consulted him
on every occasion, and always took his advice even when he was at the head
of his army; concerting in private with Polybius all the operations of the
campaign, all the movements of the forces, all enterprises against the
enemy, and the several measures proper for rendering them successful.

In a word, it was the common report,(932) that our illustrious Roman did
not perform any great or good action without being under some obligation
to Polybius; nor even commit an error, except when he acted without
consulting him.

I request the reader to excuse this long digression, which may be thought
foreign to my subject, as I am not writing the Roman history. However, it
appeared to me so well adapted to the general design I propose to myself,
in this work, _viz._ the cultivating and improving the minds of youth,
that I could not forbear introducing it here, though I was sensible this
is not directly its proper place. And indeed, these examples show, how
important it is that young people should receive a liberal and virtuous
education; and the great benefit they reap, by frequenting and
corresponding early with persons of merit; for these were the foundations
whereon were built the fame and glory which have rendered Scipio immortal.
But above all, how noble a model for our age (in which the most
inconsiderable and even trifling concerns often create feuds and
animosities between brothers and sisters, and disturb the peace of
families,) is the generous disinterestedness of Scipio; who, whenever he
had an opportunity of serving his relations, thought lightly of bestowing
the largest sums upon them! This excellent passage of Polybius had escaped
me, by its not being inserted in the folio edition of his works. It
belongs indeed naturally to that book, where, treating of the taste for
solid glory, I mentioned the contempt in which the ancients held riches,
and the excellent use they made of them. I therefore thought myself
indispensably obliged to restore, on this occasion, to young students,
what I could not but blame myself for omitting elsewhere.

_The History of the Family and Posterity of Masinissa._--I promised, after
finishing what related to the republic of Carthage, to return to the
family and posterity of Masinissa. This piece of history forms a
considerable part of that of Africa, and therefore is not quite foreign to
my subject.

(M147) From the time that Masinissa had declared for the Romans under the