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[13] Syphacem in castra adduci 
cum esset nuntiatum, 
omnis uelut ad spectaculum triumphi 
multitudo effusa est. 
praecedebat ipse uinctus; 
sequebatur grex nobilium Numidarum. 
tum quantum quisque plurimum poterat
magnitudini Syphacis 
famaeque gentis 
uictoriam suam augendo addebat: 
illum esse regem 
cuius tantum maiestati 
duo potentissimi in terris 
tribuerint populi
Romanus Carthaginiensisque 
ut Scipio imperator suus 
ad amicitiam eius petendam 
relicta prouincia Hispania 
exercituque 
duabus quinqueremibus 
in Africam nauigauerit,
Hasdrubal Poenorum imperator 
non ipse modo ad eum in regnum uenerit 
sed etiam filiam ei nuptum dederit. 
habuisse eum 
uno tempore in potestate 
duos imperatores, Poenum Romanumque. 
sicut ab dis immortalibus 
pars utraque 
hostiis mactandis 
pacem petisset, 
ita ab eo utrimque pariter 
amicitiam petitam. 
iam tantas habuisse opes 
ut Masinissam regno pulsum 
eo redegerit 
ut 
uita eius 
fama mortis 
et latebris ferarum modo 
in siluis 
rapto uiuentis tegeretur.

His sermonibus circumstantium celebratus 
rex in praetorium 
ad Scipionem est perductus. 
mouit et Scipionem 
cum fortuna pristina uiri 
praesenti fortunae conlata, 
tum recordatio 
hospitii 
dextraeque datae 
et foederis 
publice ac priuatim iuncti. 
eadem haec et Syphaci 
animum dederunt 
in adloquendo uictore. 
nam cum Scipio 
quid sibi uoluisset quaereret 
qui 
non societatem solum abnuisset Romanam
sed ultro bellum intulisset, 
tum ille 
peccasse quidem sese 
atque insanisse fatebatur, 
sed non tum demum
cum arma 
aduersus populum Romanum cepisset; 
exitum sui furoris eum fuisse, 
non principium; 
tum se insanisse, 
tum hospitia priuata 
et publica foedera omnia 
ex animo eiecisse 
cum Carthaginiensem matronam 
domum acceperit. 
illis nuptialibus facibus 
regiam conflagrasse suam; 
illam furiam pestemque 
omnibus delenimentis 
animum suum auertisse 
atque alienasse, 
nec conquiesse 
donec ipsa manibus suis 
nefaria sibi arma 
aduersus hospitem atque amicum induerit.
perdito tamen atque adflicto 
sibi hoc in miseriis solatii esse 
quod 
in omnium hominum inimicissimi sibi domum 
ac penates 
eandem pestem ac furiam 
transisse uideat. 
neque prudentiorem 
neque constantiorem Masinissam 
quam Syphacem esse, 
etiam iuuenta incautiorem; 
certe stultius illum 
atque intemperantius 
eam quam se duxisse. 

[30.13]When the news arrived             )
that Syphax was being brought into camp, )
as though to watch a triumphal procession
the whole throng poured out.
First came the king himself, chained;
there followed a crowd of Numidian nobles.
Then each as much as he could
[exaggerated] the greatness of Syphax 
and the reputation of his nation
by exaggerating their own victory:
"This is the king," they said, 
"to whose greatness so far 
the world's two most powerful [peoples], 
Roman and Carthaginian, )
have paid this tribute, )
that Scipio their general
in order to secure his alliance
left his province of Spain 
and his army,
and [sailed] with two quinqueremes 
to Africa, 
whilst the Carthaginian general Hasdrubal 
not only visited him in his kingdom, 
but even gave him his daughter in marriage. 
He has had 
in his power at the same time
the two generals, Roman and Carthaginian
Just as from the immortal gods
each side
by sacrifices duly offered,  
has sought peace,  
so from him (Syphax) by each side alike 
friendship has been sought. 
He was powerful enough 
to expel Masinissa from his kingdom, 
and he reduced him to such a condition 
that 
his life [was saved by] 
the report of his death 
and in concealment like a wild beast
in the forest, 
by animals he caught."
 
Amidst these remarks of the bystanders, 
the king [was led] to the praetorium 
to Scipio. 
Scipio was moved
comparing the earlier fortunes of the man
with his present condition 
and by the memory of 
their guest-friendship,
their right hands given in pledge, 
the bonds between them
made publicly and privately.
These same things 
gave Syphax courage 
in addressing his conqueror. 
For when Scipio 
asked him what he had wanted
in that he
not only denounced alliance with Rome 
but started unprovoked war against her,
(then) he 
[admitted] that he had done wrong 
and behaved like a madman 
but it was not that time
when he took up arms 
against the Roman people; 
that was the last act of his madness, 
not the beginning. 
He had first exhibited his folly, 
[his utter disregard of] all private ties 
and public obligations, 

when he admitted                     )
a Carthaginian bride into his house. )
by these marriage torches 
his palace had been set in a blaze. 
That fury of a woman, that scourge, 
had used every endearment 
to warp his feelings  
and alienate them, 
and would not rest 
till she had with her own hands 
armed him wickedly 
against his host and friend. 
However, broken and ruined as he was, 
he had this to console him in his misery - 
that [he saw]
that into his bitterest enemy's house
and home (household gods)
that pestilential fury 
had passed.
[Masinissa] was not wiser 
or more consistent 
than he, Syphax, had been, 
his youth made him even less cautious; 
at all events he was more foolish
and headstrong
than he (Syphax) had been to marry her.