But as pride propels them, a mere bourgeois of Rome must drag<hr>
kings chained behind him, for his own glory and to entertain the people. Is it possible<hr>
that there are such inhuman conquerors, and is it possible that there are defeated kings so<hr>
cowardly to endure such shame? Sadly yes, many such examples have demonstrated that not all princes are honorable.<hr>
        However, it is certain that shackles and crowns, scepters and chains should never be<hr>
associated. A chariot drawn by elephants should never be followed by<hr>
chained kings, and kings should never be treated as criminals, only<hr>
retaining signs of their royalty to underscore the shame of their defeat and the glory of<hr>
their victors. But what glory can those who win in this manner have? If those they have defeated are cowards, as they still live, there is no valid reason<hr>
to be proud of dominating them. These vanquished kings showed great nobility of heart<hr>
in their defeat, and it is cruel to treat them thus when they did nothing but defend their<hr>
crown, country, wives, children, subjects, and gods. If they desire<hr>
congratulations for the glory of their victors and the pleasure of the people, it would be more memorable<hr>
to carry arms of enemies they killed with their own hands rather than being<hr>
escorted by kings they did not fight. Chariots full of broken weapons, shields, spears, javelins, and flags taken from their opponents would be a spectacle<hr>
less grim and more pleasing to the people. But could kings be condemned<hr>
to such dishonor? Is it possible that this people, who take pleasure in watching gladiatorial combats and wild beasts, also demand this sad ceremony? Does<hr>
the pleasure of these people lie in the shame and distress of kings? Should kings be dragged in chains for the same people who thrill to see four thousand men brutally murder one another in a single day, and who find their happiness in the spectacle of tigers and lions devouring each other? Is it for the same people that kings must be humiliated in this way? For my part, Massinissa, I find this form of triumph so strange that I think it is more dishonorable for the victors than for the conquered. And personally, I know that I will be neither. So, judge for yourself, Massinissa, whether a person who doesn't want to enter Rome as a prisoner followed by a hundred chained kings, could decide to follow the prideful Scipion while herself chained. No, Sophonisbe is better than that. Even if I were only a Carthaginian, I wouldn't do it. Even if I were just the daughter of Hasdrubal, I wouldn't agree to it. Even if I were just the wife of unfortunate Syphax, it wouldn't frighten me. Even if I were just a slave to the glorious Massinissa, I would follow no other winner. But being both Carthaginian,<hr>
daughter of Hasdrubal, wife of Syphax and Massinissa, and queen of two great kingdoms,<hr>
Scipion should not expect to defeat Sophonisbe.<hr>

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