"nourable title of friends and allies, than reduce them "to the sad and shameful condition of slaves." 66 It was on this occasion, that a lady, venerable for her age and birth, the wife of Mandonius, brother to Indibilis king of the Ilergetæ, came and threw herself at Scipio's feet, with several young princesses, daughters of Indibilis, and others of the same quality, and besought him to order his guards to take a particular care of them. Scipio, who did not at first understand her meaning, answered that they should want for nothing. The lady then resuming her discourse, "That, [n] says she, is not our present concern; for, in the condition to which our fortune has reduced us, with "what ought we not to be contented? I am under an "uneasiness of a very different kind, when I consider "the youth and beauty of these captives; for, as for my own part, my age secures me against all apprehensions of fear and danger;" and at the same time she pointed to the young princesses, who all revered her as their mother. "My own honour, and the glory ' of the Roman people, [o] replied Scipio, would engage me to take care, that what the whole world respects should be regarded amongst us: but you give me new reason to be particularly careful in that point, from the virtuous attention I observe in you to preserve only your honour amidst so many other subjects of fear." After this discourse he commited them to the care of an officer of approved wis 6 [n] Haud magni ista facimus, quit; quid enim huic fortunæ on satis est? Alia me cura, ætam harum intuentem, (nam ipsa m extra periculum injuriæ mulieris sum) stimulat. Liv. lib. xxvi. - 49. [el Tum Scipio: Mex PODU. lique Romani disciplinæ causâ facerem, inquit, ne quid, quod sanctum usquam esset, apud nos violaretur. Nunc, ut id curem impensiùs, vestra quoque virtus dignitasque facit, quæ ne in malis quidem oblitæ decoris matronalis estis. Thid dom, and ordered him to treat them with as much respect as if they were the friends or allies of the Romans. After this they brought him a princess of exquisite beauty, who was betrothed to Allucius prince of the Celtiberians. He immediately sent for her parents, and the person designed for her husband, and told the latter, that his bride had been kept in his house with the same decency as she could have been in her father's: "And I have used her thus, [p] adds he, that I might "be able to make you a present worthy of you and ," of me. Neither do I ask you any other acknow"ledgment for it, except that you become the friend "of the Roman people. If you think me the man of probity that these nations have experienced my "father and my uncle to have been, be assured, that "there are many others like us in Rome, and that "there is no people this day upon earth, whose friendship you ought more carefully to desire for you and yours, or whose enmity you ought more to stand in "dread of." As the parents of the lady pressed Sci-pio to accept of a considerable sum which they had brought for her ransom, and had laid all that gold -and silver at his feet, "This sum, says he to Allucius, "I add to the portion you was to receive from your "father-in-law;" and obliged him to take it. As soon as the prince was returned into his own country, he proclaimed the great virtues of Scipio wherever he went, [q] saying, "That a young man resembling the gods was come into Spain, conquering all befor him by force of arms, and still more by kindnes and civility" and soon after, raising a body o 66 66 [p] Fuit sponsa tua apud me eâdem, qua apud soceros tuos parentesque suos, verecundiâ. Servata tibi est, ut inviolatum & dignum me teque dari tibi donum posset. Hanc mercedem unam pro eo munere paciscor; amicus populo Romano sis; & si me virum bonum credis esse, quales patrem patruumque meum jam antè hæ gentes nô rant, scias multos nostri similes civitate Romanâ esse; nec ullum terris populum hodie dici poss quem minùs tibi hostem tuisq esse velis, aut amicum malis. Li lib. xxvi. n. 5o. [9] Venisse diis simillimum j venem, vincentem omnia cùm a mis, tùm benignitate as benefici Ib. troo prisoners, took the field as early as the season would admit. The two princes we have mentioned, Indibilis and Mandonius, joined him with their troops, [r] and declaring, that their persons only had hitherto remained with the enemy, but their inclination had been where they knew that virtue and justice were had in honour; they surrendered to him, and put themselves under his protection. Their wives and children were then brought out to them, and the excess of joy on both sides not allowing them to speak for a long while, was only expressed by tears and embraces. Asdrubal, terrified with the rapid successes of the Roman army, thought the only means of putting a stop to them was by coming to a battle. This was what Scipio wanted, and had well prepared for. Accordingly they came to an engagement. The Carthaginians were beaten, and left above eight thousand nen upon the field. Asdrubal fled towards the Pyenæan mountains, in order to join his brother Hanibal in Italy. [s] It was after this victory of Scipio's, that the people, charmed with his valour and modeation, would have given him the title of king. Scibio told them, that this name, which was so much rewered by all other nations, was held in detestation by he Romans. That for his part, he was satisfied with aving royal inclinations; that if they considered hem as what did most honour to man, they might content themselves with ascribing them to him in seret, without giving him the name they were called y. These people, although Barbarians, were thooughly convinced of his greatness of soul, in despising a character which was the admiration and envy of the rest of mankind. Scipio dispatched his brother to Rome, with the news of his having conquered Spain. But he carried his views much farther, and considered this conquest only as a prelude and preparation for that of all Africa. [t] Scipio's valour was not his only virtue; he had wonderful address in conciliating esteem, and bringing over others into his views by the arts of insinuation, as he shewed in his famous interview with Syphax king of Numidia, in which [u] Asdrubal was present, who owned, that though he had formed to himself an idea of the military virtues of Scipio, he appeared to him still greater and more admirable in this conference, than he had ever done before. Γ SCIPIO RETURNS TO ROME, IS CHOSEN CONSUL, AND PREPARES FOR THE CONQUEST OF AFRICA. [x]. The fame of Scipio's victories and great virtues had got before him to Rome, and inclined all men in his favour. As soon as he arrived there, he was chosen consul by general consent, and had the province of Sicily assigned him. This lay directly in his road to Africa, and he made no scruple to own that his views and designs tended thither. Fabius Maximus, either through an excess of circumspection, which was suitable enough to his character, or through mere jealousy, employed all his interest and eloquence in the senate to oppose him, and alledged several, in appearance, very strong reasons against him. Scipio refuted them all, and concluded the dispute by declaring that he would submit to the judgment of the senate; upon which it was decreed that he should have Sicily for his province, with leave to pass into africa, if he thought it for the good of the republic. [t] Liv. lib. xxviii. n. 18. nibal's brother. [x] Liv. lib. xxviii. n. 38,-46. He OF PROFANE HISTORY, He lost no time, and immediately set out for Sicily, [y] still keeping in view his design of carrying the war into the enemy's country. Lælius was gone into Africa with some troops, and it was rumoured that Scipio himself was arrived there with his army. Carthage trembled, and thought herself lost. She was soon undeceived, but however the Carthaginians dispatched couriers to the generals in Italy, with orders to use their utmost endeavours to oblige Scipio to be recalled. Masinissa, who had entered into alliance with the Romans, and was very powerful in Africa, made warm instances to him to come thither, and even reproached him for having so long disappointed the expectation of his allies. Scipio did not stand in need of such remonstrances. He instantly made preparations for the war, and hastened his departure with all possible expedition. [*] Scipio's enemies, in the mean while, had spread a report at Rome, that he spent his time at Syracuse in luxury and pleasures; that the garrison of the city after his example, wallowed in debauchery, and that licentiousness and riot reigned throughout the whole army. Fabius giving credit to these reports, broke out into violent invectives against Scipio, and advised that he should immediately be recalled. The senate acted with more wisdom and moderation, and first resolved to be satisfied of the truth of the fact. They appointed commissioners, who, when they came upon the spot, found all things in wonderful order, the troops perfectly well disciplined, the magazines furnished with provisions, the arsenals stocked with arms and clothes, the gallies extremely well equipped, and ready to set sail. This spectacle filled them with joy and admiration. They concluded, that if Carthage could be conquered, it must be by such a general and such an army; and they pressed Scipio, in the name of the senate, from whom they had received their or [y] Nihil parvum, sed 'Cartha- Lib. xxix. n. 1. 103 |