He will find it strange that on the very day of your victory and restoration to your rightful throne,<hr>
you should think of marriage and choose as your bride not only the wife of your enemy, but also a captive, a Carthaginian, daughter of Hasdrubal and foe of Rome.<hr>
However, remember you should not consider me in this situation as the wife of Syphax, nor a captive, nor a Carthaginian, nor the daughter of Hasdrabal, nor an enemy of Rome, though I am proud to be so. You should see me as the wife of the victorious Massinissa. Also, remember that I accepted this honor after you promised me that I would not fall into the hands of the Romans. You have given me your word, so see to it you uphold it. I do not ask that you risk losing the Senate's friendship to protect me, for now, you rely on them. But I simply want that, in accordance with your oath, you prevent me from falling alive into the hands of Scipio. It would not surprise me if Syphax, in his present state, tells his conqueror that I am responsible for his misfortune, that it is I who chained him, it is I who made him a friend of Carthage and enemy of Rome. Yes, Massinissa, I admit all these things. And if I could escape capture by the Romans, I would consider it a blessing and think that my death would truly be worthy of the daughter of Hasdrubal.<hr>
       Forgive me, Massinissa, if I speak to you so boldly, but as it might well be the last time I see you, I want to express my genuine feelings. I want you to know how much I have always detested slavery so that you are further prompted to consider my freedom. As soon as I opened my eyes to the world, I learned that there was a people who, without any legitimate right, sought to conquer all others. Throughout my childhood, I heard only of the victories of the Romans, the kings they enslaved, the famous captives they held, the misery of these poor souls, and all the horrors that occurred during these distressing spectacles, where Rome's pride drew pleasure from the victims of their conquests. These images have become so deeply ingrained in my mind that nothing can erase them. As I grew older, my revulsion towards the Roman eagle, that feeds only on plunder, and swoops on the heads of kings to snatch their crowns, has only intensified. I might be told that the Romans give as many kingdoms as they usurp, that they make as many kings as they proudly chain. But, Massinissa, if you think about it carefully, you will find that they only distribute scepters to have more noticeable slaves, and when they crown their governors, it is only for the pleasure of seeing them kneel at their feet and pay them homage. Vanity is the very essence of this nation, it is what drives them. For this reason, they conquer, usurp kingdoms, sow desolation across the world, and cross the seas to disrupt our tranquility. For if their only desire was to expand their borders and increase their riches, they would be content to overthrow thrones and slay those who possess them.<hr>
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