No More Learning

The belief, while such a belief, on the other hand,
remains of his army were collected by L. Marcius imparted to him a confidence in his own powers
Septimus, a Roman eques. [HASDRUBAL, No. 6. ] which made him irresistible.
The year in which the Scipios perished is rather P. Scipio is first mentioned in B. c. 218 at the
doubtful. Livy says (xxv. 36) that it was in the battle of the Ticinus, where he is reported to have
eighth year after Cn. Scipio had come into Spain; saved the life of his father, though he was then
but Becker (Vorarbeiten zu einer Geschichte des only seventeen years of age. He fought at Cannae
zweiten Punisches Krieges in Dahlman's Forschungen, two years afterward (1. c. 216), when he was
vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 113) brings forward several reasons, already a tribune of the soldiers, and was one of
which make it probable that they did not fall till the few Roman officers who survived that fatal
the spring of B. c. 211, (Liv. libb. xxi. -xxv. ; day. He was chosen along with Appius Claudius
Polyb. lib. iii. ; Appian, Annib. 5—8, Hisp. 14 to command the remains of the army, which had
-16. )
taken refuge at Canusium ; and it was owing to
10. Cn. CORNELIUS Scipio Calvus, son of his youthful heroism and presence of mind, that
No. 7, and brother of No. 9, was consul B. C. 222 the Roman nobles, who had thought of leaving
with M. Claudius Marcellus. In conjunction Italy in despair, were prevented from carrying
with his colleague he carried on war against the their rash project into effect (Liv. xxii. 53; Val. Max.
Insubrians. The details of this war are given v. 6. § 7). He had already gained the favour of
under Marcellus. (Vol. II. pp. 927, 928. ] (Po- the people to such an extent, that he was unani.
lyb. ii. 34 ; Plut. Murcell. 6, 7; and the other mously elected aedile in B. C. 212. On this occasion
authorities quoted in the life of Marcellus). In he gave indications of the proud spirit, and of the
B. c. 218 Cneius served as legate of his brother disregard of all the forms of the law, which dis-
Publius, under whom he carried on war for eight tinguished him throughout life ; for when the
years in Spain, as has been related above.
tribunes objected to the election, because he was
11. L. Cornelius Scipio, son of No. 7, and not of the legal age, he haughtily replied, “ If all
brother of the two Scipios who fell in Spain, is the Quirites wish to make me aedile, I am old
only known as the father of No. 27.
enough. " In the spring of B. c. 211, his father
12. P. CORNELIUS SCIPIO AFRICANUS MAJOR, and uncle fell in Spain, and C. Nero was sent out
the son of P. Scipio, who fell in Spain (No. 9), as propraetor to supply their place ; but in the
was the greatest man of his age, and perhaps the following year (B. C. 210), the Romans resolved
greatest man of Rome, with the exception of Julius to increase their army in Spain, and to place it
Caesar. He appears to have been born in B. C. under the command of a proconsul. But when
234, since he was twenty-four years of age when the people assembled to elect a proconsul, none of
he was appointed to the command in Spain in B. C. the generals of experience ventured to sue for so
210 (Liv. xxvi. 18; Val. Max. iii. 7. $1; Oros. iv. dangerous a command. At length Scipio, who
18). Polybius, it is true, says (x. 6) that he was was then barely twenty-four, offered himself as a
then twenty-seven, which would place his birth in candidate, to the surprise of the whole people.
B. C. 237 ; and his authority would outweigh that The confidence he felt in himself he communicated
of Livy, and the writers who follow him, if he had to the people, and he was accordingly chosen with
not stated elsewhere (x. 3) that Scipio was seven- enthusiasm to take the command. Livy places
teen at the battle of the Ticinus (B. C. 218), his election in B. C. 211, but it could not have
which would make him twenty-four when he went been earlier than B. c. 210.
to Spain, according to the statement of Livy. In Upon his arrival in Spain in the summe of
his early years Scipio acquired, to an extraordinary B. c. 210 Scipio found the whole country south of
extent, the confidence and admiration of his coun- the Iberus in the power of the enemy. The three
trymen. His enthusiastic mind had led him to Carthaginian generals, Hasdrubal son of Barca,
believe that he was a special favourite of the gods; Hasdrubal son of Gisco, and Mago, were not,
and from the time he had put on the toga virilis, however, on good terms with one another, and
he had never engaged in any public or private were at the time engaged in separate enterprises
business without first going to the Capitol, where in distant parts of the peninsula, leaving the
he sat some time alone, enjoying communication Carthaginian province almost without defence.
from the gods. For all he proposed or executed Instead of attacking any one of them in detail,
he alleged the divine approval ; and the Roman Scipio formed the project of striking a deadly
people, who had not yet lost all faith in the blow at the Carthaginian power by a sudden and
powers of an unseen world, gave credit to his unexpected attack upon New Carthage. He gave
assertions, and regarded him as a being almost the command of the fleet to his intimate friend
superior to the common race of men (Liv. xxvi. Laelius, to whom alone he entrusted the secret of
19). Polybius, who did not possess a particle of the expedition, while he himself led the lande
enthusiasm in his nature, and who was moreover forces by inconceivably rapid marches against the
a decided rationalist, denies (x. 2, 5) that Scipio town. The project was crowned with completo
had or believed that he had any communication success ; the Carthaginian garrison did not amount
with gods, and that his pretences to such inter- to more than a thousand men, and before any
course were only a wise and politic means for succour could arrive the town was taken by
obtaining a mastery over the minds of the vulgar. assault. The hostages, who had been given by
But such a supposition is quite at variance with the various Spanish tribes to the Carthaginians
3 3 4
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744
SCIPIO.
SCIPIO.
had been placed for security in this town, and and courage, his courtesy and energy, that they
these now fell into the hands of Scipio, who were ready to lay down their lives for him, and
treated them with generosity and kindness ; and wished to make him their king.
the hostages of those people, who declared them- The subjugation of Spain was regarded by Scipio
selves in favour of the Romans, were restored as only a means to an end. He seems for soine
without ransom. Scipio also found in New Car- time past to have formed in his own mind the
thage magazines of arms, corn, and other necessi- project of transferring the war to Africa, and thus
ries, for the Carthaginians had deposited in this compelling the Carthaginians to recall Hannibal
city their principnl stores. The inactivity of the from Italy. He therefore resolved, before returning
Carthaginian generals, meantime, is not explained to Rome, to cross over into Africa, and secure, if
by any of the ancient authorities. Scipio was allowed possible, the friendship and co-operation of some of
to return to Tarraco without molestation, where the native princes. His personal influence had
he remained quietly during the remainder of the already secured the attachment of Masinissa, who
year, as his forces were not sufficiently numerous was serving in the Carthaginian army in Spain,
to face the enemy in the field, and he was but whose defection from his ancient allics was for
anxious to strengthen himself by alliances with the present to remain a secret ; and he trusted
the Spanish chiefs. In this he was more suc- that the same personal ascendancy might gain the
cessful than he could have anticipated. The still more powerful support of Syphax, the king of
capture of Carthage, as well as his personal popu. the Massaesylian tribe of Numidians. With only
larity, caused many of the Spanish tribes to desert two quinqueremes he ventured to leave his pro-
the Carthaginian cause ; and when he took the vince, and repair to the court of Syphax. There
field in the following year, B. C. 209, Mandonius he met his old adversary, Hasdrubal, son of Gisco,
and Indibilis, two of the most powerful and hitherto who had crossed over from Gades for the same pur-
the most faithful supporters of Carthage, quitted pose ; and the two generals spent several days to-
the camp of Hasdrubal, and awaited the arrivalgether in friendly intercourse. Laelius, who accom-
of Scipio. Hasdrubal was encamped in a strong panied his friend, related to Polybius that Scipio
position near the town of Baecula, in the upper made a great impression upon Syphax, and that
valley of the Guadalquiver, where he was engaged the latter even concluded a treaty of alliance with
in collecting money froin the silver mines in the the Roman proconsul ; but the truth seems to be
neighbourhood. As he had now fully resolved to that the Carthaginian general was more successful
march to the assistance of his brother in Italy, he than the Roman ; a success, however, which was
did not wish to risk the lives of his soldiers, and in great part owing to the charms of his daughter
therefore avoided a battle ; but Scipio attacked his Sophonisba, whom he gave in marriage to the Nu-
camp, and gained a brilliant victory over him, taking, midian king. Scipio did not remain long in Africa,
it is said, 22,000 prisoners, and killing 8000 of and on his return to Spain was surprised to find
his men. The victory, however, cannot have been that a formidable insurrection against the Roman
so complete as the Roman writers represent, since power had broken out among many of the Spanish
Hasdrubal was able to take with him his treasures people. The causes are not mentioned ; but it is
and elephants in safety, and to retire unmolested probable that as soon as Scipio's personal influence
into northern Spain. Here he collected fresh troops, had been withdrawn, Mago, who was still at
with which he eventually crossed the Pyrenees,Gades, had not found it difficult to instigate the
and marched into Italy to the assistance of his revolt. The insurrection, however, was soon put
brother Hannibal ; while the other Carthaginian down; and terrible vengeance was inflicted upon the
generals, Hasdrubal, the son of Gisco, and Mago, town of Illiturgi, which had taken the principal share
advanced against Scipio, and prevented him from in the revolt. Scarcely had this danger passed
pursuing their colleague. Scipio therefore remained away, when Scipio was seized with a dangerous
in southern Spain during the remainder of that illness. Eight thousand of the Roman soldiers, dis-
year. In the following year, B. C. 208, the pro- contented at not having received their usual pay,
praetor Silanus defeated Mngo in Celtiberia (MA- and at being prevented from plundering the people,
Go, p. 903], whereupon the latter marched into availed themselves of this opportunity to break out
the south of the country and joined Hasdrubal, into open mutiny ; but Scipio recovered in time
son of Gisco, in Baetica. Scipio advanced against to put it down ; and in this difficult and delicate
them ; but as the Carthaginian generals would not transaction, which is related at length by Livy, he
risk a battle, and distributed their army in the for showed his usual prudence and presence of mind.
tified towns, he was unable to accomplish anything He now crushed the last remains of the insurrection
of importance, and was obliged to content himself in Spain ; and to crown his other successes, Gades
with the capture of the town of Oringis, which at last deserted the Carthaginians, and went over
was taken by his brother Lucius. Next year, to the Romans. Mago had quitted Spain and
B. C. 207, Scipio gained possession of nearly the crossed over into Liguria to effect a diversion in
whole of Spain, by a decisive victory near a place favour of his brother Hannibal, and there was
variously called Silpia, Elinga, or Carmo, but the therefore now no longer any enemy left in Spain.
position of which is quite uncertain. Hasdrubal, Scipio accordingly surrendered the Roman army,
son of Gisco, and Mago took refuge within the in B. c. 206, to the proconsuls L. Lentulus and L.
walls of Gades, which was almost the only place Manlius Acidinus, who had been appointed as his
that still belonged to the Carthaginians; and all successors, and returned to Rome in the same year.
the native chiefs now hastened to acknowledge the Scipio now became a candidate for the consul-
supremacy of Rome. But the victories of Scipio ship, and was elected for the following year
had had only a small share in winning Spain. Kis (B. C. 205) by the unanimous votes of all the cen-
personal influence had won far more people than turies, although he had not yet filled the office of
his arms had conquered ; he had gained such an praetor, and was only thirty years of age. His
escendancy over the Spaniards by his humanity colleague was P. Licinius Crassus, who was pour
1


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SCIPIO.
745
SCIPIO. .
tifex maximus, and could not, therefore, leave | Africa, not far from l'rica. The force which he
Italy. Consequently if the war was to be carried brought with him is stated so differently that it is
on abroad, the conduct of it must of necessity de- impossible to determine what its numbers were,
volve upon Scipio. The latter was anxious to cross some accounts making it as low as 12,200, others
over at once to Africa, and bring the contest to an as high as 35,000 men. As soon as Scipio landed
end at the gates of Carthage ; but the oldest mem- he was joined by Masinissa, who rendered him
bers of the senate, and among them Q. Fabius the most important services in the war. With his
Maximus, opposed his project, partly through ti assistance he obtained some advantages over the
midity and partly through jealousy of the youthful enemy (see Hanno, No. 23), but was unable to
conqueror. All that Scipio could obtain was the obtain possession of Utica, where he was anxious
province of Sicily, with permission to cross over to to establish his quarters for the winter. He was
Africa, if he should think it for the advantage of therefore obliged to pass the winter on a projecting
the republic; but the senate resolutely refused him hcadland, which he fortified. Meantime the Car-
an army, thus making the permission reluctantly thaginians had collected a powerful army which
granted of no practical use. But the allies had n they placed under the command of Ilasdrubal, son
truer view of the interests of Italy than the of Gisco, Scipio's old opponent in Spain, and
Roman senate : what the latter, blinded by their Syphax came to their assistance with a great force.
fears and their jealousy, refused, the Italinn allies Towards the close of the winter, in the early part
generously granted ; and from all the towns of of B. c. 203, Hasdrubal and Syphax meditated a
Italy volunteers flocked to join the standard of the general attack upon the land and sea forces of
youthful hero, and to enable him to subdue Car- Scipio ; but the latter, who was informed of their
thage without the aid of the Roman government plan by some Numidians, anticipated them by an
The senate could not refuse to allow him to enlist attack upon their two encampments in the night.
volunteers ; and such was the enthusiasm in his With the assistance of Masinissa, his enterprise
favour, that he was able to cross over to Sicily with was crowned with success; the two camps were
an army and a fleet contrary to the expectations burnt to the ground, and only a few of the enemy
and even the wishes of the senate. While busy escaped the fire and the sword. Among these, how-
with his preparations in Sicily he sent over Laelius ever, were both Hasdrubal and Syphax ; the former
to Africa with a small fleet to concert a plan of fled to Carthage, where he persuaded the senate to
co-operation with Masinissa, and to convince his raise another army, and the latter retreated to his
opponents that the invasion of Africa was not such native dominions, where he likewise collected fresh
a mad and impracticable project as they supposed. troops. But their united forces were again de-
But meanwhile his enemies at Rome had nearly feated by Scipio. Hasdrubal did not venture to
succeeded in depriving him of his command.
Al make his appearance again in Carthage ; and
though he had no command in Lower Italy, he Syphax once more fled into Numidia. Scipio, how-
had assisted in the reduction of Locri, and after ever, did not give the Numidian prince any repose;
the conquest of the town had left his legate, he was pursued by Laelius and Masinissa, and
Q. Pleminius, in command of the place. The latter finally taken prisoner. Among the captives who
had been guilty of such acts of excesses against fell into their hands was Sophonisba, the wife of
the inhabitants, that they sent an embassy to the Syphax, whom Masinissa had long loved, and had
Roman senate to complain of his conduct. In the expected to marry when she was given to his rival.
course of the investigation it was alleged that He now hastened to marry her ; but the well-
Scipio had allowed Pleminius to continue in the known story of the tragical termination of these
command after he had been fully informed of the nuptials is related elsewhere. (SOPHONISBA. ]
misconduct of his lieutenant; and thereupon Q. These repeated disasters so alarmed the Cartha-
Fabius Maximus and his other enemies eagerly ginians that they resolved to recall Hannibal and
availed themselves of the opportunity to inveigh in Mago from Italy. At the same time they opened
general against the conduct of Scipio, and to press negotiations with Scipio for a peace. The terms
his immediate recall. Scipio's magnificent style which Scipio offered were not objected to by the
of living, and his love for Greek literature and art, Carthaginians, and a suspension of arms for forty-
were denounced as dangerous innovations upon old five days was agreed to, while a Carthaginian em-
Roman manners and frugality ; and they asserted bassy went to Rome. It would appear, however,
that the time which ought to be given to the exer- that the great mass of the Carthaginian people were
cise and the training of his troops was wasted in not in reality anxious for peace, and only wanted
the Greek gymnasia or in literary pursuits. Though to gain time till Hannibal's arrival in Africa. Be
the senate lent a willing ear to these attacks, they fore the time had expired, a Carthaginian mob
did not venture upon his immediate recall, but plundered some ships which were bringing pro-
sent a commission into Sicily to inquire into the visions for Scipio's army, and then insulted the
state of the army; and if the charges against him ambassadors whom he had sent to demand restitu-
were well founded, to order him to return to tion. As soon as Hannibal arrived, hostilities
Rome. The commissioners arrived in Sicily at were re-commenced against the Romans. The
the beginning of B. C. 204. During the winter Carthaginian army was numerically superior to the
Scipio had been busy in completing his prepara- Romans, but inferior in discipline and skill. Still
tions; and by this time he had collected all his the presence of Hannibal gave the nation con-
stores, and brought his army and navy into the fidence, and they looked forward to a favourable
most efficient state. The commissioners were asto- termination of the war. Hannibal, however, formed
nished at what they saw. Instead of ordering him a truer estimate of the real state of affairs ; he
to return to Rome, they bade him cross over to saw that the loss of a battle would be the ruin of
Africa as soon as possible.
Carthage, and was therefore anxious to conclude a
Accordingly in A. c. 204, Scipio, who was now peace before it was too late. Scipio, who was
proconsul, sailed from Lily bacum and landed in anxious to have the glory of bringing the war to a


## p. 746 (#762) ############################################

746
SCIPIO.
SCIPIO.
close, and who feared lest his enemies in the senate | unworthy persecution which the Romans chose to
might appoint him a successor, was equally desirous employ against their once formidable opponents
of a peace. The terms, however, which the Roman (Liv. xxxiii. 47. )
general proposed seemed intolerable to the Car- In B. c. 190 L. Scipio, the brother of Africanus,
thaginians ; and as Hannibal at a personal inter- and C. Laelius were consuls. Each of the consuls
view with Scipio could not obtain any abatement was anxious to obtain from the senate the province
of the hard conditions, he was forced, against his of Greece, in order to have the honour of carrying
will, to continue the war. Into the details of the on the war against Antiochus. In order to secure
campaign, which are related very differently, our it for his brother Lucius, Africanus offered to serve
limits will not permit us to enter. The decisive under him as legatus ; and the senate thereupon
battle was at length fought on the 19th of October, granted Lucius the province which he desired. In
B. C. 202, at a place called Narngra on the Bagra- the war against Antiochus, the young son of
das, not far from the city of Zama. Scipio's victory Africanus, who accompanied his father, fell into
was complete ; the greater part of the Carthaginian the hands of the Syrian king. The latter offered
army was cut to pieces ; and Hannibal, upon his to restore his captive without ransom, if Africanus
arrival at Carthage, was the first to admit the mag- would obtain for him a favourable peace ; but al-
nitude of the disaster, and to point out the impos- though the father rejected his proposal, Antiochus
sibility of a further prosecution of the war. The sent him back bie son while he was absent from
terms, however, now imposed by Scipio were much the army in consequence of illness. Africanus
Beverer than before. Carthage had no alternative out of gratitude advised Antiochus not to fight till
but submission ; but the negotiations were con he himself had rejoined the army. The object
tinued for some time, and the final treaty was not which he had in giving this advice it is impossible
concluded till the following year, B. C. 201. to say ; it is quite inconceivable that Scipio medi-
Scipio returned to Italy in s. c. 201, and entered tated any treachery towards his own country ; it
Rome in triumph. He was received with universal is more probable that he hoped to induce Antiochus
enthusiasm ; the surname of Africanus was con- to consent to a peace before a defeat should expose
ferred upon him, and the people in their gratitude him to harder and more humiliating terms. An-
were anxious to bestow upon him the most extra- tiochus, however, did not listen to his advice ; and
ordinary marks of honour. It is related that they the decisive battle was shortly afterwards fought
wished to make him consul and dictator for life, near Mount Sipylus, in which the Syrian king was
and to erect his statue in the comitia, the rostra, totally defeated. Antiochus now applied again to
the curia, and even in the Capitol ; but that he Africanus, who used his influence in the king's
prudently declined all these invidious distinctions favour with his brother Lucius and his council
(Liv. xxxviii. 56; Val. Max. iv. 1. $ 6). As he of war. The terms of peace were severe, but they
did not choose to usurp the supreme power, which did not appear sufficiently severe to the Roman
it seems he might have done with ease, and as senate, who imposed much harder conditions upon
he was an object of suspicion and dislike to the the conquered monarch in the treaty which was
majority of the senate, he took no prominent part finally made.
in public affairs during the next few years. He Africanus returned to Rome with his brother
was censor in B. C. 199 with P. Aelius Paetus, and Lucius after the completion of the war in B. c. 189,
consul a second time in 194 with Ti. Sempronius but his remaining years were embittered by the
Longus. At the same time the censors conferred attacks of his old enemies. Shortly after his re-
upon him the title of princeps senatus, a dis- turn, he and his brother Lucius were accused of,
tinction which he had received from the former having received bribes from Antiochus to let the
censors, and which was again bestowed upon him monarch off too leniently, and of having appro-
in B. C. 190. In B. C. 193, he was one of the three priated to their own use part of the money which
commissioners who were sent to Africa to mediate had been paid by Antiochus to the Roman state.
between Masinissa and the Carthaginians; and in the glory of his African victory had already
the same year, according to a story related by Q. grown diin ; and his enemies availed themselves of
Claudius Quadrigarius, he was one of the ambassa- the opportunity to crush their proud antagonist.
dors sent to Antiochus at Ephesus, at whose court The accusation was set on foot by M. Porcius Cato,
Hannibal was then residing. The tale runs that but the details of it are related with such dis-
he there had an interview with the great Car- crepancies by the ancient authorities, that it is im-
thaginian, who declared him the greatest general possible to determine with certainty the true
that ever lived. The compliment was paid in a history of the affair, or the year in which it
manner the most flattering to Scipio. The latter occurred. It appears, however, that there were
had asked, “Who was the greatest general ? " | two distinct prosecutions, and the following is
“ Alexander the Great,” was Hannibal's reply. perhaps the most probable history of the transac-
" Who was the second ? ” “Pyrrhus. ” “Who tion. In B. c. 187, two tribunes of the people of
the third ? " · Myself,” replied the Carthaginian. the name of Petillii, instigated by Cato and the
“What would you have said, then, if you had other enemies of the Scipios, required L. Scipio to
conquered me? " asked Scipio, in astonishment. render an account of all the sums of money which
" I should then have placed myself before Alex- he had received from Antiochus. L. Scipio ac-
ander, before Pyrrhus, and before all other gecordingly prepared his accounts, but as he was in
nerals. ” (Liv. xxxv. 14. ) Whether the story be the act of delivering them up, the proud conqueror
true or not, there can be no doubt that Scipio of Hannibal indignantly snatched ihem out of his
towered above all the Romans as a general, and hands, and tore them up in pieces before the senate.
was only second to Hannibal himself. Each of But this haughty conduct appears to have produced
these great men possessing true nobility of soul, an unfavourable impression, and his brother, when
could appreciate the other's merits ; and Scipio brought to trial in the course of the same year, was
was the only member of the senate who opposed the declared guilty, and sentenced to pay a heavy fine,


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SCIPIO.
747
SCIPIO.
The tribune C. Minucius Augurinus ordered him early as B. c. 187 (Liv. xxxix. 52 ; Cic. Cut. maj.
to be dragged to prison and there detained till the 6). The date of Polybius is most probably the
money was paid ; whereupon Africanus, still more correct one.
enraged at this fresh insult to his family, and setting Scipio married Aemilia, the daughter of L.
himself above the laws, rescued his brother from the Aemilius Paulus, who fell at the battle of Cannae
hands of the tribune's officer. The contest would [AEMILIA, No. 2], and by her he had four children,
probably have been attended with fatal results two sons (Nos. 14 and 15), and two daughters, the
had not Tib. Gracchus, the father of the celebrated elder of whom married P. Scipio Nasica Corculum
tribune, and then tribune himself, had the pru- [No. 23), and the younger Tib. Gracchus, and thus
dence, althongh he disapproved of the violent became the mother of the two celebrated tribunes
conduct of Africanus, to release his brother Lucius [CORNELIA, Nos. 4,5). (It is unnecessary to cite
from the sentence of imprisonment. The property, the numerous passages in Polybius and Livy re-
however, of Lucius was confiscated ; and, as it lating to Scipio ; those in Cicero in which he is
was not sufficient to pay the fine, his clients and mentioned are given by Orelli, in his Onomast.
friends generously contributed not only a sufficient Tull. vol. ii. p. 186 ; there are some interesting re-
amount to supply the deficiency, but so large a marks on his character and the state of parties in
sum that he would have been richer even than Rome at his time, by Gerlach, in his treatise en-
before ; but he would only receive sufficient to titled P. Cornelius Scipio und M. Porcius Cato, in
defray his most pressing wants. The successful the Schweizer. Museum for 1837. )
issue of the prosecution of Lucius, emboldened his 13. L. CORNELIUS SCIPIO Asiaticus, also
enemies to bring the great Africanus himself before called ASIAGENES or ASIAGENUS, was the son of
the people. His accuser was M. Naevius, the tri- No. 9, and the brother of the great Africanus
bune of the people, and if the date of his tribunate (No. 12]. He served under his brother in Spain,
is correctly stated by Livy (xxxix. 52) the accu- where he took the town of Oringis in B. c. 208;
sation was not brought till the end of B. c. 185. and on the completion of the war was sent by his
When the trial came on, Scipio did not condescend brother to Rome, with the joyful news. He was
to say a single word in refutation of the charges praetor in B. c. 193, when he obtained the province
that had been brought against him, but descanted of Sicily, and consul in B. c. 190, with C. Laelius.
long and eloquently upon the signal services he had The senate had not much confidence in his abilities
rendered to the commonwealth. Having spoken (Cic. Phil. xi. 7), and it was only through the offer
till night-fall
, the trial was adjourned till the fol- of his brother Africanus to accompany him as a
lowing day. Early next morning, when the tri- legate that he obtained the province of Greece and
bunes had taken their seats on the rostra, and the conduct of the war against Antiochus (Liv.
Africanus was summoned, he proudly reminded xxviii. 3, 4, 17, xxxiv. 54, 55, xxxvi. 45, xxxvii.
the people that this was the anniversary of the 1). He defeated Antiochus at Mount Sipylus, in
day on which he had defeated Hannibal at Zama, B. c. 190, entered Rome in triumph in the following
and called upon them to neglect all disputes and year, and assumed the surname of Asiaticus. The
law-suits, and follow him to the Capitol, and there history of his accusation and condemnation, and of
return thanks to the immortal gods, and pray that the confiscation of his property, has been already
they would grant the Roman state other citizens related in the life of his brother. But notwith-
like himself. Scipio struck a chord which vibrated standing the poverty to which he is said to have
on every heart; their veneration of the hero re- been reduced (Liv. xxxviii. 60), he celebrated
turned again ; aud he was followed with such with great splendour, in B. c. 185, the games
crowds to the Capitol, that the tribunes were left which he had vowed in his war with Antiochus.
alone in the rostra. Having thus set all the laws Valerius of Antium related that he obtained the
at defiance, Scipio immediately quitted Rome, and necessary money during an embassy on which he
retired to his country seat at Liternum. The tri- was sent after his condemnation, to settle the dis-
bunes wished to renew the prosecution, but Grac- putes between the kings Antiochus and Eumenes.
chus wisely persuaded them to let it drop. (Liv. He was a candidate for the censorship in B. c. 184,
xxxviii. 50–60 ; Gell. iv. 18, vii. 19; Val. Max.