[31]
But Cato is busy proving that we are making too much of
all these things in our speech; and that we have forgotten that that Mithridatic war was
carried on against nothing better than women. However, my opinion is very different, O judges;
and I will say a little on that subject; for my cause does not depend on that.
For if all the wars which we have carried on against the Greeks are to be despised, then let
the triumph of Marcus Curius over king Pyrrhus be derided; and that of Titus Flamininus over
Philip; and that of Marcus Fulvius over the Aetolians; and that of Lucius Paullus over king
Perses; and that of Quintus Metellus over the false Philip; and that of Lucius Mummius over
the Corinthians. But, if all these wars were of the greatest importance, and if our victories
in them were most acceptable, then why are the Asiatic nations and that Asiatic enemy despised
by you? But, from our records of ancient deeds; I see that the Roman people carried on a most
important war with Antiochus; the conqueror in which war, Lucius Scipio, who had already
gained great glory when acting in conjunction with his brother Publius, assumed the same
honour himself by taking a surname from Asia, as his brother did, who, having subdued Africa,
paraded his conquest by the assumption of the name of Africanus.
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