Scipio Africanus Translation

Translation into English from original Latin text by Kikero

When I had come into Africa, under monius Monilius the consul
as tribune to the soldiers of the 4th legion, as you will know, nothing was more preferable
to me than to visit Masinissa, the ruler is most friendly to our family for the just cause. When
I came to whom, the old man embraced me crying and somewhat after
he looked to the sky and, "Thanks," he said, "I give to you, greatest Sun, and
with you, I will leave the inhabitants of heaven, because, before departing from this life,
I caught sight of P. Cornelius Scipio in my kingdom and these rooves, by whose very name I refreshed me;
and the memory never thrown out of my mind of that excellent and most unconquerable
man." then I asked that guy about his kingdom, and he asked me about our republic,
and with many words held on both sides for us that
day was consumed.
  But after with splendor having been received in the palace, a conversation into much
 night we led since the old man was talking about if not Africanus and not only
all his deeds but even his words he remembered. Then in order to be down
we went away, sleep embraced me both tired out from the street and to
who had stayed awake to much night, closer than he was accustomed to. Here for me (Indeed I believe
as a result of what we had been speaking about; for it happened that our thoughts and conversations
brought forth something in sleep of such a kind as Ennius writes about Homer, from which
clearly watching very often he was accustomed to think and to see) Africanus shows himself
in this form of his bust which was more known to me than his person; which when
recognised, I shuddered indeed, but that guy says, "Be present in mind and abandon
fear, Scipio, and commit what I say following to memory.
  "Do you see that city, which compelled through me to obey the people of Rome
[reviews] the wars of yesterday and not able to be quiet?" (Indeed he was showing
the Karthaginians from the high and full of stars, the light and bright in a way place.)
"to which [illegible word here] must be attacked now you come barely a soldier. Within two years as
consul you will overturn this, the cognomen will be to you obtained through you, which you have
until now, inherited from us. However, when you destroy Karthage, you will celebrate your
triumph and you will have been censor and as ambassador you will pass through
Egypt, Syria, Asia, and Greece you will again be chosen consul in absence and you will fight
a great war, you will destroy Numantia. But when you will be carried in a chariot onto the Capitoline, you will meet a republic distorted by the plans of my grandson.
  "Here it will be right you, Africanus, show the light of your mind, your natural
 abilities, and your plan for the country. But I see of this time of your life a two headed path as if of the
fates. For since your age seven eigth times the breaking and returning round of the sun turned back,
and two of the perfect number, of which each one is held full for one reason and another,
by the natural circuit seven and eight will complete the highest fatefulness for you, to you alone and
to your name the entire state will turn itself; the senators will look to you, all of the good ones will look to you, the allies will look to you, the Latins will look to you; you will be one on whom the safety of the state will rely; and, in short, it is necessary you, as dictator, fix the public thing, if you will escape the irreverant
hands of the neighboring ones." Here when Laelius had shouted and the rest
sighed violently, gently laughing Scipio said, "Hush! Please do not wake
me from sleep, and listen to the others for a little while."
  "But for who you will be, Africanus, more eager for protecting the public thing, in this way consider: for all who will have preserved the country, come to its aid, increased it, there is
a certain designated place in the sky, where they will enjoy happiness for an everlasting age; nothing
is for that cheiftain of the gods, who rules all the universe, which indeed on
earth happens, join together which welcome plans and meeting together of men by law,
which they will call the states, the leaders and defenders of them will set out from here they
will return to here."