Quid enim monstro similius quam superioris Africani filius Scipio, qui in tanta domestica gloria ortus a parvulo admodum regis Antiochi praesidio capi sustinuit, cum ei voluntaria morte absumi satius fuerit quam inter duo fulgentissima cognomina patris et patrui, altero [maiori] oppressa Africa iam parto, altero maiore ex parte recuperata Asia surgere incipiente, manus vinciendas hosti tradere eiusque beneficio precarium spiritum obtinere de quo mox L. Scipio speciosissimum deorum hominumque oculis subiecturus erat triumphum.
For what is closer to a portent than Scipio, son of the elder Africanus? Born into so much domestic glory, he let himself be captured by a tiny detachment of king Antiochus men, although it would have been better for him to be carried off by a voluntary death (coming as he did between the two resplendent surnames of his father and his uncle, one already gained by the crushing of Africa, the other starting its ascent with Asia in greater part recovered) than to surrender his hands to the enemy to be bound and to draw precarious breath by benefit of one over whom L. Scipio would presently display a splendid triumph before the eyes of gods and men.
final_alignments\Valerius_Memorable_Book3.json