LIBER VII · CAPUT 34
THE MAN WHO WAS PRONOUNCED TO BE THE MOST EXCELLENT
Latine · Mayhoff 1906
Vir optimus semel a condito aevo iudicatus est Scipio Nasica ab iurato senatu, idem in toga candida bis repulsa notatus a populo. in summa ei in patria mori non licuit, non Hercule magis quam extra vincula illi sapientissimo ab Apolline iudicato Socrati.
English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57
Scipio Nasica is the only individual who, since the commencement of the Roman era, has been declared, by a vote of the senate, confirmed by oath, to be the most excellent of men. And yet, the same person, when he was a candidate for office, was twice stigmatized by a repulse of the Roman people. He was not allowed, in fine, to die in his native country, —no, by Hercules! no more than Socrates, who was declared by Apollo to be the wisest of men, was permitted to die outside of a prison.