The History of Rome, Books 37 to the End: with the Epitomes and Fragments of the Lost BooksLivy
History
The History of Rome, Books 37 to the End: with the Epitomes and Fragments of the Lost Books
Livy
Rome -- History
brought two hundred millions[39] into the treasury. From the same
confidence of spirit, when the quæstors would not venture to bring money
out of the coffers contrary to law, he demanded the keys of the
treasury, declaring that he would open it as he had caused it to be
shut.
56. Many other things are at variance respecting the latter part,
particularly, of Scipio’s life, that is to say, his trial death,
funeral, and sepulchre, so that I cannot determine which tradition or
which writings I ought to credit. Writers do not agree as to his
accuser; some affirming that Marcus Nævius, others that the Petillii,
instituted the prosecution; neither are they agreed as to the time when
it was carried on; nor the year in which he died; nor the place; nor
where he was buried. Some assert, that he died and was buried at Rome;
others, at Liternum; and in both places memorials and statues of him are
shown. For at Liternum there was a monument, and on it stood his statue,
which we in person lately saw cast down by a storm. At Rome likewise, on
a monument of the Scipios outside the Capuan gate, are three statues,
two of which are said to be those of Publius and Lucius Scipio, and the
third that of the poet Quintus Ennius. Nor do these differences exist
between historians only; the speeches attributed to Publius Scipio and
Tiberius Gracchus, if they really are theirs, differ widely from one
another. The title of Publius Scipio’s speech bears the name of Marcus
Nævius, the tribune of the commons; the speech itself does not furnish
the name of the prosecutor; it only calls him sometimes a knave,
sometimes a trifler. Even the speech of Gracchus makes no mention of the
Petillii accusing Africanus, or of the prosecution carried on against
him. An entirely different story must be framed consistent with the
speech of Gracchus; and those writers must be followed who affirm, that,
at the time when Lucius Scipio was impeached, and convicted of having
taken money from the king, Africanus was a lieutenant-general in
Etruria; whence, on hearing of this misfortune, throwing up his
commission, he hastened to Rome; and when he came straight from the gate
to the forum, because he was told that his brother was being led into
confinement, he drove away the officer from his person; and, on the
tribunes attempting to detain him, laid violent hands on them, showing
more affection towards his brother than regard for the laws. Of these
acts, Gracchus himself complained, saying, that the tribunitian power
was annulled by a private person; and at last, when he promises support
to Lucius Scipio, he adds, that the precedent would be more tolerable,
if both the tribunitian authority and the state appeared to be
overpowered by a tribune of the commons, than if by a private citizen.
But he loaded him with reproaches for this signal instance of
intemperate violence, in such a manner, that while he charged him with
having degenerated so far from himself, he gave to him his
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