Opening The Dream of Scipio — Cicero in Plato Scroll…
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Cicero · W. D. Pearman
The luminous close of Cicero’s Republic, and almost all that survives of its sixth book. The younger Scipio dreams that his grandfather, Scipio Africanus, carries him up among the stars to show him the nine revolving spheres, the music they make, the smallness of earthly fame, and the soul’s divine and immortal nature. A Platonic vision in Roman dress — the text Macrobius would later make famous — here in W. D. Pearman’s translation of 1883. Public domain. 1. When I reached Africa to serve under the general Manius Manilius, being, as you are aware, Military Tribune attached to the 4th Legion, I made nothing of more importance than to meet Masinissa, a prince for good reasons most attached to our family. As soon as I came to him, the old man folded me in his arms and wept over me; and after some time he looked up to heaven and said: "I give you thanks, O Sun most high, and you, you other …
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