38.51
In
order to support the charges they were bringing against him, the tribunes
brought up the old story of his luxurious living in his winter quarters in
Syracuse and the disturbance created by Pleminius at Locri. They then went
on to accuse him of having received bribes, more on grounds of suspicion
than by direct proof; they alleged that his son who was taken prisoner was
restored to him without ransom; that Antiochus had in every way tried to
ingratiate himself with Scipio as though peace and war with Rome were
solely in his hands; that Scipio had behaved towards the consul in his
province as dictator rather than subordinate; that he had gone out with no
other object than to make clear to Greece and Asia and all the kings and
nationalities in the East what had long been the settled conviction of Spain
and Gaul and Sicily and Africa, that he alone was the head and mainstay of
Roman sovereignty; that under Scipio's shadow the mistress city of the
world lay sheltered and that his nod took the place of the decrees of the
senate and the orders of the people. No stigma of disgrace could be fastened
upon him, so they did their utmost to excite popular odium against him. As
the speeches went on till night, the proceedings were adjourned. When the
next day for the hearing came, the tribunes took their seats on the Rostra at
daybreak. The defendant was summoned, and passing through the middle of
the Assembly accompanied by a large body of friends and clients, stood
before the Rostra. Silence having been called he spoke as follows:
"Tribunes of the plebs, and you, Quirites, this is the anniversary of
the day on which I fought with success and good fortune a pitched battle
against Hannibal and the Carthaginians. It is therefore only right and fitting
that on this day all pleas and actions should be suspended. I am going at
once to the Capitol and the Citadel to make my devotions to Jupiter Optimus
Maximus, and Juno and Minerva and all the other tutelar deities of the
Capitol and the Citadel, and to offer up thanksgivings to them for having
given me as on this day the wisdom and the strength to do the Republic
exceptional service. Those of you, Quirites, who are at liberty to do so,
come with me. You have always from my seventeenth year down to this
period of my old age advanced me to honours before I was of the age for
them, and I have always forestalled your honours by my services; then pray
now to the gods that you may always have leaders like me." From the Rostra
he went straight up to the Capitol, and the whole Assembly turning their
backs on the tribunes followed him; even the secretaries and apparitors left
the tribunes; there was no one with them except their attendant slaves and
the usher who used to stand at the Rostra and call the defendants. Scipio not
only went up to the Capitol; he visited all the temples throughout the City,
accompanied by the Roman people. The enthusiasm of the citizens and their
recognition of his real greatness made that day almost a more glorious one
for him than when he entered the City in triumph after his victories over
Syphax and the Carthaginians.
