ABSTRACT
This may truely be sayd of Annibal, that he obtayned many great victories in the warres, but yet they turned to the destruction of his contry. Scipio in contrary manner did preserve his contry in such safetie, and also did so much increase the dominions thereof: that as many as shalllooke into his desert, they can not but call Rome unthankefull, which liked rather that the African (preserver of the citie) should goe out of Rome, then that they would represse the fury and insolency of a few. And for myne owne opinion, I can not thinke well of that citie, that so unthankfully hath suffred so worthy and innocent a person to be injured: and so would I also have thought it more blame worthy, if the citie had bene an ayder of the injurye offred him. In fine, the Senate (as all men doe report) gave great thankes unto Tiberius Gracchus, bicause he did defend the Scipions cause, and the common people also, following the African, when he visited all the temples of Rome, and left the Tribunes alone that accused him, did thereby shewe how much they did love and honor the name of the Scipioes. And therefore, if we should judge the Citizens harts and good wills by those things, men would rather condemne them for cowards, to have suffered such outrage, then unthankfull for forgetting of his benefits: for there were very few that consented to so wicked a deede, and all of them in manner were very sory for it. Howbeit Scipio, that was a man of a great minde, not much regarding the malice of his enemies, was content rather to leave the citie, then by civill warres to destroy it. For he would not come against his contry with ensignes displaied, nether would he solicite straunge nations and mighty kings to come with force, and their ayde, to destroy the citie, the which he had beautified with so many spoyles and triumphes: as Martius Coriolanus, Alcibiades, and divers others did, by record of auncient stories. For we may easily perceive howe carefull he was to preserve the libertie of Rome, bicause when he was in Spayne, he refused the title and name of king which was off red him: and for that he was marvelous angry with the people of Rome, bicause they would have made him perpetuall Consul and Dictator: and considering also that he com-
79 maunded they should set up no statue of him, nether in the place of the assembly, nor in the judgement seate nor in the Capitoll. All which honors afterwardes were given by the Citizens unto Cresar, that had overcomen Pompey. These were the civill vertues of the African, which were great and true prayses of continency.
