fome fort, wrong, if it were not that duty to "worthy of you and of me. The only reparents is the first law of nature. Val. Max. Plin. §71. The Continence of SCIPIO AFRI

CANUS.

turn I ask of you for this favour is, that 66 you will be a friend to the Roman people; "and that, if you believe me to be a man of "worth, as the states of Spain formerly ex"perienced my father and uncle to be, you The foldiers, after the taking of New may know there are many in Rome who Carthage, brought before Scipio a young lady" refemble us; and that there are not a peoof fuch diftinguithed beauty, that the attracted "ple in the univerfe, whom you ought lefs the eyes of all wherever the went. Scipio," to defire to be an enemy, or more a friend, by enquiring concerning her country and pa- "to you or yours." The youth, covered rents, among other things learned, that the with blushes, and full of joy, embraced was betrothed to Allucius, prince of the Celti-Scipio's hands, praying the immortal gods to berians. He immediately ordered her parents reward him, as he himself was not capable and bridegroom to be fent for. In the mean to do it in the degree he himself defired, or time he was informed, that the young prince he deferved. Then the parents and relations was fo exceffively enamoured of his bride, of the virgin were called. They had brought that he could not furvive the lofs of her. a great fum of money to ranfom her. But For this reafon, as foon as he appeared, and feeing her reftored without it, they began to Lefore he spoke to her parents, he took great beg Scipio to accept that fum as a prefent; care to talk with him. "As you and I are protefting they would acknowledge it as a "both young," faid he, "we can converfe favour, as much as they did the restoring the together with greater freedom. When your virgin, without injury offered her. Scipio, "bride, who had fallen into the hands of unable to refift their importunate folicitations, "my foldiers, was brought before me, I was told them, he accepted it; and ordering it to "informed that you loved her paffionately; be laid at his feet, thus addreffed Allucius: " and, in truth, her perfect beauty left me "To the portion you are to receive from no room to doubt of it. If I were at liberty" your father-in-law, I add this, and beg "to indulge a youthful paffion, I mean ho- you would accept it as a nuptial prefent.' "nourable and lawful wedlock, and were So he defired him to take up the gold, and "not folely engroffed by the affairs of my keep it for himself. Tranfported with joy at "republic, I might have hoped to have been the prefents and honours conferred on him, "pardoned my exceffive love for fo charming he returned home, and expatiated to his coun"a mistress. But as I am fituated, and trymen on the merits of Scipio. "There is "have it in my power, with pleasure I pro- "come amongst us," faid he," a young "mote your happiness. Your future spouse "hero, like the gods, who conquers all "has met with as civil and modeft treatment "things, as well by generofity and benefi"from me, as if the had been amongst her "cence, as by arms." For this reafon, hav"own parents, who are foon to be yours ing raifed troops among his own fubjects, he too. I have kept her pure, in order to returned a few days after to Scipio with a "have it in my power to make you a prefent body of 1400 horfe. Livy. 13

§ 72.

(6 more elegance and tafte. Divided between arms and books, between the military la"bours of the camp, and the peaceful oc"cupations of the clofet, he either exercised "his body in the dangers and fatigues of war, or his mind in the study of the sciences"."

The taking of Numantia, which terminated a war that difgraced the Roman name, completed Scipio's military exploits. But, in order to have a more perfect idea of his merit" and character, it seems that, after having seen him at the head of armies, in the tumult of battles, and in the pomp of triumphs, it will not be loft labour to confider him in the repofe of a private life, in the midft of his friends, family, and household. The truly great man ought to be fo in all things. The magiftrate, general, and prince, may conftrain themfelves, whilft they are in a manner exhibiting themfelves as fpectacles to the public, and appear quite different from what they really are. But, reduced to themfelves, and without the witneffes who force them to wear the mafk, all their luftre, like the pomp of the theatre, often abandons them, and leaves little more to be seen in them than meannefs and narrownefs of mind.

Scipio did not depart from himself in any refpect. He was not like certain paintings, that are to be feen only at a distance: he could not but gain by a nearer view. The excellent education which he had had, through the care of his father Paulus Æmilius, who had provided him with the most learned mafters of thofe times, as well in polite learning as the fciences; and the instructions he had received from Polybius, enabled him to fill up the vacant hours he had from public affairs | profitably, and to fupport the leisure of a private life, with pleafure and dignity. This is the glorious teftimony given of him by an hiftorian: "Nobody knew better how to "mingle leifure and action, nor to use the "intervals of reft from public business with

The firft Scipio Africanus ufed to fay, That he was never lefs idle, than when at leifure, nor lefs alone, than when alone. A fine faying, cries Cicero, and well worthy of that great man. And it fhews, that, even, when inactive, he was always employed; and that when alone, he knew how to converse with himfelf. A very extraordinary difpofition in perfons accustomed to motion and agitation, whom leifure and folitude, when they are reduced to them, plunge into a difguft for every thing, and fill with melancholy; fo that they are difpleafed in every thing with themselves, and fink under the heavy burden of having nothing to do. This faying of the firft Scipio, feems to me to fuit the fecond ftill better, who, having the advantage of the other, by being educated in a talte for polite learning and the fciences, found in that a great resource against the inconvenience of which we have been fpeaking. Befides which, having ufually Polybius and Panatius with him, even in the field, it is easy to judge that his house was open, in times of peace, to all the learned. Every body knows, that the comedies of Terence, the most accomplished work of that kind Rome ever produced, for natural elegance and beauties, are afcribed to him and Lalius, of whom we shall foon fpeak, It was publicly enough reported, that they affifted that poet in the compofition of his pieces; and Terence himself makes it an

Velleius Paterculus,

honour

Viriathus. As to the talents of the mind, the fuperiority, in respect of cloquence, feems to have been given to Lælius; though Cicero does not agree that it was due to him, and fays, that Lælius's style favoured more of the ancient manner, and had fomething lefs agreeable in it than that of Scipio.

honour to him in the prologue to the Adelphi. I fhall undoubtedly not advise any body, and leaft of all perfons of Scipio's rank, to write comedies. But on this occafion, let us only confider tafte in general for letters. Is there a more ingenious, a more affecting pleafure, and one more worthy of a wife and virtuous man, I might perhaps add, or one more ne- Let us hear Lælius himself (that is, the ceffary to a military perfon, than that which words Cicero puts into his mouth) upon the refults from reading works of wit, and from ftrict union which fubfifted between Scipio the converfation of the learned? Providence and him. "As for me," fays Lælius, "of thought fit, according to the observation of a "all the gifts of nature or fortune, there are Pagan, that he should be above those trivial none, I think, comparable to the happiness pleafures, to which perfons without letters," of having Scipio for my friend. I found knowledge, curiofity, and tafte for reading," in our friendship a perfect conformity of "fentiments in refpect to public affairs; an Another kind of pleasure, still more fen- " inexhaustible fund of counfels and fupports fible, more warm, more natural, and more "in private life; with a tranquillity and deimplanted in the heart of man, conftituted the "light not to be expreffed. I never gave greateft felicity of Scipio's life; this was that "Scipio the leaft offence, to my knowledge, of friendship; a pleasure seldom known by 66 nor ever heard a word escape him that did great perfons or princes; because, generally not please me. We had but one houfe, loving only themfelves, they do not deferve" and one table, at our common expence, the to have friends. However, this is the most "frugality of which was equally the taste of grateful tie of human felicity; fo that the poet "both. In war, in travelling, in the counEnnius fays, with great reafon, that to live try, we were always together. I do not without friends is not to live. Scipio had "mention our ftudies, and the attention of undoubtedly a great number of them, and" us both always to learn fomething; this thofe very illuftrious: but I thall fpeak here "was the employment of all our leifure only of Lælius, whofe probity and prudence "hours, removed from the fight and comacquired him the furname of the Wife. "merce of the world."

are obliged to give themselves up.

Never, perhaps, were two friends better fuited to each other than thofe great men. They were almoft of the fame age, and had the fame inclination, benevolence of mind, taffe for learning of all kinds, principles of government, and zeal for the public good. Scipio, no doubt, took place in point of military glory; but Lælius did not want merit of that kind; and Cicero tells us, that he fignalized himself very much in the war with

66

What highly exalts the value of the friend- come to their knowledge. They acquitted ship we speak of, was its not being founded themselves with fo much equity, wildom, and at all upon intereft, but folely upon eftcem for ability, and did fuch great fervices to thofe to each other's virtues. "What occafion," whom they were fent, in re-establishing order fays Lælius," could Scipio have of me amongst them, and in accommodating their "Undoubtedly none; nor I of him. But differences, that, when they returned to "my attachment to him was the effect of Rome, ambaffadors arrived there from all my high esteem and admiration of his the parts where they had been, to thank the "virtues; and his to me arofe from the fenate for having fent perfons of such great "favourable idea of my character and man-merit to them, whofe wisdom and goodness "ners. This friendship increafed afterwards 66 upon both fides by habit and commerce. "We both, indeed, derived great advantages "from it; but thofe were not our view, "when we began to love each other."

66

I cannot place the famous embaffy of Scipio Africanus into the Eaft and Egypt, better than here; we fhall fee the fame tafte of fimplicity and modefty, as we have juft been reprefenting in his private life, thine out in it. It was a maxim with the Romans, frequently to fend ambassadors to their allies, to take cognizance of their affairs, and to accommodate their differences. It was with this view, that three illuftrious perfons, P. Scipio Africanus, Sp. Mummius, and L. Metellus, were fent into Egypt, where Ptolemy Phyfcon then reigned, the most cruel tyrant mentioned in hiftory. They had orders to go from thence to Syria, which the indolence, and afterwards the captivity of Demetrius Nicanor amongst the Parthians, made a prey to troubles, factions, and revolts. They were next to vifit Afia Minor, and Greece; to infpect into the affairs of those countries; to enquire in what manner the treaties made with the Romans were obferved; and to remedy, as far as poffible, all the diforders that should

END OF THE

they could not fufficiently commend.

The first place to which they went, according to their inftructions, was Alexandria. The king received them with great magnificence. As for them, they affected it fo little, that at their entry, Scipio, who was the richcft and moft powerful perfon of Rome, had only one friend, the philofopher Panatius, with him, and five domeftics. His victories, fays an ancient writer, and not his attendants, were confidered; and his perfonal virtues and qualities were esteemed in him, and not the glitter of gold and filver.

Though, during their whole stay in Egypt, the king caufed their table to be covered with the moft exquifite provifions of every kind, they never touched any but the moft fimple and common, defpifing all the rest, which only ferve to foften the mind, and enervate the body.-But, on fuch occafions, ought not the ambaffadors of fo powerful a state as Rome to have fuftained its reputation of majesty in a foreign nation, by appearing in public with a numerous train and magnificent equipages? This was not the taste of the Romans, that is, of the people that, among all the nations of the earth, thought the moft justly of true greatnefs and folid glory. Rollin

SECOND воок.

THE

PROSE EPITOM E;

OR,

ELEGANT EXTRACTS ABRIDGED, &c.

BOOK III. ORATIONS, CHARACTERS, &c.