In 1656, a fisherman on the banks of the Rhone, in the neighbourhood of
Avignon, was considerably obstructed in his work by some heavy body,
which he feared would injure the net; but by proceeding slowly and
cautiously, he drew it ashore untorn, and found that it contained a
round substance, in the shape of a large plate or dish, thickly
encrusted with a coat of hardened mud; the dark colour of the metal
beneath induced him to consider it as iron. A silversmith, accidentally
present, encouraged the mistake, and, after a few affected difficulties
and demurs, bought it for a trifling sum, immediately carried it home,
and, after carefully cleaning and polishing his purchase, it proved to
be of pure silver, perfectly round, more than two feet in diameter, and
weighing upwards of twenty pounds. Fearing that so massy and valuable a
piece of plate, offered for sale at one time and at one place, might
produce suspicion and inquiry, he immediately, without waiting to
examine its beauties, divided it into four equal parts, each of which he
disposed of, at different and distant places.
One of the pieces had been sold, at Lyons, to Mr. Mey, a wealthy
merchant of that city, and a well-educated man, who directly saw its
value, and after great pains and expense, procured the other three
fragments, had them nicely rejoined, and the treasure was finally placed
in the cabinet of the king of France.
This relic of antiquity, no less remarkable for the beauty of its
workmanship, than for having been buried at the bottom of the Rhone more
than two thousand years, was a votive shield, presented to Scipio, as a
monument of gratitude and affection, by the inhabitants of Carthago
Nova, now the city of Carthagena, for his generosity and self-denial, in
delivering one of his captives, a beautiful virgin, to her original
lover. This act, so honourable to the Roman general, who was then in the
prime vigour of manhood, is represented on the shield, and an engraving
from it may be seen in the curious and valuable work of Mr. Spon.
* * * * *
The story of “Scipio’s chastity,” which this shield commemorates, is
related by Livy to the following effect.--The wife of the conquered
king, falling at the general’s feet, earnestly entreated that the female
captives might be protected from injury and insult.--Scipio assured her,
that she should have no reason to complain.
“For my own part,” replied the queen, “my age and infirmities almost
ensure me against dishonour, but when I consider the age and complexion
of my fellow captives, (pointing to a crowd of females,) I feel
considerable uneasiness.”
“Such crimes,” replied Scipio, “are neither perpetrated nor permitted by
the Roman people; but if it were not so, the anxiety you discover, under
your present calamities, to preserve their chastity, would be a
sufficient protection:” he then gave the necessary orders.
The soldiers soon after brought him, what they considered as a rich
prize, a virgin of distinction, young, and of such extraordinary beauty,
as to attract the notice and admiration of all who beheld her. Scipio
found that she had been betrothed, in happier days, to Allucius, a young
Spanish prince, who was himself a captive. Without a moment’s delay, the
conqueror sent for her parents and lover, and addressed the latter in
the following words:
“The maid to whom thou wert shortly to have been married has been taken
prisoner: from the soldiers who brought her to me, I understand that thy
affections are fixed upon her, and indeed her beauty confirms the
report. She is worthy of thy love; nor would I hesitate, but for the
stern laws of duty and honour, to offer her my hand and heart. I return
her to thee, not only inviolate, but untouched, and almost unseen; for I
scarcely ventured to gaze on such perfection; accept her as a gift
worthy receiving. The only condition, the only return I ask, is, that
thou wilt be a friend to the Roman people.”
The young prince in a transport of delight, and scarcely able to believe
what he saw and heard, pressed the hand of Scipio to his heart, and
implored ten thousand blessings on his head. The parents of the happy
bridegroom had brought a large sum of money, as the price of her
redemption; Scipio ordered it to be placed on the ground, and telling
Allucius that he insisted on his accepting it as a nuptial gift directed
it to be carried to his tent.
The happy pair returned home, repeating the praises of Scipio to every
one, calling him a godlike youth, as matchless in the success of his
arms, as he was unrivalled in the beneficent use he made of his
victories.
Though the story is known to most readers, its relation, in connection
with the discovery of the valuable present from the conquered city to
its illustrious victor, seemed almost indispensable, and perhaps the
incident can scarcely be too familiar.
[Illustration: ~A Bronze Antique, found in the Thames,~