Fuit enim Scipio non veris tantum virtutibus mirabilis, sed arte quoque quadam ab iuventa in ostentationem earum compositus, pleraque apud multitudinem aut _ut_ per nocturnas visa species aut velut divinitus mente monita agens, sive et ipse capti {5} quadam superstitione animi, sive ut imperia consiliaque velut sorte oraculi missa sine cunctatione exsequerentur. Ad hoc iam inde ab initio praeparans animos, ex quo togam virilem sumpsit, nullo die prius ullam publicam privatamque rem egit, quam {10} in Capitolium iret, ingressusque aedem consideret et plerumque solus in secreto ibi tempus tereret. Hic mos, quem per omnem vitam servabat, seu consulto seu temere vulgatae opinioni fidem apud quosdam fecit, stirpis eum divinae virum esse. Multa alia {15} eiusdem generis, alia vera, alia assimulata, admirationis humanae in eo iuvene excesserant modum; quibus freta tunc civitas aetati haudquaquam maturae tantam rerum molem tantumque imperium permisit. LIVY, xxvi. 19. [Linenotes: 2-3. +in ostentationem earum compositus+ = _he made a study_ (+compositus+) _of displaying them_, implying artificiality. --R. 3-5. +pleraque ... agens+ = _in most of his dealings_ (+pleraque agens+) _with the mob (representing his plans) as inspired_ (+visa+) _by visions in the night or as matters of inspiration_ (+divinitus mente monita+). 7. +sorte+ = _by an oracular response_ (which was often written on a little tablet or _lot_, +sors+). 11. +aedem+, i.e. the _cella_ (_chapel_, the part enclosed within the four side-walls) of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. 13-14. +seu consulto seu temere vulgatae+ = _whether designedly or undesignedly spread abroad_. 17. +humanae+ = _which one has for a mere man_. --Rawlins. 19. +tantam rerum molem+ = _so stupendous a task_. --R. In 212 or 211 B.C. the two brothers, Publius and Gnaeus Scipio, were totally defeated by Hasdrubal and fell at the head of their troops. Scipio, son of this P. Scipio, was in 210 B.C. sent to Spain, at the age of 27, as proconsul in command of a reinforcement of 11,000 men.] +Character of Scipio.+ ‘He was a man far above the average of his contemporaries, and possessed a greatness of mind which could not fail to rivet attention. He differed from the majority of generals by not only daring to conceive bold plans, but by contriving to carry them out.’ --Ihne. C34 SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C. _Scipio takes New Carthage, 210 B.C._