them, and he was listened to without any impatience because they were recounted not in self-glorification but in self-defence. LL In order to support the charges they were bringing against him, the tribunes brought up the old story of his luxurious living in his winter quarters in Syracuse and the disturbance created by Pleminius at Locri. They then went on to accuse him of having received bribes, more on grounds of suspicion than by direct proof;they alleged that his son who was taken prisoner was restored to him without ransom;that Antiochus had in every way tried to ingratiate himself with Scipio as though peace and war with Rome were solely in his hands;that Scipio had behaved towards the consul in his province as dictator rather than subordinate;that he had gone out with no other object than to make clear to Greece and Asia and all the kings and nationalities in the East what had long been the settled conviction of Spain and Gaul and Sicily and Africa, that he alone was the head and mainstay of Roman sovereignty;that under Scipio's shadow the mistress city of the world lay sheltered and that his nod took the place of the decrees of the senate and the orders of the people. d upon him, so they against him. As the speeches went on till night, the proceedings were adjourned. When the next day for the hearing came, the tribunes took their seats on the Rostra at daybreak. The defendant was summoned, and passing through the middle of the Assembly accompanied by a large body of friends and clients, stood before the Rostra. Silence having been called he spoke as follows: “Tribunes of the plebs, and you, Quirites, this is the anniversary of the day on which I fought with success and good fortune a pitched battle against Hannibal and the Carthaginians. It is therefore onlv right and fittinv that on this day all pleas and actions should pe suspenaea.-- 1 am going at once to the Capitol and the Citadel to make my devotions to Jupiter Optimus Maximus, and Juno and Minerva and all the other tutelar deities of the Capitol and the Citadel, and to offer up thanksgivings to them for having given me as on this day the wisdom and the strength to do the Republic exceptional service. Those of you, Quirites, who are at liberty to do so, come with me. You have always from my seventeenth year down to e to honours before I was this period of my old age advanced mof the age for them, and I have alwayby my services; then pray now to thehave leaders like me." s forestalled your honours gods that you may always From the Rostra he went straight up to the Capitol, and the whole Assembly turning their backs on. the. tribunes followed him:even the secretaries and apparitors left the tribunes;there was no one with them except their attendant slaves and_ the usner who used to stand at the长ostra and call the deiendants. 6cxpio up to the Capitol he visited all the temples The throughout the City, accompanied by theC Roman people.enthusiasm of the citizens and their recognition of his real than greatness made that daywhen he entered the Ci黯t a more glorious one for himtriumph after his victories over Syphax and the Carthaginians.