[XXI.]
Concessive clauses with cum; genitive of characteristic; causal relative clauses;
gerundive with ad; accusative of extent.
1. Scipio would have been slain in the battle at the river Ticinus, if his son Publius had not rescued him. 2. When Publius Scipio was not yet twenty years old, he thought that he was old enough [had enough of years] to be a candidate for[1] the aedileship. 3. After the battle of Cannae, some young men of rank began to form plans for abandoning Italy. 4. Scipio hastened to their meeting-place, and, although[2] he was alone, he forced them to give[3] up their conspiracy.[3] 5. After the Romans had suffered two defeats in Spain, Scipio was chosen proconsul and sent thither. 6. Here he prosecuted the war with such wisdom and bravery that he earned the approval of all. 7. Do you not think that he was worthy of the honor? 8. He gained possession of a large amount of money and arms, but let the Spanish captives go without ransom. 9. He did not doubt that in this way he would secure for the Romans the favor of the Spanish [conciliate the Spanish to the Romans]. 10. Among the captive Africans he found a boy of remarkable beauty,[4] who said that his grandfather was the king of Numidia, and that he had crossed over into Spain with his uncle Masinissa to carry on war with the Romans. 11. Scipio freed the boy, and thus won the favor of the Numidian king. 12. When the Spaniards wanted to call Scipio king, he asked them to refrain from that title. 13. After Hannibal had been driven from Spain, Scipio, who had[5] long been planning to transfer the war to Africa, sent Laelius, whose[6] friendship he did not mistrust, to win over some of the African chiefs. 14. Afterwards he crossed over to Africa himself, and it is said that he met Hannibal [to him a meeting with Hannibal to have been] at the court of Syphax. 15. It happened that many of those chiefs were eager to form an alliance with Scipio. 16. His plan, therefore, was easily carried out. 17. Although the young men of Sicily shrank from so great a war themselves, still they were willing to furnish horses and arms. 18. Although they were wealthy, they were not (men) of great bravery. 19. In Africa the Romans fought with such determination that in a short time the Carthaginians recalled Hannibal from Italy to defend his country. 20. A battle was fought [it was fought] at Zama, a town five days’ march from Carthage. 21. The Carthaginians were defeated, and forced to send ambassadors to sue for peace. 22. As peace was now secured, Scipio returned to Italy. 23. On[7] his arrival in Rome a vast multitude poured forth to meet him. 24. Scipio was not only the most illustrious general of his age, but he was also a man distinguished for [of distinguished] piety.[8] 25. The old writers say that he used to visit [resort to] the capitol every day, to consult with Jupiter about the public interests. 26. At Ephesus he[9] afterwards had a conversation with Hannibal. 27. It is reported that Hannibal acknowledged that Scipio was the greatest of all commanders. 28. When the senate seemed on the point[10] of transferring the conduct of the war against Antiochus from Lucius Scipio to Laelius, because (as was thought) the former[11] had too little courage and too little wisdom for such a war, Africanus promised to be himself his brother’s lieutenant. 29. Scipio could endure no dishonor to his family. 30. After Antiochus had been defeated, when the senate demanded from Lucius Scipio an accounting of the spoils, Africanus prevented it. 31. He said that he had been of [for] so great aid to his country that his integrity ought not to be doubted. 32. It happened that Africanus himself was afterwards summoned for trial by the tribunes on the very day on which the battle of Zama had been fought.[12] 33. When ordered to plead his cause, he mounted the rostrum and said: “Let us offer thanks to Jupiter, by whose aid we obtained[13] so great a victory.” 34. As the whole assembly followed him he was relieved from the insults of the tribunes. 35. Soon afterward Scipio retired to the country and never returned to Rome.
[1] Use ad with gerundive or gerund.
[2] H. 598 (515, III); M. 863; A. 326; G. 587; B. 309, 3.
[3] Cf. inceptō dēsisterent, [l. 14].
[4] Cf. lines 51 and 64.
[5] See [p. 56, n. 6].
[6] See [p. 55, n. 8].
[7] See [XIII, l. 59].
[8] religiō.