the whole fuited to the auguft houfe into which he had married. At her death, Scipio made over all those rich poffeffions to Papiria his mother, who having been divorced a confiderable time before by Paulus Emilius, and not being in circumftances to fupport the dignity of her birth, lived in great obfcurity, and never appeared in the affemblies or publick ceremonies. But when the again frequented them with a magnificent train, this noble generofity of Scipio did him great honour, efpecially in the minds of the ladies, who expatiated on it in all their converfations, and in a city, whofe inhabitants, fays Polybius, were not eafily prevailed upon to part with their money. Scipio was no lefs admired on another occafion. He was bound, by a condition in the will, to pay, at three different times, to the two daughters of Scipio his grandfather by adoption, half their portions, which amounted to fifty thousand French crowns. The time for the payment of the first fum being expired, Scipio put the whole money into the hands of a banker. Tiberius Gracchus, and Scipio Nafica, who had married the two fifters, imagining that Scipio had made a mistake, went to him, and obferved, that the laws allowed him three years to pay this fum in, and at three different times. Young Scipio anfwered, that he knew very well what the laws directed on this occafion; that they might indeed be executed in their greatest rigour with ftrangers, but that friends and relations ought to treat one another with a more generous fimplicity; and therefore defired them to receive the whole fum. They were ftruck with fuch admiration at the generofity of their kinfman, that in their return home, they reproached themfelves for their narrow way of thinking, at a time when they made the greateft figure, and had the higheft regard paid to them, of any family in Rome. This generous action, fays Polybius, was the more admired, caufe no perfon in Rome, fo far from confenting to pay fifty thoufand. crowns before they were due, would pay even a thousand before the time for payment was elapfed. It was from the fame noble fpirit, that two years after, Paulus Æmilius his father being dead, he made over to his brother Fabius, who was not fo wealthy as himself, the part of their father's eftate which was his (Scipio's) due, (amounting to above threescore thousand crowns t) in order that there might not be fo great a disparity between his fortune and that of his brother. • Or, 11,250 l. ferling. ↑ Or, 13,500l. ferling. This + Κατεγνωκότες τῆς αὐτῶν μικρολογίας, This Fabius being defirous to exhibit a show of gladiators after his father's decease, in honour of his memory (as was the custom in that age) and not being able to defray the expences on this occafion, which amounted to a very heavy fum, Scipio made him a prefent of fifteen thousand crowns, in order to defray at least half the charges of it. The fplendid prefents which Scipio had made his mother Papiria, reverted to him, by law as well as equity, after her demife; and his fifters, according to the cuftom of thofe times, had not the leaft claim to them. Nevertheless, Scipio thought it would have been dishonourable in him, had he taken them back again. He therefore made over to his fifters, whatever he had prefented to their mother, which amounted to a very confiderable fum; and by this fresh proof of his glorious difregard of wealth, and the tender friendship he had for his family, acquired the applaufe of the whole city. Thefe different benefactions, which amounted all together to a prodigious fum, feem to have received a brighter luftre from the age in which he bestowed them, he being ftill very young; and yet more from the circumstances of the time when they were prefented, as well as the kind and obliging carriage he affumed on those occafions. The incidents I have here given, are fo repugnant to the maxims of this age, that there might be reafon to fear, the reader would confider them merely as the rhetorical flourishes of an hiftorian, who was prejudiced in favour of his heros if it was not well known, that the predominant characteristick of Polybius, by whom they are related, is a fincere love for truth, and an utter averfion to adulation of every kind. In the very paffage whence this relation is extracted, he thought it would be neceffary for him to be a little guarded, where he expatiates on the virtuous actions and rare qualities of Scipio, and he obferves, that as his writings were to be peruf by the Romans, who were perfectly well acquainted with all the particulars of this great man's life, he would certainly be animadverted upon by them, fhould he venture to advance any falfhood; an affront, to which it is not probable that an author, who is ever fo little tender of his reputation, would expose himself, especially if no advantage was to accrue to bin. from it. We have already obferved, that Scipio had never given into the fashionable debaucheries and exceffes to which the young people at Rome fo wantonly abandon themfelves. But he was fufficiently compenfated for this felf-denial of all destructive pleasures, by the vigorous health he enjoyed all the rest of his * Or, 5375 ↳ fterling. life, But above all, how noble a model for our age, (in which the moft inconfiderable and even trifling concerns often create feuds and animofities between brothers and fifters, and disturb the peace of families) is the generous difintereftedness of Scipio, who, whenever he had an opportunity of ferving his relations, took a delight in beftowing the largest fums upon them! This excellent paffage of Polybius had efcaped me, by its not being inferted in the folio edition of his works. It belongs indeed naturally to the book, where, treating of the tafte with regard to folid glory, I mentioned the contempt in which the ancients held riches, and the excellent ufe they made of them. I therefore thought myfelf indifpenfibly obliged to restore, on this occafion, to young ftudents, what I afterwards could not but blame myself for omitting. The HISTORY of the family and pofterity of MAS 1NISSA. I Promifed, after finishing what it tend to the reprisk of Carthage, to return to the family and pofterity of Mafiniffa. This piece of hiftory forms a confiderable part of that of Africa, and therefore is not quite foreign to my fubject. (r) From Mafiniffa's having declared for the Romans in the time of the firft Scipio, he had always adhered to that honourable alliance, with an almoft unparalleled zeal and fidelity. Finding his end approaching, he wrote to the proconful of Africa, under whofe ftandards the younger Scipio then fought, to defire that Roman might be fent to him; adding, that he fhould die with fatisfaction, if he could but expire in his arms, after having made him executor to his will. But believing that he fhould be dead, before it could be poffible for him to receive this confolation, he fent for his wife and children, and spoke to them as follows: "I know no other nation but "the Romans, and, among this nation, no other family but "that of the Scipio's. I now, in my expiring moments, "impower Scipio Emilianus to difpofe, in an abfolute man ner, of all my poffeffions, and to divide my kingdom among "my children. I require, that whatever Scipio may decree, fhall be executed as punctually as if I myself had appointed "it by my will" After faying these words, he breathed his laft, being upwards of ninety years of age. () This prince, during his youth, had met with ftrange reverfes of fortune, having been difpoffeffed of his kingdom, obliged to fly from province to province, and a thousand (r) A. M. 3857. A. Rom. 601. (s) App. p. 65. times App. p. 65. Val. Max. 1. v. c. 2. times in danger of his life. Being fupported, fays the hiftorian, by the divine protection, he was afterwards favoured, till his death, with a perpetual series of profperity, unruffled by any finifter accident: For he not only recovered his own kingdom, but added to it that of Syphax his enemy; and ex. tending his kingdom from Mauritania as far as Cyrene, he became the moft powerful prince of all Africa. He was bleffed, till he left the world, with the greatest health and vigour, which doubtlefs was owing to his extreme temperance, and the toils he perpetually fuftained. Though ninety years of age, he performed all the exercises used by young men, and always rode without a faddle; and Polybius obferves (a circumítance preferved by () Plutarch) that the day after a great victory over the Carthaginians, Mafiniffa was feen, fitting at the door of his tent, eating a piece of brown bread. (u) He left fifty-four fons, of whom three only were legiti mate, viz. Micipfa, Guluffa, and Maftanabal. Scipio divided the kingdom between these three, and gave confiderable poffeffions to the reft: But the two laft dying foon after, Micipfa became fole poffeffor of thefe extenfive dominions. He had two fons, Adherbal and Hiempfal, (whom he educated in his palace with Jugurtha his nephew, Maftanabal's fon) of whom he took as much care as he did of his own children +. This laft mentioned prince poffeffed feveral eminent qualities, which gained him univerfal efteem. Jugurtha, who was finely Shaped, and very handfome, of the most delicate wit, and the moft folid judgment, did not devote himself, as young men commonly do, to a life of luxury and pleasure. He used to exercise himself with perfons of his age, in running, riding, throwing the javelin; and though he furpaffed all his companions, there was not one of them but loved him. The chace was his only delight, but it was that of lions and other favage beafts. To finish his character, he excelled in all things, and spoke very little of himself: Plurimum facere, & minimum ipfe de fe loqui. So confpicuous an affemblage of fine talents and perfections, began to excite the jealoufy of Micipfa. He faw himself in non defcendere; nullo imbre, nullo frigore adduci, ut capite operto fit; fummam effe in eo corporis ficcitatem. Itaque exequi omnia regis offi cia & munera. De Senectute. the (†) An. feni gerenda fit Refp. p. 791. (×) Appian. Val. Max. 1. v. c. 2. * Cicero introduces Cato, peaking as follows of Mafiniffa's vigorous conflitu tion. Arbitror te audire Scipio, hofpes tuus Mafiniffa quæ, faciat hodie nonaginta annos natus; cum ingref. fus iter pedibus fit, in equum omnino non ascendere; cum equo, ex equo | † All this biftory of Jugurtha is ex♣. trafted from Salluft. the decline of life, and his children very young. He knew the prodigious lengths which ambition is capable of going, when a crown is in view; and that a man, with talents much inferior to thofe of Jugurtha, might be dazzled by fo refplendent a temptation, efpecially when united with fuch favourable circumftances. In order therefore to remove a competitor, fo dangerous with regard to his children, he gave Jugurtha the command of the forces which he fent to the affiftance of the Romans, who, at that time, were befieging Numantia, under the conduct of Scipio. Knowing Jugurtha was actuated by the most heroick bravery, he flattered himself, that he probably would rush upon danger, and lofe his life. However, he was mistaken. This young prince joined to an undaunted courage, the utmoft calmness of mind; and, a circumftance very rarely found in perfons of his age, he preferved a juft medium between a timorous forefight, and an impetuous rafhnefs +. In this campaign, he won the esteem and friendship of the whole army. Scipio fent him back to his uncle with letters of recommendation, and the most advantageous teftimonials of his conduct, after having given him very prudent advice with regard to it: For, knowing mankind fo well, he, in all probability, had difcovered certain fparks of ambition in that prince, which he feared would one day break out into a flame. Micipfa, pleafed with the great character that was fent him of his nephew, changed his behaviour towards him, and refolved, if poffible, to win his affection by kindness. Accordingly he adopted him; and by his will, made him joint-heir with his two fons. Finding afterwards his end approaching, he fent for all three, and bid them draw near his bed, where, in prefence of his whole court, he put Jugurtha in mind how good he had been to him; conjuring him, in the name of the gods, to defend and protect on all occafions his children; who, being before related to him by the ties of blood, were now become his brethren, by his (Micipfa's) bounty. He told him, that neither arms nor treasure conftitute the ftrength of a kingdom, Terrebat eum natura mortalium avida imperii, & præceps ad explendam animi cupidinem præterea opportunitas fue liberorumque ætatis, quæ etiam mediocres viros fpe prædæ tranfverfos agit. Salluft. Ac fane, quod difficillimum imprimis eft, & prælio ftrenuus erat, & bonus confilio: quorum alterum ex providentia timorem, alterum ex au dacia temeritatem adferre plerumque folet, Non exercitus, neque thefauri, præfidia regni funt, verum amici: Quos neque armis cogere, neque auro parare queas; officio & fide pariuntur. Quis autem amicior quàm frater fratri aut quem alienum fidem invenics, fi tuis hoftis fueris? |