149, Scipio again went to Africa, but still preserve the old Roman habits were thwarted by
only with the rank of military tribune.
only with the rank of military tribune.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
C.
82, where-
on his tomb he is called Asingenus.
upon he fled to Massilia, and passed there the
14. P. CORNELIUS Scirio AFRICANUS, the remainder of his life. His daughter was married
elder son of the great Africanus (No. 12), was to P. Sestius (Appian, B. C. i. 82, 85, 86 ; Plut.
prevented by his weak health from taking any part Sull. 28, Sertor. 6 ; Liv. Epit. 85; Flor. iii. 21 ;
in public affairs. Cicero praises his oratiunculae Oros. v. 21 ; Cic. Phil. xii, 11, xiii. 1 ; Cic. pro
and his Greek history, and remarks that, with the Sest. 3 ; Schol. Bob. in Sest. p. 293, ed. Orelli).
greatness of his father's mind he possessed a larger Cicero speaks favourably of the oratorical powers
amount of learning. Ile had no son of his own, of this Scipio (diccbat non imperite, Cic. Brut.
but adopted the son of L. Aemilius Paulus (see 47).
below, No. 21]. (Cic. Brut. 19, Cat. Maj. 11, de Off: 21. P. CORNELIUS SCIPIO AEMILIANUS AFRI-
i. 33 ; Vell
. Pat. i. 10). He was elected augur in CANUS MINOR, was the younger son of L. Aemilius
B. C. 180 (Liv, xl. 42), and was also Flamen Dia- Paulus, the conqueror of Macedonia, and was
lis, as we see from the inscription on his tomb. adopted by P. Scipio, the son of the conqueror of
This inscription runs as follows:---"Quei apicem, Hannibal (No. 14), whose mother was a sister of
insigne Dialis flaminis, gessistei, mors perfecit tua, L. Aemilius Paulus. He was born about B. C.
ut essent omnia brevia, honos fama virtusque, gloria 185. In his seventeenth year he accompanied his
atque ingenium. Quibus sei in longa licuisset tibe father Paulus to Greece, and fonght under him at
utier vita, facile superas(s)es gloriam majorem. the battle of Pydna, in B. c. 168 (Liv. xliv. 44 ;
Quare lubens te in gremiu(m), Scipio, recipit terra, Plut. Aemil. Paul. 22). While in Greece he pro-
Publi, prognatum Publio, Corneli. ” (Orelli, In- bably became acquainted with the historian Poly-
script. No. 558).
and when the latter was sent to Rome, along
15. L. or Cn. CoRNELIUS Scipio A FRICANUS, with the other Achaean exiles, in the following
the younger son of the great Africanus (No. 12]. year, B. c. 167, Scipio afforded him the pa-
He accompanied his father into Asia in B. c. 190, tronage and protection of his powerful family, and
and was taken prisoner by Antiochus, as has al- formed with him that close and intimate friendship
ready been related in the life of his father. Appian, which continued unbroken throughout his life.
in relating this circumstance (Syr. 29), confounds Scipio appears from his earliest years to have de-
him with the celebrated Africanus minor. This voted himself with ardour to the study of litera-
Scipio was a degenerate son of so illustrious a sire, ture ; and he eagerly availed himself of the su-
and only obtained the praetorship, in B. c. 174, perior knowledge of Polybius to direct him in his
through Cicereius, who had been a scriba of his literary pursuits. He was accompanied by the
father, giving way to him. In the same year he Greek historian in almost all his campaigns, and in
was expelled from the senate by the censors. (Liv. the midst of his most active military duties, lost
xli. 27 ; Val. Max. iii. 5. § 1, iv. 5. § 3. ) no opportunity of enlarging his knowledge of Greek
16. CORNELIA, the elder daughter of the great literature and philosophy, by constant intercourse
Africanus (No. 12), married P. Scipio Nasica Cor- with his friend. At a later period he also culti-
culum, No. 23. [CORNELIA, No. 4. ]
vated the acquaintance of the philosopher Panae-
17. Cornelia, the younger daughter of the tius ; nor did he neglect the literature of his own
great Africanus (No. 12), married Tib. Sempronius country, for the poets Lucilius and Terence were,
Gracchus, and became by him the mother of the as is well known, admitted to his intimacy. His
two celebrated tribunes. [CORNELIA, No. 5. ] friendship with Laelius, whose tastes and pursuits
18. L. CORNELIUS Scipio ASIATICUS, the son were so congenial to his own, was as remarkable as
of the conqueror of Antiochus (No. 13]. The fol that of the elder Africanus with the elder Laelius,
lowing is the inscription on his tomb : “ L. Corneli and has been immortalised by Cicero's celebrated
L. F. P. N. Scipio quaist. tr. mil. annos gnatus treatise entitled “Laelius sive de Amicitia. ” In
XXXIII. mortuos. Pater regem Antioco(m) his younger years it was feared by Scipio's friends
subegit” (Orelli, Inscr. No. 556). As he is here that he would not uphold the honour of his house,
called quaestor, he is probably the same as the L. an apprehension probably only founded on his lite
Cornelius Scipio, the quaestor, who was sent to rary habits and pursuits ; but in him the love of
meet Prusias and conduct him to Rome, when this Greek refinement and Greek literature did not
monarch visited Italy in 1. c. 167 (Liv, xlv. 44). emasculate his mind, or incapacitate him for taking
19. L. CORNELIUS Scipio ASIATICUS, is only a distinguished part in public affairs. On the con-
known from the fasti Capitolini, as the son of trary he is said to have cultivated the virtues
No. 18, and father of No. 20.
which distinguished the older Romans, and to hare
20. L. CORNELIUS Scipio Asiaticus, is first made Cato the model of his conduct. If we may
mentioned in B. c. 100, when he took up arms believe his panegyrists, Polybius and Cicero, he
with the other members of the senate against possessed all the simple virtues of an old Roman,
Saturninus (Cic. pro Rabir. Perd. 7). In the mellowed by the refining influences of Greek civi-
Social War he was stationed with L. Acilius in lisation.
the town of Aesernia, from which they escaped on Scipio first attracted public notice in B. c. 151.
the approach of Vettius Scato in the dress of The repeated disasters which the Roman arms had
slaves (Appian, B. C. i. 41). He belonged to the sustained in Spain had inspired such dread of that
Marian party in the civil wars, and was appointed war, that when the consuls attempted to levy
consul in B. C. 83 with C. Norbanus. In this troops in B. C. 151, no one was willing to enlist
year Sulla returned to Italy, and advanced against as a soldier, or to take the offices of tribune or
the consuls. He defeated Norbanus in Italy, but legate. Scipio inspired confidence by coming
seduced the troops of Scipio to desert their general, forward, and offering to serve in Spain in any
:
## p. 749 (#765) ############################################
SCIPIO.
749
SCIPIO.
a
capacity in which the consuls might choose to from house to house, and the work of destruction
eniploy him. He was appointed military tribune, and butchery went on for days. The fate of this
and accompanied the consul L. Lucullus to Spain. once magnificent city moved Scipio to tears, and
Here he distinguished himself by his personal anticipating that a similar catastrophe might one
courage. On one occasion he slew, in single day befall Rome, he is said to have repeated the
combat, a gigantic Spanish chieftain ; and at lines of the Iliad (vi. 448) over the fames of
another time he was the first to mount the walls Carthage,
at the storming of the city of Intercatia. Such
έσσεται ήμαρ, ότ' άν ποτ' όλώλη Ίλιος ερή,
daring deeds gained for him the admiration of the
και Πρίαμος και λαός εμμελίω Πριάμοιο.
barbarians, while his integrity and other virtues
conciliated their regard and esteem. Ile quite After completing the arrangements for reducing
threw into the shade his avaricious and cruel | Africa to the form of a Roman province, he re-
commander, and revived among the Spaniards the turned to Rome in the same year, and celebrated
recollection of his grandfather, the elder Africanus. a splendid triumph on account of his victory. The
In the following year, B. c. 150, he was sent by surname of Africanus, which he had inherited by
Lucullus to Africa to obtain from Masinissa a adoption from the conqueror of Jannibal, had
supply of elephants. His name secured him a been now acquired by him by his own exploits.
most honourable reception from the aged Numi- In B. C. 142 Scipio was censor with L. Mum-
dian monarch. He arrived in the midst of the mius. Scipio, in the administration of the duties
war between Masinissa and the Carthaginians, of his office, followed in the footsteps of Cato, and
and was requested by the latter to act as mediator attempted by severity to repress the growing
between them ; but he was unable to accomplish luxury and immorality of his contemporaries. He
any thing, and returned to Spain with the ele exhorted the people to uphold and maintain the
phants.
customs of their ancestors in a speech which was
On the breaking out of the third Punic war in preserved in later times. His efforts, however, to
B. C.
149, Scipio again went to Africa, but still preserve the old Roman habits were thwarted by
only with the rank of military tribune. Here his colleague Mummius, who had himself acquired
Scipio gained still more renown. By his personal a love for Greek and Asiatic luxuries, and was
bravery and military skill he repaired, to a great disposed to be more indulgent to the people (Gell.
extent, the mistakes, and made up for the inca. iv. 20, v. 19; Val. Max. vi. 4. & 2). In the
pacity of the consul Manilius, whose army on one solemn prayer offered at the conclusion of the
occasion he saved from destruction. His abilities lustrum, Scipio changed the supplication for the
gained him the complete confidence of Masinissa extension of the commonwealth into one for the
and the Roman troops, while his integrity and preservation of its actual possessions (Val. Max.
fidelity to his word were so highly prized by the iv. l. § 10*). He vainly wished to check the
enemy, that to his promise only would they trust. appetite for foreign conquests, which had been
Accordingly, the commissioners, who had been still further excited by the capture of Carthage.
sent by the senate to inspect the state of affairs in In B. c. 139 Scipio was brought to trial before
the Roman camp, made the most favourable report the people by Ti. Claudius Asellus, the tribune
of his abilities and conduct. When L. Calpurnius of the plebs. He seems to have been accused
Piso took the command of the army in the follow- of majestas ; but Asellus attacked him out of
ing year, B. c. 148, Scipio leſt Africa, and returned private animosity, because he had been deprived
to Rome, accompanied by the wishes of the soldiers of his horse, and reduced to the condition of an
that he would soon return to be their commander. aerarian by Scipio in his censorship. Scipio was
Many of them wrote to their friends at Rome, acquitted, and the speeches which he delivered
saying that Scipio alone could conquer Cartbage, on the occasion obtained great celebrity, and were
and the opinion became general at Rome that the held in high esteem in a later age (Gell. ii. 20,
conduct of the war ought to be entrusted to him. ü. 4, vii. 11; Cic. de Orat. ii. 64, 66; for
Even the aged Cato, who was always more ready further particulars see Vol. I. p. 385, a. ). It ap-
to blame than to praise, praised Scipio in the Ho-pears to have been after this event that Scipio was
meric words (Od. x. 495), “ He alone has wisdom, sent on an embassy to Egypt and Asia to attend
the rest are empty shadows" (Plut. Cat. Maj. to the Roman interests in those countries (Cic. de
27). The prepossession in favour of Scipio Rep. vi. 11). To show his contempt of the pomp
was still further increased by the want of and luxury in which his contemporaries indulged,
success which attended the operations of Piso ; he took with him only five slaves on this mission.
and, accordingly, when he became a candidate for (Athen, vi. p. 273. )
the aedileship for B. c. 147 he was elected consul, The long continuance of the war in Spain, and
although he was only thirty-seven, and had not the repeated disasters which the Roman arms
therefore attained the legal age. The senate, of experienced in that country, again called Scipio to
course, assigned to him Africa as his province, to the consulship. He was appointed consul in his
which he forth with sailed, accompanied by his absence, along with C. Fulvius Flaccus, and had
friends Polybius and Laelius. The details of the the province of Spain assigned to him, B. c. 134.
war, which ended in the capture of Carthage, are His first efforts were directed to the restoration of
given by Appian (Pun. 113–131), and would discipline in the army, which had become almost
take up too much space to be repeated here. The disorganised by sensual indulgences. After bringe
Carthaginians defended themselves with the cou- ing the troops into an efficient condition by his
rage of despair. They were able to maintain
possession of their city till the spring of the fol. Valerius Maximus, however, appears to be
lowing year, B. c. 146, when the Roman legions mistaken in stating that Scipio held the lustrum,
at length forced their way into the devoted town. since Cicero says (de Orat. j. 66), that it was
The inhabitants fought from street to street, and I held by his colleague Muminius
## p. 750 (#766) ############################################
750
SCIPIO.
SCIPIO.
;
severe and energetic measures, he laid siege to | evening he went home accompanied by the senate
Numantia, which was defended by its inhabitants and a great number of the allies, and then retired
with the same courage and perseverance which has quietly to his sleeping-room with the intention of
pre-eminently distinguished the Spaniards in all composing a speech for the following day. In the
ages in defence of their walled towns. It was not following morning Rome was thrown into con-
till they had suffered the most dreadful extremities sternation by the news that Scipio was found dead
of famine that they surrendered the place in the in his room. The most contradictory rumours were
following year, b. č. 133. Fifty of the principal circulated respecting his death, but it was the
inhabitants were selected to adorn Scipio's triumph, general opinion that he was murdered. Some
the rest were sold as slaves, and the town was thought that he died a natural death, and others
levelled to the ground. He now received the that he put an end to his own life, despairing of
surname of Numantinus in addition to that of Afri- being able to carry his proposal through the assem-
canus. While Scipio was employed in the reduction bly on the following day ; but the fact, which is
of Numantia, Rome was convulsed by the dis admitted by all writers, that there was no inquiry
turbances consequent upon the measures proposed into the cause of his death, corroborates the po-
by Tib. Gracchus in his tribunate, and which ended pular opinion that he was murdered. Suspicion
in the murder of the latter. Although Scipio was fell upon various persons; his wife Sempronia
married to Sempronia, the sister of the fallen and her mother Cornelia were suspected by
tribune, he had no sympathy with his reforms, some ; Carbo, Fulvius, and C. Gracchus by others
and no sorrow for his fate ; and upon receiving (Appian, B. C. : i. 19, 20; Vell. Pat. ii. 4 : Plut.
intelligence of his death at Numantin, he is said C. Gracch. 10 ; Schol. Bob. in Mil. p. 283, ed.
to have exclaimed in the verse of Homer. (Od. Orelli). Of all these Papirius Carbo was most
i. 47): –
generally believed to have been guilty, and is er-
“ So perish all who do the like again. "
pressly mentioned as the murderer by Cicero. (Cic.
de Or. ii. 40, ad Fam. ix. 21. § 3, ad Q. Fr. ii.
Upon his return to Rome in B. c. 132, he did not 3. $ 3. )
disguise his sentiments, and when asked in the The character of Scipio is thus described by
assembly of the tribes by C. Papirius Carbo, Niebuhr:- Scipio is one of those characters who
the tribune, who entered upon his office at the have a great reputation in history, which, however,
end of this year, what he thought of the death in my opinion, is not altogether well deserved.
of Tib. Gracchus, he boldly replied that he was He was, it is true, a very eminent general, and
justly slain (jure caesum). The people, who had a great man; he did many a just and praise-
probably expected a different answer from their worthy thing ; but he made a show of his great
favourite general and from the brother-in-law of qualities, and Polybius, his friend and instructor in
their martyred defender, loudly expressed their military matters, who in other respects loves him
disapprobation ; whereupon Scipio, with true aris- very much, shows in his narrative quite clearly
tocratic contempt for the mob, exclaimed “Taceant that the virtues of Scipio were ostentatious. Things
quibus Italia noverca est. ” (Val. Max. vi. 2. § 3 ; which every other good and honest man does
Aurel. Vict. Vir. IU. 58 ; Plut. Tib. Gracche quietly, Scipio boasts of, because they are not
21; Cic. Lael. 25. ) The people did not forget common among his own countrymen. What dis-
this insult, and from this time Scipio lost much of tinguishes him is an unflinching political character :
his influence over them. Still there was a prestige he belonged to those who wished by all means to
attaching to his name which the people could not maintain the state of things such as it actually
divest themselves of, and it was mainly owing to Every thing which existed had in his eyes
his influence and authority that the aristocratical an indisputable right to exist, and he never asked
party were able to defeat the bill of the tribune whether it was right or wrong in its origin, or how
Carbo, by which the same persons were to be detrimental its injustice was to the republic itself. ”
allowed to be elected tribunes as often as the (Lectures on Roman History, vol. i. p. 293, ed.
people pleased (Liv. Epit. 59; Cic. Lael. 25). Schmitz. ) Some deductions, however, should be
Scipio was now regarded as the acknowledged made from this estimate of his political character.
leader of the aristocracy, and the latter resolved to It is true that after his return from Numantia, he
avail themselves of his powerful aid to prevent the opposed with the utmost energy the measures of
agrarian law of Tib. Gracchus from being carried the popular party ; but previous to that time he
into effect. The socii had become already alarmed had recognised the necessity of some concessions
at the prospect of losing some of their lands, and to the popular feeling, and had incurred the serious
Scipio skilfully availed himself of the circumstance displeasure of his own party by supporting in
to propose in the senate, in B. C. 129, that all dis- B. C. 139 the Lex Tabellaria of the tribune
putes respecting the lands of the allies should be L. Cassius Longinus (Cic. Brut. 25, de Leg. iii.
taken out of the hands of the commissioners, 16). Some even went so far as to class him among
who were appointed under the agrarian law of the men of the people (Cic. Acad. ii. 5). With
Tib. Gracchus, and that the decision respecting respect to the literary attainments of Scipio, there
them should be committed to other persons. This was but one opinion in antiquity. He was better
would have been, in effect, equivalent to an abro- acquainted with Greek literature and philosophy
gation of the law; and accordingly Fulvius Flaccus, than any of his contemporaries, unless it were his
Papirius Carbo and C. Gracchus, the three com- friend Laelius. He spoke his own language with
missioners, offered the most vehement opposition purity and elegance (omnium aetatis suae purissime
to his proposal. In the forum he was accused by locutum, Gell. ii. 20), of which we have a striking
Carbo with the hitterest invectives as the enemy confirmation in the report, whether true or false,
of the people, and upon his again expressing his of his having assisted Terence in the composition
approval of the death of Tib. Gracchus, the people of his comedies. He was one of the most dis-
shouted out “Down with the tyrant. ” In the tinguished orators of his day (Cic. Brut. 21, ds
was.
## p. 751 (#767) ############################################
SCIPIO.
781
SCIPIO.
Orat. i. 49; Vell. Pat. ii. 9 ; Quintil. xii. 10. the son of No. 22, was twice consul, censor and
$ 10); and his speeches were admired, as we have pontifex maximus. He inherited froin his father
seen above, down to a late period.
on his tomb he is called Asingenus.
upon he fled to Massilia, and passed there the
14. P. CORNELIUS Scirio AFRICANUS, the remainder of his life. His daughter was married
elder son of the great Africanus (No. 12), was to P. Sestius (Appian, B. C. i. 82, 85, 86 ; Plut.
prevented by his weak health from taking any part Sull. 28, Sertor. 6 ; Liv. Epit. 85; Flor. iii. 21 ;
in public affairs. Cicero praises his oratiunculae Oros. v. 21 ; Cic. Phil. xii, 11, xiii. 1 ; Cic. pro
and his Greek history, and remarks that, with the Sest. 3 ; Schol. Bob. in Sest. p. 293, ed. Orelli).
greatness of his father's mind he possessed a larger Cicero speaks favourably of the oratorical powers
amount of learning. Ile had no son of his own, of this Scipio (diccbat non imperite, Cic. Brut.
but adopted the son of L. Aemilius Paulus (see 47).
below, No. 21]. (Cic. Brut. 19, Cat. Maj. 11, de Off: 21. P. CORNELIUS SCIPIO AEMILIANUS AFRI-
i. 33 ; Vell
. Pat. i. 10). He was elected augur in CANUS MINOR, was the younger son of L. Aemilius
B. C. 180 (Liv, xl. 42), and was also Flamen Dia- Paulus, the conqueror of Macedonia, and was
lis, as we see from the inscription on his tomb. adopted by P. Scipio, the son of the conqueror of
This inscription runs as follows:---"Quei apicem, Hannibal (No. 14), whose mother was a sister of
insigne Dialis flaminis, gessistei, mors perfecit tua, L. Aemilius Paulus. He was born about B. C.
ut essent omnia brevia, honos fama virtusque, gloria 185. In his seventeenth year he accompanied his
atque ingenium. Quibus sei in longa licuisset tibe father Paulus to Greece, and fonght under him at
utier vita, facile superas(s)es gloriam majorem. the battle of Pydna, in B. c. 168 (Liv. xliv. 44 ;
Quare lubens te in gremiu(m), Scipio, recipit terra, Plut. Aemil. Paul. 22). While in Greece he pro-
Publi, prognatum Publio, Corneli. ” (Orelli, In- bably became acquainted with the historian Poly-
script. No. 558).
and when the latter was sent to Rome, along
15. L. or Cn. CoRNELIUS Scipio A FRICANUS, with the other Achaean exiles, in the following
the younger son of the great Africanus (No. 12]. year, B. c. 167, Scipio afforded him the pa-
He accompanied his father into Asia in B. c. 190, tronage and protection of his powerful family, and
and was taken prisoner by Antiochus, as has al- formed with him that close and intimate friendship
ready been related in the life of his father. Appian, which continued unbroken throughout his life.
in relating this circumstance (Syr. 29), confounds Scipio appears from his earliest years to have de-
him with the celebrated Africanus minor. This voted himself with ardour to the study of litera-
Scipio was a degenerate son of so illustrious a sire, ture ; and he eagerly availed himself of the su-
and only obtained the praetorship, in B. c. 174, perior knowledge of Polybius to direct him in his
through Cicereius, who had been a scriba of his literary pursuits. He was accompanied by the
father, giving way to him. In the same year he Greek historian in almost all his campaigns, and in
was expelled from the senate by the censors. (Liv. the midst of his most active military duties, lost
xli. 27 ; Val. Max. iii. 5. § 1, iv. 5. § 3. ) no opportunity of enlarging his knowledge of Greek
16. CORNELIA, the elder daughter of the great literature and philosophy, by constant intercourse
Africanus (No. 12), married P. Scipio Nasica Cor- with his friend. At a later period he also culti-
culum, No. 23. [CORNELIA, No. 4. ]
vated the acquaintance of the philosopher Panae-
17. Cornelia, the younger daughter of the tius ; nor did he neglect the literature of his own
great Africanus (No. 12), married Tib. Sempronius country, for the poets Lucilius and Terence were,
Gracchus, and became by him the mother of the as is well known, admitted to his intimacy. His
two celebrated tribunes. [CORNELIA, No. 5. ] friendship with Laelius, whose tastes and pursuits
18. L. CORNELIUS Scipio ASIATICUS, the son were so congenial to his own, was as remarkable as
of the conqueror of Antiochus (No. 13]. The fol that of the elder Africanus with the elder Laelius,
lowing is the inscription on his tomb : “ L. Corneli and has been immortalised by Cicero's celebrated
L. F. P. N. Scipio quaist. tr. mil. annos gnatus treatise entitled “Laelius sive de Amicitia. ” In
XXXIII. mortuos. Pater regem Antioco(m) his younger years it was feared by Scipio's friends
subegit” (Orelli, Inscr. No. 556). As he is here that he would not uphold the honour of his house,
called quaestor, he is probably the same as the L. an apprehension probably only founded on his lite
Cornelius Scipio, the quaestor, who was sent to rary habits and pursuits ; but in him the love of
meet Prusias and conduct him to Rome, when this Greek refinement and Greek literature did not
monarch visited Italy in 1. c. 167 (Liv, xlv. 44). emasculate his mind, or incapacitate him for taking
19. L. CORNELIUS Scipio ASIATICUS, is only a distinguished part in public affairs. On the con-
known from the fasti Capitolini, as the son of trary he is said to have cultivated the virtues
No. 18, and father of No. 20.
which distinguished the older Romans, and to hare
20. L. CORNELIUS Scipio Asiaticus, is first made Cato the model of his conduct. If we may
mentioned in B. c. 100, when he took up arms believe his panegyrists, Polybius and Cicero, he
with the other members of the senate against possessed all the simple virtues of an old Roman,
Saturninus (Cic. pro Rabir. Perd. 7). In the mellowed by the refining influences of Greek civi-
Social War he was stationed with L. Acilius in lisation.
the town of Aesernia, from which they escaped on Scipio first attracted public notice in B. c. 151.
the approach of Vettius Scato in the dress of The repeated disasters which the Roman arms had
slaves (Appian, B. C. i. 41). He belonged to the sustained in Spain had inspired such dread of that
Marian party in the civil wars, and was appointed war, that when the consuls attempted to levy
consul in B. C. 83 with C. Norbanus. In this troops in B. C. 151, no one was willing to enlist
year Sulla returned to Italy, and advanced against as a soldier, or to take the offices of tribune or
the consuls. He defeated Norbanus in Italy, but legate. Scipio inspired confidence by coming
seduced the troops of Scipio to desert their general, forward, and offering to serve in Spain in any
:
## p. 749 (#765) ############################################
SCIPIO.
749
SCIPIO.
a
capacity in which the consuls might choose to from house to house, and the work of destruction
eniploy him. He was appointed military tribune, and butchery went on for days. The fate of this
and accompanied the consul L. Lucullus to Spain. once magnificent city moved Scipio to tears, and
Here he distinguished himself by his personal anticipating that a similar catastrophe might one
courage. On one occasion he slew, in single day befall Rome, he is said to have repeated the
combat, a gigantic Spanish chieftain ; and at lines of the Iliad (vi. 448) over the fames of
another time he was the first to mount the walls Carthage,
at the storming of the city of Intercatia. Such
έσσεται ήμαρ, ότ' άν ποτ' όλώλη Ίλιος ερή,
daring deeds gained for him the admiration of the
και Πρίαμος και λαός εμμελίω Πριάμοιο.
barbarians, while his integrity and other virtues
conciliated their regard and esteem. Ile quite After completing the arrangements for reducing
threw into the shade his avaricious and cruel | Africa to the form of a Roman province, he re-
commander, and revived among the Spaniards the turned to Rome in the same year, and celebrated
recollection of his grandfather, the elder Africanus. a splendid triumph on account of his victory. The
In the following year, B. c. 150, he was sent by surname of Africanus, which he had inherited by
Lucullus to Africa to obtain from Masinissa a adoption from the conqueror of Jannibal, had
supply of elephants. His name secured him a been now acquired by him by his own exploits.
most honourable reception from the aged Numi- In B. C. 142 Scipio was censor with L. Mum-
dian monarch. He arrived in the midst of the mius. Scipio, in the administration of the duties
war between Masinissa and the Carthaginians, of his office, followed in the footsteps of Cato, and
and was requested by the latter to act as mediator attempted by severity to repress the growing
between them ; but he was unable to accomplish luxury and immorality of his contemporaries. He
any thing, and returned to Spain with the ele exhorted the people to uphold and maintain the
phants.
customs of their ancestors in a speech which was
On the breaking out of the third Punic war in preserved in later times. His efforts, however, to
B. C.
149, Scipio again went to Africa, but still preserve the old Roman habits were thwarted by
only with the rank of military tribune. Here his colleague Mummius, who had himself acquired
Scipio gained still more renown. By his personal a love for Greek and Asiatic luxuries, and was
bravery and military skill he repaired, to a great disposed to be more indulgent to the people (Gell.
extent, the mistakes, and made up for the inca. iv. 20, v. 19; Val. Max. vi. 4. & 2). In the
pacity of the consul Manilius, whose army on one solemn prayer offered at the conclusion of the
occasion he saved from destruction. His abilities lustrum, Scipio changed the supplication for the
gained him the complete confidence of Masinissa extension of the commonwealth into one for the
and the Roman troops, while his integrity and preservation of its actual possessions (Val. Max.
fidelity to his word were so highly prized by the iv. l. § 10*). He vainly wished to check the
enemy, that to his promise only would they trust. appetite for foreign conquests, which had been
Accordingly, the commissioners, who had been still further excited by the capture of Carthage.
sent by the senate to inspect the state of affairs in In B. c. 139 Scipio was brought to trial before
the Roman camp, made the most favourable report the people by Ti. Claudius Asellus, the tribune
of his abilities and conduct. When L. Calpurnius of the plebs. He seems to have been accused
Piso took the command of the army in the follow- of majestas ; but Asellus attacked him out of
ing year, B. c. 148, Scipio leſt Africa, and returned private animosity, because he had been deprived
to Rome, accompanied by the wishes of the soldiers of his horse, and reduced to the condition of an
that he would soon return to be their commander. aerarian by Scipio in his censorship. Scipio was
Many of them wrote to their friends at Rome, acquitted, and the speeches which he delivered
saying that Scipio alone could conquer Cartbage, on the occasion obtained great celebrity, and were
and the opinion became general at Rome that the held in high esteem in a later age (Gell. ii. 20,
conduct of the war ought to be entrusted to him. ü. 4, vii. 11; Cic. de Orat. ii. 64, 66; for
Even the aged Cato, who was always more ready further particulars see Vol. I. p. 385, a. ). It ap-
to blame than to praise, praised Scipio in the Ho-pears to have been after this event that Scipio was
meric words (Od. x. 495), “ He alone has wisdom, sent on an embassy to Egypt and Asia to attend
the rest are empty shadows" (Plut. Cat. Maj. to the Roman interests in those countries (Cic. de
27). The prepossession in favour of Scipio Rep. vi. 11). To show his contempt of the pomp
was still further increased by the want of and luxury in which his contemporaries indulged,
success which attended the operations of Piso ; he took with him only five slaves on this mission.
and, accordingly, when he became a candidate for (Athen, vi. p. 273. )
the aedileship for B. c. 147 he was elected consul, The long continuance of the war in Spain, and
although he was only thirty-seven, and had not the repeated disasters which the Roman arms
therefore attained the legal age. The senate, of experienced in that country, again called Scipio to
course, assigned to him Africa as his province, to the consulship. He was appointed consul in his
which he forth with sailed, accompanied by his absence, along with C. Fulvius Flaccus, and had
friends Polybius and Laelius. The details of the the province of Spain assigned to him, B. c. 134.
war, which ended in the capture of Carthage, are His first efforts were directed to the restoration of
given by Appian (Pun. 113–131), and would discipline in the army, which had become almost
take up too much space to be repeated here. The disorganised by sensual indulgences. After bringe
Carthaginians defended themselves with the cou- ing the troops into an efficient condition by his
rage of despair. They were able to maintain
possession of their city till the spring of the fol. Valerius Maximus, however, appears to be
lowing year, B. c. 146, when the Roman legions mistaken in stating that Scipio held the lustrum,
at length forced their way into the devoted town. since Cicero says (de Orat. j. 66), that it was
The inhabitants fought from street to street, and I held by his colleague Muminius
## p. 750 (#766) ############################################
750
SCIPIO.
SCIPIO.
;
severe and energetic measures, he laid siege to | evening he went home accompanied by the senate
Numantia, which was defended by its inhabitants and a great number of the allies, and then retired
with the same courage and perseverance which has quietly to his sleeping-room with the intention of
pre-eminently distinguished the Spaniards in all composing a speech for the following day. In the
ages in defence of their walled towns. It was not following morning Rome was thrown into con-
till they had suffered the most dreadful extremities sternation by the news that Scipio was found dead
of famine that they surrendered the place in the in his room. The most contradictory rumours were
following year, b. č. 133. Fifty of the principal circulated respecting his death, but it was the
inhabitants were selected to adorn Scipio's triumph, general opinion that he was murdered. Some
the rest were sold as slaves, and the town was thought that he died a natural death, and others
levelled to the ground. He now received the that he put an end to his own life, despairing of
surname of Numantinus in addition to that of Afri- being able to carry his proposal through the assem-
canus. While Scipio was employed in the reduction bly on the following day ; but the fact, which is
of Numantia, Rome was convulsed by the dis admitted by all writers, that there was no inquiry
turbances consequent upon the measures proposed into the cause of his death, corroborates the po-
by Tib. Gracchus in his tribunate, and which ended pular opinion that he was murdered. Suspicion
in the murder of the latter. Although Scipio was fell upon various persons; his wife Sempronia
married to Sempronia, the sister of the fallen and her mother Cornelia were suspected by
tribune, he had no sympathy with his reforms, some ; Carbo, Fulvius, and C. Gracchus by others
and no sorrow for his fate ; and upon receiving (Appian, B. C. : i. 19, 20; Vell. Pat. ii. 4 : Plut.
intelligence of his death at Numantin, he is said C. Gracch. 10 ; Schol. Bob. in Mil. p. 283, ed.
to have exclaimed in the verse of Homer. (Od. Orelli). Of all these Papirius Carbo was most
i. 47): –
generally believed to have been guilty, and is er-
“ So perish all who do the like again. "
pressly mentioned as the murderer by Cicero. (Cic.
de Or. ii. 40, ad Fam. ix. 21. § 3, ad Q. Fr. ii.
Upon his return to Rome in B. c. 132, he did not 3. $ 3. )
disguise his sentiments, and when asked in the The character of Scipio is thus described by
assembly of the tribes by C. Papirius Carbo, Niebuhr:- Scipio is one of those characters who
the tribune, who entered upon his office at the have a great reputation in history, which, however,
end of this year, what he thought of the death in my opinion, is not altogether well deserved.
of Tib. Gracchus, he boldly replied that he was He was, it is true, a very eminent general, and
justly slain (jure caesum). The people, who had a great man; he did many a just and praise-
probably expected a different answer from their worthy thing ; but he made a show of his great
favourite general and from the brother-in-law of qualities, and Polybius, his friend and instructor in
their martyred defender, loudly expressed their military matters, who in other respects loves him
disapprobation ; whereupon Scipio, with true aris- very much, shows in his narrative quite clearly
tocratic contempt for the mob, exclaimed “Taceant that the virtues of Scipio were ostentatious. Things
quibus Italia noverca est. ” (Val. Max. vi. 2. § 3 ; which every other good and honest man does
Aurel. Vict. Vir. IU. 58 ; Plut. Tib. Gracche quietly, Scipio boasts of, because they are not
21; Cic. Lael. 25. ) The people did not forget common among his own countrymen. What dis-
this insult, and from this time Scipio lost much of tinguishes him is an unflinching political character :
his influence over them. Still there was a prestige he belonged to those who wished by all means to
attaching to his name which the people could not maintain the state of things such as it actually
divest themselves of, and it was mainly owing to Every thing which existed had in his eyes
his influence and authority that the aristocratical an indisputable right to exist, and he never asked
party were able to defeat the bill of the tribune whether it was right or wrong in its origin, or how
Carbo, by which the same persons were to be detrimental its injustice was to the republic itself. ”
allowed to be elected tribunes as often as the (Lectures on Roman History, vol. i. p. 293, ed.
people pleased (Liv. Epit. 59; Cic. Lael. 25). Schmitz. ) Some deductions, however, should be
Scipio was now regarded as the acknowledged made from this estimate of his political character.
leader of the aristocracy, and the latter resolved to It is true that after his return from Numantia, he
avail themselves of his powerful aid to prevent the opposed with the utmost energy the measures of
agrarian law of Tib. Gracchus from being carried the popular party ; but previous to that time he
into effect. The socii had become already alarmed had recognised the necessity of some concessions
at the prospect of losing some of their lands, and to the popular feeling, and had incurred the serious
Scipio skilfully availed himself of the circumstance displeasure of his own party by supporting in
to propose in the senate, in B. C. 129, that all dis- B. C. 139 the Lex Tabellaria of the tribune
putes respecting the lands of the allies should be L. Cassius Longinus (Cic. Brut. 25, de Leg. iii.
taken out of the hands of the commissioners, 16). Some even went so far as to class him among
who were appointed under the agrarian law of the men of the people (Cic. Acad. ii. 5). With
Tib. Gracchus, and that the decision respecting respect to the literary attainments of Scipio, there
them should be committed to other persons. This was but one opinion in antiquity. He was better
would have been, in effect, equivalent to an abro- acquainted with Greek literature and philosophy
gation of the law; and accordingly Fulvius Flaccus, than any of his contemporaries, unless it were his
Papirius Carbo and C. Gracchus, the three com- friend Laelius. He spoke his own language with
missioners, offered the most vehement opposition purity and elegance (omnium aetatis suae purissime
to his proposal. In the forum he was accused by locutum, Gell. ii. 20), of which we have a striking
Carbo with the hitterest invectives as the enemy confirmation in the report, whether true or false,
of the people, and upon his again expressing his of his having assisted Terence in the composition
approval of the death of Tib. Gracchus, the people of his comedies. He was one of the most dis-
shouted out “Down with the tyrant. ” In the tinguished orators of his day (Cic. Brut. 21, ds
was.
## p. 751 (#767) ############################################
SCIPIO.
781
SCIPIO.
Orat. i. 49; Vell. Pat. ii. 9 ; Quintil. xii. 10. the son of No. 22, was twice consul, censor and
$ 10); and his speeches were admired, as we have pontifex maximus. He inherited froin his father
seen above, down to a late period.
