xquisite beauty, that whichever way she walked she
attracted the eyes of every body. Scipio, on making inquiries as to
her country and parentage, heard, among other particulars, that she
was betrothed to a young prince of the Celtiberians, named Allucius.
He immediately, therefore, summoned from their abode her parents and
lover, and having heard in the mean time that the latter was
desperately enamoured of her, as soon as he arrived he addressed him
in a more studied manner than her parents. "A young man myself," said
he, "I address myself to a young man, and therefore there need be the
less reserve in this conversation. As soon as your intended bride,
having been captured by my soldiers, was brought into my presence, and
I was informed that she was endeared to you, which her beauty rendered
probable, considering that I should myself wish that my affection for
my intended bride, though excessive, should meet with indulgence,
could I enjoy the pleasures suited to my age, (particularly in an
honourable and lawful love,) and were not my mind engrossed by public
affairs, I indulge as far as I can your passion. Your mistress, while
under my protection, has received as much respect as under the roof of
her own parents, your father-in-law and mother-in-law. She has been
kept in perfect safety for you, that she might be presented to you
pure, a gift worthy of me and of you. This only reward I bargain for
in return for the service I have rendered you, that you would be a
friend to the Roman people, and if you believe that I am a true man,
as these nations knew my father and uncle to have been heretofore,
that you would feel assured that in the Roman state there are many
like us, and that no nation in the world at the present time can be
mentioned, with which you ought to be less disposed that you, or those
belonging to you, should be at enmity, or with which you would rather
be in friendship." The young man, overcome at once with joy and
modesty, clung to Scipio's right hand, and invoked all the gods to
recompense him in his behalf, since he himself was far from possessing
means proportioned either to his own wishes or Scipio's deserts. He
then addressed himself to the parents and relatives of the damsel,
who, on receiving her back without any reward, whom they had brought a
very large weight of gold to redeem, entreated Scipio to accept it
from them as a present to himself; affirming, that if he would do so,
they should feel as