success to obtain the support of Syphax, two of the most powerful African kings. During his absence a dangerous insurrection and mutiny broke out in Spain; but Scipio speedily crushed both, and drove the Carthaginians from Cadiz, their last stronghold in the peninsula. He then hastened to Rome where he was elected consul 206 b.c. by the general voice of his countrymen, notwithstanding his being under the legal age, and in spite of the violent hostility of a strong party in the senate who opposed him through life, jealous of his exploits and influence. Receiving Sicily as his province 204 b.c., he made great preparations for carrying the war into Africa. Landing at Utica he was joined by Massinissa, and in several desperate engagements defeated Syphax and Hasdrubal, capturing the former along with his capital city Cirta. Hannibal was now recalled with all speed to the defence of Carthage; but the decisive battle of Zama, 202 b.c., raised Scipio to the highest rank as a general, and placed Carthage almost at his mercy. After granting terms of peace to the vanquished he returned to Rome, where he was received with the utmost enthusiasm. The rank of dictator for life, with many other marks of public veneration, was tendered him, and there can be little doubt that he might, had he chosen, have made himself supreme in the state. His patriotism, however, would not allow of this, and he remained content with a private station. We find him, however, filling the offices successively of censor and consul, and he accepted the honorary title of princeps senatus. To Carthage he showed himself a generous conqueror, and endeavoured to mitigate the severity of the terms imposed on her. He interposed also, though without success, in behalf of his illustrious rival Hannibal. His brother Lucius being appointed to conduct the war in Asia against Antiochus, Africanus accompanied him, 190 b.c., in a subordinate capacity, and by his presence greatly contributed to the triumph of the Roman arms. Upon their return the two brothers were accused of treason and of taking bribes from Antiochus, to whom they had granted more favourable terms than the senate deemed fitting. In the case of Lucius there may perhaps have been some grounds for the charge; but as regards Africanus it appears to have been altogether unfounded, and suggested merely by party spirit and personal animosity. Lucius was brought to trial and condemned to a heavy fine, which, however, was paid by his friends and clients. Emboldened by the result, his adversaries arraigned Africanus before the people, 185 b.c., but after an eloquent address he reminded his hearers that the very day on which he was called upon to plead before them was the anniversary of the battle of Zama. He then called on the people to follow him to the Capitol to return thanks for the deliverance on that day vouchsafed to them, from the power of Carthage, by the immortal gods. His audience followed him with loud acclamations to the temple of Jupiter, nor did his enemies ever venture to renew the accusation. Deeply wounded, however, by the ingratitude of his countrymen, Scipio withdrew into privacy at Liternum, where in the society of his attached friend Lælius, he passed his few remaining days. He died at Liternum 183 b.c., leaving strict directions in his last testament that his ashes should rest where he died, at a distance from the ungrateful city which he had loved so well. With the solitary exception of Julius Cæsar, Scipio Africanus Major was perhaps the greatest of the Romans. His character is indeed but imperfectly known to us; yet its main outlines stand out in clear and bold relief, and his achievements are such as admit of but few parallels. His unsurpassed military skill, his clemency and generosity to the vanquished, his ardent patriotism and unshaken loyalty to the constitution under which he lived, must ever make his name honourably remembered. He was well acquainted with the Greek language and literature, his partiality to which afforded a favourite ground of censure to his detractors, especially the prejudiced nobles of the old Roman type, such as Fabius Maximus. He was also accused by them of irreligion: but like almost all great men he was sincerely pious, although he probably had small respect for the superstitious usages which formed at that time so useful an instrument of senatorial power. The main faults of his character seem to have sprung, along with many of his best qualities, from his excessive pride of noble birth and aristocratic temper; the same feelings which made him scorn the temptation of becoming perpetual dictator may perhaps have led him to an unjust scorn of his equals, and a haughty contempt for his inferiors. However this may be, we cannot but acquiesce in Dr. Arnold's remark that the same hand which has portrayed the mysterious and incomprehensible character of Hamlet, could alone have delineated the genius of a Scipio or a Cromwell. The only other scion of this remarkable family we have space to notice is Publius Cornelius Scipio Æmilianus Africanus Minor, the son of Paulus Æmilius, the conqueror of Macedonia, and the grandson of Scipio Africanus Major. He was born about 185 b.c., and was adopted by his uncle P. Scipio, as his son. He accompanied his father in his Macedonian campaigns, and took part in the battle of Pydna, 168 b.c. He served in Spain with distinguished merit, 151 b.c., and subsequently in Africa, at the commencement of the third Punic war. So remarkable were his abilities that he was elected consul 147 b.c., although under the legal age. In the following year he took the city of Carthage and terminated the war. He celebrated a magnificent triumph in honour of the event, and his popularity and influence were of course vastly increased by his success. These advantages he employed in striving to repress the growing taste for dissolute luxury which was then beginning to spread among his countrymen, now for the first time brought into contact with the corrupt and enervating manners of Greece and Syria. But his efforts were of small avail to check the growing evil. In 134 b.c. he served as consul in Spain, and in the following year captured the important city of Numantia. The town was destroyed, and the inhabitants were sold as slaves. During his absence in Italy occurred the death of his celebrated brother-in-law, Tiberius Gracchus; and on his return to Rome Scipio publicly expressed his opinion that Gracchus had deserved death, and had been justly slain. This was of course highly offensive to the people, and alienated from Scipio much of the popularity which he had previously enjoyed. He now came to be regarded as the acknowledged champion of the aristocracy, and took a prominent part in attempting to nullify the agrarian law which had been passed by Gracchus. During the height of popular excitement on this question, Scipio was found one morning dead in his chamber. No inquiry was made as to his death; but it was generally supposed that he had been murdered by his political adversary, Papirius Carbo. Scipio Africanus Minor was remarkable both for eloquence and learning. No Roman of that day was better acquainted with Grecian literature, and he maintained through life a cordial friendship with Polybius and Terence. His literary taste and skill were so eminent, that he was commonly supposed to have assisted Terence in the composition of his comedies. An interesting, though perhaps partial view of Scipio's character, may be derived from the De Republica of Cicero, in which he figures as one of the principal speakers. There can be no doubt that he was a sincere patriot and honourable man, strongly attached to the ancient constitution of his country, and strenuously hostile to all attempts at what he considered dangerous innovations. His principal fault was that excessive pride and aristocratic contempt for the people, which is so apparent in the character of his grandfather, the elder Africanus. After his death the family of Scipio produced no very remarkable person, though it continued to flourish down to the time of Nero, in whose reign it disappears from history.—G.
SCLATER, William, an English divine, a native of Bedfordshire, entered King's college in 1593. He was vicar of Pitminster in Somersetshire, and died in 1626.—D. W. R.
SCOPAS, a very celebrated Greek architect and sculptor, a native of the island of Paros; practising his art from about 390 to 340 b.c., or about two generations after Phidias. He was the most distinguished of the sculptors employed on the tomb at Halicarnassus, of Mausolus, king of Caria, about 350 b.c. Many interesting remains of this monument, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, have been lately recovered, and through the efforts of Mr. Newton deposited in the British museum; the sculptures of the eastern face are the work of Scopas. The other artists employed were Bryaxis, Timotheus, and Leochares, and a sculptor of the name of Pythis. Scopas was also concerned in the reconstruction of the temple of Minerva Alea at Tegea, described as a work of great magnificence by Pausanias, executed about 385 b.c. Scopas is mentioned as a sculptor in bronze as well as marble, but nearly all the works attributed to him by ancient writers were in Pentelic or Parian marble. Among the most celebrated of his statues were a naked Venus, a Mercury, and a maenade or drunken Bacchante; especially the last mentioned, a work in Parian marble. He also was the sculptor of some very famous groups of figures, as that of Neptune, Thetis, and Achilles, with many marine accessories, in the temple of Cneius
