38.54
With
the death of Africanus the courage of his enemies rose. The foremost of
these was M. Porcius Cato, who even during Scipio's lifetime was constantly
belittling his greatness, and it was at his instigation, it was thought, that the
Petillii attacked him whilst he was alive. After his death they introduced into
the Assembly the following motion: "Touching the money which was seized,
confiscated and exacted from Antiochus and his subjects, is it your will and
pleasure, Quirites, that in respect of such money as has not been accounted
for to the State, the City praetor Servius Sulpicius shall consult the senate as
to which of the acting praetors it shall appoint to investigate the matter?"
The two Mummii, Quintus and Lucius, interposed their veto to this proposal;
they considered that where money had not been accounted for to the State, it
was only right and proper that the senate should conduct such investigation
as it always had done previously. The Petillii accused the nobility and the
despotic power which the Scipios possessed over the senate. L. Furius
Purpurio, a man of consular rank, one of the ten commissioners, thought that
the inquiry ought to go further. By way of damaging his enemy Cn. Manlius,
he suggested that it ought to include not only the amount taken from
Antiochus, but all that had been taken from other kings and nations. L.
Scipio, who it was evident would speak more in his own defence than
against the proposal, came forward to oppose it. He protested strongly
against this question being raised after the death of his brother P. Africanus,
of all men the bravest and most illustrious. No public eulogium had been
made over him when he died, but that was not enough, now accusations
must be levelled at him. Even the Carthaginians were content with banishing
Hannibal; the Roman people were not satisfied with the death of Africanus,
but his reputation must be torn to pieces over his tomb, and as an
aggravation of malice, his brother also must be sacrificed. M. Cato
supported the motion; his speech, "Concerning the money of King
Antiochus," is still extant. The weight of his authority deterred the Mummii
from opposing it, and as these withdrew their veto, the proposal was earned
by the unanimous vote of the Tribes.
