If I were dealing with earlier times, I would have confidently asserted about all the Romans in general, that no one of them would do such a thing; I speak of the years before they undertook wars across the sea and during which they preserved their own principles and practices.
At the present time, however, I would not venture to assert this of all, but I could with perfect confidence say of many particular men in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> that in this matter they can maintain their faith.
That I may not appear to be stating what is impossible, I will cite as evidence the names of two men regarding whom none will dispute my assertion.
The first is Lucius Aemilius Paullus, the conqueror of Perseus. For when he became master of the palace of the Macedonian kings, in which, apart from the splendid furniture and other riches, more than six thousand talents of gold and silver were fortified in the treasury alone,
not only did he not covet any of his treasure, but did not even wish to look upon it, and disposed of it all by the hands of others, and this although his private fortune was by no means ample, but on the contrary rather meagre.
At least when he died not long after the war, and his sons by birth, Publius Scipio and Quintus Fabius Maximus, wished to give back to his wife her dowry of twenty-five talents they found such difficulty in raising the sum that they could not possibly have done it had they and sold the household goods, the slaves, and some real property in addition.
If what I say seems incredible to anyone he can easily assure himself of its truth.
For though many facts and especially those concerning this matter are subjects of dispute at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> owing to their political dissensions, still on inquiry you will find that the statement I have just made is acknowledged to be true by all.
Again, take the case of Publius Scipio, known as the great. When he became master of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, which was considered the wealthiest city in the world, he took absolutely nothing from it to add to his own fortune, either by purchase or by any other means of acquisition, and this although he was not particularly well off, but only moderately so for a Roman.
And not only did he keep his hands off the treasure in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> itself, but if did not allow any of that from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> to be mixed up with his private fortune.
In the case of this man again anyone who really inquires will find that no one disputes the reputation he enjoyed at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> in this respect.
Walbank Commentary