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AEMILIUS PAULUS
229…160 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
ALMOST all agree that the Aemilii were one of the ancient and
patrician houses in Rome； and those authors who affirm that King
Numa was pupil to Pythagoras tell us that the first who gave name to
his posterity was Mamercus； the son of Pythagoras； who； for his
grace and address in speaking； was called Aemilius。 Most of this
race that have risen through their merit to reputation also enjoyed
good fortune： and even the misfortune to Lucius Paulus at the battle
of Cannae gave testimony to his wisdom and valour。 For not being
able to persuade his colleague not to hazard the battle； he； though
against his judgment； joined with him in the contest； but was no
companion in his flight： on the contrary； when he that was so resolute
to engage deserted him in the midst of danger he kept the field and
died fighting。 This Aemilius had a daughter named Aemilia； who was
married to Scipio the Great； and a son Paulus； who is the subject of
my present history。
In his early manhood； which fell at a time when Rome was flourishing
with illustrious characters； he was distinguished for not attaching
himself to the studies usual with the young men of mark of that age；
nor treading the same paths to fame。 For he did not practise oratory
with a view to pleading causes； nor would he stoop to salute； embrace；
and entertain the vulgar； which were the usual insinuating arts by
which many grew popular。 Not that he was incapable of either； but he
chose to purchase a much more lasting glory by his valour； justice；
and integrity； and in these virtues he soon oustripped all his equals。
The first honourable office he aspired to was that of aedile；
which he carried against twelve competitors of such merit that all
of them in process of time were consuls。 Being afterwards chosen
into the number of priests called augurs； appointed amongst the Romans
to observe and register divinations made by the flight of birds or
prodigies in the air； he so carefully studied the ancient customs of
his country； and so thoroughly understood the religion of his
ancestors； that this office which was before only esteemed a title
of honour and merely upon that account sought after； by this means
rose to the rank of one of the highest arts； and gave a confirmation
to the correctness of the definition； which some philosophers have
given of religion； that it is the science of worshipping the gods。
When he performed any part of his duty； he did it with great skill and
utmost care； making it； when he was engaged in it； his only
business； not omitting any one ceremony； or adding the least
circumstance； but always insisting； with his companions of the same
order； even on points that might seem inconsiderable； and urging
upon them； that though they might think the Deity was easily pacified；
and ready to forgive faults of inadvertency； yet any such laxity was a
very dangerous thing for a commonwealth to allow； because no man
ever began the disturbance of his country's peace by a notorious
breach of its laws； and those who are careless in trifles give a
precedent for remissness in important duties。 Nor was he less severe
in requiring and observing the ancient Roman discipline in military
affairs； not endeavouring； when he had the command； to ingratiate
himself with his soldiers by popular flattery； though this custom
prevailed at that time amongst many； who； by favour and gentleness
to those that were under them in their first employment； sought to
be promoted to a second； but； by instructing them in the laws of
military discipline with the same care and exactness a priest would
use in teaching ceremonies and dreadful mysteries； and by severity
to such as transgressed and contemned those laws； he maintained his
country in its former greatness； esteeming victory over enemies itself
but as an accessory to the proper training and disciplining of the
citizens。
Whilst the Romans were engaged in war with Antiochus the Great；
against whom their most experienced commanders were employed； there
arose another war in the west； and they were all up in arms in
Spain。 Thither they sent Aemilius； in the quality of praetor； not with
six axes； which number other praetors were accustomed to have
carried before them； but with twelve； so that in his praetorship he
was honoured with the dignity of a consul。 He twice overcame the
barbarians in battle； thirty thousand of whom were slain： successes
chiefly to be ascribed to the wisdom and conduct of the commander； who
by his great skill in choosing the advantage of the ground； and making
the onset at the passage of a river； gave his soldiers an easy
victory。 Having made himself master of two hundred and fifty cities；
whose inhabitants voluntarily yielded； and bound themselves by oath to
fidelity； he left the province in peace； and returned to Rome； not
enriching himself a drachma by the war。 And； indeed； in general； he
was but remiss in making money； though he always lived freely and
generously on what he had； which was so far from being excessive； that
after his death there was barely enough left to answer his wife's
dowry。
His first wife was Papiria； the daughter of Maso； who had formerly
been consul。 With her he lived a considerable time in wedlock； and
then divorced her； though she had made him the father of noble
children； being mother of the renowned Scipio and Fabius Maximus。
The reason of this separation has not come to our knowledge； but there
seems to be a truth conveyed in the account of another Roman's being
divorced from his wife； which may be applicable here。 This person
being highly blamed by his friends； who demanded； Was she not
chaste？ was she not fair？ was she not fruitful？ holding out his
shoe； asked them； Whether it was not new？ and well made？ Yet； added
he； none of you can tell where it pinches me。 Certain it is； that
great and open faults have often led to no separation； while mere
petty repeated annoyances； arising from unpleasantness or
incongruity of character； have been the occasion of such
estrangement as to make it impossible for man and wife to live
together with any content。
Aemilius； having thus put away Papiria； married a second wife； by
whom he had two sons； whom he brought up in his own house；
transferring the two former into the greatest and the most noble
families of Rome。 The elder was adopted into the house of Fabius
Maximus； who was five times consul； the younger by the son of Scipio
Africanus； his cousin…german； and was by him named Scipio。
Of the daughters of Aemilius； one was married to the son of Cato；
the other to Aelius Tubero； a most worthy man； and the one Roman who
best succeeded in combining liberal habits with poverty。 For there
were sixteen near relations； all of them of the family of the Aelii；
possessed of but one farm； which sufficed them all； whilst one small
house； or rather cottage； contained them； their numerous offspring；
and their wives； amongst whom was the daughter of our Aemilius； who；
although her father had been twice consul； and had twice triumphed；
was not ashamed of her husband's poverty； but proud of his virtue that
kept him poor。 Far otherwise it is with the brothers and relations
of this age； who； unless whole tracts of land； or at least walls and
rivers； part their inheritances； and keep them at a distance； never
cease from mutual quarrels。 History suggests a variety of good counsel
of this sort； by the way； to those who desire to learn and improve。
To proceed： Aemilius； being chosen consul； waged war with the
Ligurians； or Ligustines； a people near the Alps。 They were a bold and
warlike nation； and their neighbourhood to the Romans had begun to
give them skill in the arts of war。 They occupy the further parts of
Italy ending under the Alps； and those parts of the Alps themselves
which are washed by the Tuscan sea and face toward Africa； mingled
there with Gauls and Iberians of the coast。 Besides； at that time they
had turned their thoughts to the seas and sailing as far as the
Pillars of Hercules in light vessels fitted for that purpose； robbed
and destroyed all that trafficked in those parts。 They； with an army
of forty thousand； waited the coming of Aemilius； who brought with him
not above eight thousand； so that the enemy was five to one when
they engaged； yet he vanquished and put them to flight； forcing them
to retire into their walled towns； and in this condition offered
them fair conditions of accommodation； it being the policy of the
Romans not utterly to destroy the Ligurians； because they were a
sort of guard and bulwark against the frequent attempts of the Gauls
to overrun Italy。 Trusting wholly therefore to Aemilius； they
delivered up their towns and shipping into his hands。 He； at the
utmost； razed only the fortifications and delivered their towns to
them again； but took away all their shipping with him； leaving them no
vessels bigger than those of three oars； and set at liberty great
numbers of prisoners they had taken both by sea and land； stra