Scipio Africanus

Like many warlike people, the Romans, when their work was accomplished and the world was at their feet, had rested contentedly from their labors and abandoned themselves to pleasure that wealth and security permit.

They were no longer the brave, stern men who lived simple lives and left the plowshare to wield the sword when a Scipio or a Caesar summoned them to defend their country or to conquer a continent.

In Spain, the richer classes were given over to luxury and sensuality.

They lived only for eating and drinking, gambling and all kinds of excitement.

and of a truth it is reported of the great-grandfather of our fabius that though he had the greatest reputation and influence in rome and though he had himself been consul five times and had celebrated the most splendid triumphs for the greatest wars he nevertheless when his son was consul went forth to war with him as his lieutenant and in the triumph that followed while the son entered the city on a four-horse chariot the father followed on horseback with the rest of the train exulting in the fact that though he was master of his son and was the greatest of the citizens both in name and in fact he yet put himself beneath the law and its official however this was not the only admirable thing about him but the son of our fabius as it happened died and this affliction he bore with equanimity like a wise man and a good father the funeral oration, which is pronounced at the obsequies of illustrious men by some kinsmen, he delivered himself from his place in the forum, and then wrote out the speech and published it.

But now Cornelius Scipio was sent into Spain, where he not only conquered the Carthaginians in many battles, and drove them out of the country, but also won over a multitude of nations, and took great cities with splendid spoils, so that on his return to Rome, he enjoyed an incomparable favor and fame, and was made consul.

Perceiving that the people demanded and expected a great achievement from him, he regarded the hand-to-hand struggle with Hannibal there in Italy as very antiquated and senile policy, and purposed to fill Libya at once, and the territory of Carthage itself, with Roman arms and soldiery, and ravage them, and thus to transfer the war from Italy thither.

To this policy he urged the people with all his soul.

But just at this point Fabius tried to fill the city with all sorts of fear.

They were hurrying, he said, under the guidance of a foolhardy young man, into the remotest and greatest peril, and he spared neither word nor deed which he thought might defer the citizens from this course.

He brought the senate over to his views, but the people thought that he attacked Scipio through jealousy of his success, and that he was afraid lest, if Scipio performed some great and glorious exploit, and either put an end to the war entirely, or removed it out of Italy, his own failure to end the war after all these years would be attributed to sloth and cowardice.

Now it is likely that Fabius began this opposition out of his great caution and prudence, in fear of the danger, which was great, but that he grew more violent and went to greater lengths in his opposition out of ambition and rivalry, in an attempt to check the rising influence of Scipio.

The Romans also, for many ages, trained up only to a military roughness resembling most the Lacedaemonian guys, knew of learning little but what their twelve tables and the pontific college with their augurs and flamens taught them in religion and law, so unacquainted with other learning that when Carnades and Critolaus with the Stoic Diogenes, coming ambassadors to Rome, took thereby occasion to give the city a taste of their philosophy, they were suspected for seducers by no less a man than Cato the Censor, who moved it in the Senate to dismiss them speedily and to banish all such Attic babblers out of Italy.

But Scipio and others of the noblest senators withstood him and his old Sabine austerity, honored and admired the men, and the Censor himself at last, in his old age, fell to the study of that whereof before he was so scrupulous.

And yet, at the same time, Naevius and Plautus, the first Latin comedians, had filled the city with all the borrowed scenes of Menander and Philemon.

Then began to be considered there also what was to be done to libelous books and authors, for Naevius was quickly cast into prison for his unbridled pen, and released by the tribunes upon his recantation.

Yeah, I think that's probably the best views I've got ever on that channel was Hannibal of Carthage.

Me and Kyle, it's like five hours, isn't it? Two videos, two and a half hours apiece, talking about the Second Punic War and Hannibal of Carthage versus Rome, ultimately versus Scipio Africanus.

Harry, cut to that camera.

Cut to that one.

Yeah, history, bro.

You want five hours of me and Kyle talking in extreme detail about the Second Punic War and Hannibal of Carthage, Scipio Africanus, quoting like Polybius and everything.

Proper.

It's there.

Yeah, I think that's probably the best views I've got ever on that channel was Hannibal of Carthage.

Me and Kyle, it's like five hours, isn't it? Two videos, two and a half hours apiece, talking about the Second Punic War and Hannibal of Carthage versus Rome, ultimately versus Scipio Africanus.

Harry, cut to that camera.

Cut to that one.

Yeah, history, bro.

You want five hours of me and Kyle talking in extreme detail about the Second Punic War and Hannibal of Carthage, Scipio Africanus, quoting like Polybius and everything.

Proper.

It's there.