§39.52.1Scipionem et Polybius et Rutilius hoc anno mortuum scribunt.
Both Polybius and Rutilius write that Scipio died in this year.
ego neque his neque Valerio adsentior, his, quod censoribus M. Porcio L. Valerio L. Valerium principem senatus ipsum censorem lectum invenio, cum superioribus duobus lustris Africanus fuisset, §39.52.2quo vivo, nisi ut ille senatu moveretur, quam notam nemo memoriae prodidit, alius princeps in locum eius lectus non esset.
I agree neither with them nor with Valerius; with them, because I find that in the censorship of Marcus Porcius and Lucius Valerius, Lucius Valerius himself, the censor, was chosen princeps of the senate, whereas Africanus had been so in the preceding two lustra, and during his lifetime, unless he had been removed from the senate—a mark of disgrace which no one has recorded—another princeps would not have been chosen in his place.
§39.52.3Antiatem auctorem refellit tribunus plebis M. Naevius, adversus quem oratio inscripta P. Africani est.
The tribune of the plebs Marcus Naevius refutes the writer Antias, against whom there is an oration inscribed with the name of Publius Africanus.
§39.52.4hic Naevius in magistratuum libris est tribunus plebis P. Claudio L. Porcio consulibus, sed iniit tribunatum Ap. Claudio M. Sempronio consulibus ante diem quartum idus Decembres.
This Naevius is listed in the books of magistrates as tribune of the plebs in the consulship of Publius Claudius and Lucius Porcius, but he entered upon his tribuneship on the fourth day before the Ides of December in the consulship of Appius Claudius and Marcus Sempronius.
§39.52.5inde tres menses ad idus Martias sunt, quibus P. Claudius L. Porcius consulatum inierunt.
From that time there are three months to the Ides of March, on which day Publius Claudius and Lucius Porcius entered upon their consulship.
§39.52.6ita vixisse in tribunatu Naevii videtur, diesque ei dici ab eo potuisse, decessisse autem ante L. Valerii et M. Porcii censuram.
Thus, Scipio seems to have lived during the tribuneship of Naevius, and a day of trial could have been appointed for him by him, but he must have died before the censorship of Lucius Valerius and Marcus Porcius.
§39.52.7trium clarissimorum suae cuiusque gentis virorum non tempore magis congruente comparabilis mors videtur esse, quam quod nemo eorum satis dignum splendore vitae exitum habuit.
The death of the three most illustrious men, each of his own nation, seems comparable not more because of the coincidence of time than because none of them had an end of life sufficiently worthy of its splendor.
§39.52.8iam primum omnes non in patrio solo mortui nec sepulti sunt.
In the first place, all of them did not die on their native soil nor were they buried there.
veneno absumpti Hannibal et Philopoemen; exsul Hannibal, proditus ab hospite, captus Philopoemen in carcere et in vinculis exspiravit:
Hannibal and Philopoemen were taken off by poison; Hannibal as an exile, betrayed by his host, Philopoemen as a captive, breathed his last in prison and in chains.
§39.52.9Scipio etsi non exsul neque damnatus, die tamen dicta, ad quam non adfuerat reus, absens citatus, voluntarium non sibimet ipse solum sed etiam funeri suo exsilium indixit.
Scipio, although not an exile nor condemned, yet, a day of trial having been appointed at which he as the accused did not appear, being summoned in his absence, pronounced a voluntary exile not only upon himself but even upon his funeral.