to lose all that again. Lelius, looking at me, likely judged that I would be beautiful enough to<hr>
honor Scipion and follow his chariot. I saw in his eyes the idea he had in mind. But he does not
know my own intentions. He is unaware that my desire for freedom is stronger than my desire
to just exist, and that I would be ready to lose my life happily to preserve my freedom.<hr>
Yes, Massinissa, I know that you are going to face powerful enemies. The strictness of Scipion's soul, combined with Roman harshness, may severely disapprove of you. He will find it strange that on the day of your victory and your restoration to the throne which is yours, you have thought of weddings and chosen as a wife not only your enemy's, but also a captive, a Carthaginian, daughter of Hasdrubal and an enemy of Rome.<hr>
But remember you should not see me in this situation as Syphax's wife, nor as a captive, nor as a Carthaginian, nor as Hasdrubal's daughter, nor as an enemy of Rome, although 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 I would not fall into the hands of the Romans. You gave me your word, so make sure to keep it. I am not asking that you risk losing Senate's friendship to protect me, as now you depend on them. But I simply want that, according to your oath, you prevent me from falling alive into the hands of Scipion. It would not surprise me if Syphax, in his current state, tells his victor that I am responsible for his misery, that I am the one who chained him, that I am the one who made him a friend of Carthage and an enemy of Rome. Yes, Massinissa, I admit all these things. And if I could escape the capture of the Romans, I would consider it happiness and I would think that my death would truly be worthy of Hasdrubal's daughter.<hr>
Forgive me, Massinissa, for speaking to you so boldly, but since it might be the last time I see you, I want to express my sincere feelings. I want you to know how much I have always hated slavery so that you are further pushed to think about my freedom. From when I first opened my eyes to the world, I have learned that there was a people which, without any legitimate rights, sought to conquer all others. Throughout my childhood, I only heard about the victories of the Romans, the kings they chained, the famous captives they held, the misery of these unfortunate, and all the horrors that occurred during these saddening spectacles, where Roman pride took pride in the victims of their conquests. These images are etched so deeply in my mind that nothing can erase them. Growing up, my repulsion towards the Roman eagle, which only feeds off pillage and pounces on the heads of kings to snatch away their crowns, was only reinforced. It could be pointed out to me that the Romans give as many kingdoms as they usurp, they make as many kings as they proudly chain. But, Massinissa, if you consider it carefully, you will realize that they only dispense
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