they were the wives and mothers of his own guests. L: Soon afterwards an adult maiden who had been captured was brouzht to him by the soldiers. a girl or sucn exceptional beauty that she attracted the eyes of all wherever she moved. On enquiring as to her countrv and Darentaze. Scipio learnt. .少a呀J .， amongst other things. that she had been betrothed to a young V毛.刀， Celtiberian noble named Aluccius. He at once sent for her parents ana also for ner vetrotnea, wno, ne learnt, was pining to death through love of her. On the arrival of the latter Scipio addressed him in more studied terms than a father would use. “A young man myself," he said,“I am addressing myself to a young man, so we may lay aside all reserve. When betro比ed had been taken by my soldiers and brou ght to me, I was informed that she was verv dear to you. 护d her beauty J‘， made me believe it. Were I allowed the pleasures suitable to my age, especially those of chaste and lawful love, instead of being preoccupied with affairs of state, I should wish that I might be forgiven for loving too ardently. Now I have the power to indulge another's love, namely yours. Your betrothed has received the same respectful treatment since she has been in my power that she would have met with from her own parents. She has been reserved for you, in order that she might be given to you as a gift inviolate and‘worthy of us both. In return for that boon I stipulate for this one reward--that you will be a friend to Rome. If you believe me to be an upright and honourable man such as the nations here found my father and uncle to be, you may rest assured that there are many in Rome like us, and 'you may be perfectly certain that nowhere in the world can any people be named whom you would less wish to have as a foe to you and yours, or whom you would more desire as a friend." The young man was( with bashfulness and joy. He grasped Scipio's hand, and besought all the gods to recompense him, for i. t was quite impossible for him to make any return adequate to his own feelings.or the kindness Scinio had shown him. Then the girl's parents and relatives were called. They had brought a large amount of gold for her ransom n, and when she was freely Piven back to them.thev be 991 ed Scipio to accept 口一、J / d it as a gift from them; his doing so they de clared.would evoke ，舀..一v~‘勺甘，，.“ as much gratitude as the restoration of the maiden unhurt. As they urged their req ;twith great importunity, Scipio said that he would accept it. and ordered it to be laid at his feet. L， Callinz -Aluccius。he said to him:“ In addition to the dowry ‘J， which you are to receive from your future father-in-law you will now receive this from me as a， wedding present." '20 - . .取then told him to take up the gold and keep it. Delighted with the present and the honourable treatment he had received. J‘了 young man returned home, and filled the ears of his coun men with justly-earned praises of Scipio. A young man come amonLy them.he declared ，in all ways like the gods, his way everywhere by his generosity and goodness of heart as much as by the might of his arms. He began to enlist a body