpērunt, renūntiantēs armīs8B.C.202.170dēcernendum esse. Commissō deinde proeliō Hannibalvictus cum quattuor equitibus fūgit. Cēterum9cōnstatutrumque dē alterō cōnfessum esse nec melius īnstruī aciem necācrius potuisse pūgnārī.
Carthāginiēnsēs metū perculsī1ad petendam pācem ōrātōrēs175mittunt trīgintā cīvitātis prīncipēs. Quī ubi in castra Rōmānavēnērunt, veniam cīvitātī petēbant nōn culpam pūrgantēs,2sedinitium culpae in Hannibalem trānsferentēs.2Victīs lēgēsimposuit Scīpiō. Lēgātī, cum nūllās condiciōnēs recūsārent, Rōmamprofectī sunt, ut, quae ā Scīpiōne pacta3essent, ea patrum ac180populī auctōritāte cōnfīrmārentur. Ita pāce terrā marīquepartā,4Scīpiō exercitū in nāvēs impositō Rōmam revertit. Adquem advenientem concursus ingēns factus est; effūsa nōn exurbibus modo, sed etiam ex agrīs multitūdō viam obsidēbat.Scīpiō inter grātulantium plausūs triumphō omnium5clārissimō185urbem est invectus prīmusque nōmine victae ā sē gentis estnōbilitātus Āfricānusque appellātus.
Ex hīs rēbus gestīs virum eum esse virtūtis dīvīnae vulgōcrēditum est. Id etiam dīcere haud piget,6quod scrīptōrēs dēeō litterīs mandāvērunt, Scīpiōnem cōnsuēvisse, priusquamsee captionTEMPLE OF IUPPITERCAPITŌLĪNUS190dīlūcēsceret, in Capitōlium7ventitāre ac iubēreaperīrī cellam Iovis ibi sōlum diū dēmorārī,quasi cōnsultantem dē rē pūblicā cum Iove:aedituōsque ēius templī saepe esse mīrātōs,quod eum id8temporis in Capitōlium195ingredientem canēs, semper in aliōs saevientēs,nōn lātrārent. Hās vulgī dē Scīpiōneopīniōnēs cōnfīrmāre atque approbāre vidēbanturdicta factaque ēius plēraque admīranda, exquibus est ūnum hūiuscemodī. Adsidēbat oppūgnābatque oppidum200in Hispāniā, sitū moenibusque ac dēfēnsōribus validum etmūnītum, rē etiam cibāriā cōpiōsum, neque ūlla ēius potiundīspēs erat. Quōdam diē iūs in castrīs sedēns dīcēbat Scīpiō atqueex eō locō id oppidum procul vidēbātur. Tum ē1mīlitibus, quīin iūre apud eum stābant, interrogāvit quispiam ex mōre in2205quem diem locumque vadēs sistī iubēret. Et Scīpiō manum adipsam oppidī, quod obsidēbātur, arcem prōtendēns, “Perendiē”inquit “sēsē3sistant illō in locō,” atque ita factum. Diē4tertiā,in quam vadēs sistī iusserat, oppidum captum est. Eōdem diēin arce ēius oppidī iūs dīxit.
210Hannibal, ā Scīpiōne victus suīsque invīsus, ad Antiochum,Syriae rēgem, cōnfūgit eumque hostem Rōmānīs fēcit. Missīsunt Rōmā lēgātī ad Antiochum, in quibus erat Scīpiō Āfricānus,quī cum Hannibale Ephesī5conlocūtus ab eō quaesīvit, quemfuisse māximum imperātōrem crēderet. Respondit Hannibal215Alexandrum, Macedonum rēgem, māximum sibi vidērī, quodparvā manū innumerābilēs exercitūs fūdisset. Quaerentī deinde,quem secundum pōneret, “Pyrrhum” inquit, “quod prīmus castra6mētārī docuit nēmōque illō7ēlegantius loca8cēpit et praesidiadēposuit.” Scīscitantī dēnique quem tertium dūceret, sēmet ipsum220dīxit. Tum rīdēns Scīpiō “Quidnam tū dīcerēs9” inquit “sī mēvīcissēs9?” “Tum10mē vērō” respondit Hannibal “et anteAlexandrum et ante Pyrrhum et ante omnēs aliōs imperātōrēsposuissem.9” Ita imprōvīsō adsentātiōnis genere Scīpiōnem ēgrege imperātōrum velut inaestimābilem sēcernēbat.
225Scīpiō ipse fertur quondam dīxisse, cum eum quīdam parumpūgnācem dīcerent, “Imperātōrem mē māter, nōn bellātōrem1peperit.2” Īdem dīcere solitus est nōn sōlum dandam esse viamfugientibus, sed etiam mūniendam.
Dēcrētō adversus Antiochum bellō3cum Syria prōvincia230obvēnisset Lūciō Scīpiōnī, quia parum in eō putābātur esse animī,4parum rōboris,4senātus gerendī hūius bellī cūram mandārī volēbatconlēgae ēius C. Laeliō. Surgēns tunc Scīpiō Āfricānus,frāter māior Lūciī Scīpiōnis, illam familiae īgnōminiamdēprecātus est: dīxit in frātre suō summam esse virtūtem, summum235cōnsilium sēque eī lēgātum fore prōmīsit. Quod cum ab eō essetdictum, nihil5est dē Lūciī Scīpiōnis prōvinciā commūtātum:itaque frāter nātū māior minōrī lēgātus in Asiam profectus estet tam diū eum cōnsiliō operāque adiūvit, dōnec triumphum illeet cōgnōmen Asiāticī peperisset.
240Eōdem bellō fīlius Scīpiōnis Āfricānī captus est et ad Antiochumdēductus. Benīgnē et līberāliter adulēscentem rēx habuit,6quamquam ab ēius patre tum7māximē fīnibus imperiī pellēbātur.Cum deinde pācem Antiochus ā Rōmānīs peteret, lēgātus ēiusPūblium Scīpiōnem adiit eīque fīlium sine pretiō redditūrum245rēgem dīxit, sī per eum pācem impetrāsset.8Cuī Scīpiō respondit“Abī, nūntiā rēgī, mē prō tantō mūnere grātiās9agere; sednunc aliam grātiam nōn possum referre, quam ut eī suādeam10utbellō absistat et pācis condiciōnem nūllam recūset.” Pāx nōnconvēnit11; tamen Antiochus Scīpiōnī fīlium remīsit tantīque virī250māiestātem venerārī quam dolōrem suum ulcīscī māluit.
Victō Antiochō cum praedae ratiō ā L. Scīpiōne repōscerētur,Āfricānus prōlātum1ab eō librum, quō2acceptae et expēnsaesummae continēbantur et refellī inimīcōrum accūsātiō poterat,discerpsit, indīgnātus3dē eā rē dubitārī, quae sub ipsō lēgātō255administrāta esset. Quīn etiam hunc4in modum verba fēcit:“Nōn5est quod quaerātis, patrēs cōnscrīptī, num parvam pecūniamin aerārium rettulerim, quī anteā illud Pūnicō aurō replēverim,neque mea innocentia potest in dubium vocārī. CumĀfricam tōtam potestātī vestrae subiēcerim, nihil ex eā praeter260cōgnōmen rettulī. Nōn igitur mē Pūnicae, nōn frātrem meumAsiāticae gazae avārum reddidērunt; sed uterque nostrum6invidiā quam pecūniā est locuplētior.” Tam cōnstantem dēfēnsiōnemScīpiōnis ūniversus senātus comprobāvit.
Deinde Scīpiōnī Āfricānō duo tribūnī plēbis diem dīxērunt,265quod praedā ex Antiochō captā aerārium fraudāsset. Ubi causaedīcendae diēs vēnit, Scīpiō māgnā hominum frequentiā in Forumest dēductus. Iussus causam dīcere rōstra cōnscendit et, corōnā7see captionCORŌNATRIUMPHĀLIStriumphālī capitī suō impositā, “Hōc ego diē”inquit “Hannibalem Poenum, imperiō nostrō270inimīcissimum, māgnō proeliō vīcī in terrāĀfricā pācemque nōbīs et victōriam peperīīnspērābilem. Nē8igitur sīmus adversus deōsingrātī, sed cēnseō relinquāmus9nebulōnēs hōseāmusque nunc prōtinus in Capitōlium Iovī275optimō māximō supplicātum.” Ā rōstrīs in Capitōlium āscendit;simul sē ūniversa cōntiō ab accūsātōribus āvertit et secūta Scīpiōnemest, nec quisquam praeter praecōnem, quī reum citābat, cumtribūnīs remānsit. Celebrātior is diēs favōre1hominum fuit, quamquō2triumphāns dē Syphāce rēge et Carthāginiēnsibus urbem est280ingressus. Inde, nē amplius tribūnīciīs iniūriīs vexārētur, inLīternīnum concessit, ubi reliquam ēgit aetātem sine urbis dēsīderiō.
Cum in Līternīnā vīllā sē continēret, complūrēs praedōnumducēs ad eum videndum forte cōnfluxērunt. Quōs cum ad vimfaciendam venīre exīstimāsset, praesidium servōrum in tēctō285conlocāvit aliaque parābat, quae3ad eōs repellendōs opus erant.Quod ubi praedōnēs animadvertērunt, abiectīs armīs iānuaeappropinquant et clārā vōce nūntiant Scīpiōnī sē nōn vītae ēius hostēs,sed virtūtis admīrātōrēs vēnisse, cōnspectum4tantī virī, quasicaeleste aliquod beneficium, expetentēs; proinde nē5gravārētur290sē spectandum praebēre. Haec postquam audīvit Scīpiō, forēsreserārī eōsque intrōdūcī iussit. Illī postēs iānuae tamquamreligiōsissimam āram venerātī, cupidē Scīpiōnis dextramapprehendērunt ac diū deōsculātī sunt; deinde positīs antevēstibulumdōnīs laetī, quod sibi Scīpiōnem ut vidērent contigisset, domum295revertērunt. Paulō post mortuus est Scīpiō moriēnsque ab uxōrepetiit nē corpus suum Rōmam referrētur.
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