' went to work, by stopping the supply that should have enabled me to manage the war here. Scipio, 'therefore, shall not need to brag that he hath drawn 'me home by the heels; it is Hanno that hath wrought this noble feat, and overwhelmed the house of the Barchines, for lack of other means to do it, with the ruin of Carthage.' He had before prepared a fleet in readiness, doubting that which after came to pass; wherein he embarked, besides his own men, as many of the Italians as were content to be partakers of his fortune. Many there were that shrunk back from him, and refused to do service in this expedition; of whom such as he could take he slew, not sparing those that fled into the temple of Juno Lucina, which had been held an inviolable sanctuary unto that day. He was indeed then wholly transported with rage, and departed out of Italy no less passionate than men are wont to be when they leave their own countries to go into exile. He looked back unto the shore, accusing both gods and men, and cursing his own dulness, in that he had not led his army from Cannæ, hot and bloodied as it was, directly unto the walls of Rome. With such vexation of spirit he quitted the possession of Italy, wherein he had lived almost half his time.

If it could have been foretold unto the Romans, in the first beginning of this war, with what exceed. ing joy in times following they should entertain the news of Hannibal's departure out of Italy,they would, (I think) less earnestly have pressed the Carthaginians to send him over thither. When sure advertisement was brought into the city, that Hannibal was gone with all his army, an holiday was appointed for thanksgiving unto their gods, and extraordinary great sacrifices publicly made for joy of such happy tidings. Yet old Q. Fabius was of opinion, that the danger did still remain the same, though the place were changed; for that Hannibal, at his coming in

to Africa, would find P. Scipio other manner of work than he had been troubled with at any time before; and would do greater matters in his own country, than ever he was able to perform abroad in a land of strangers. The remove of the war from their own doors, and the conceit of that victory for which they hoped, was enough to make them presume further than at other times they would have done. When, therefore, the Saguntine embassadors brought unto them a great mass of gold and silver, together with some agents of the Carthaginians, taken by them in Spain, only the Carthaginian prisoners were accepted; the treasure was rendered back unto the Saguntines that had surprised it. Upon like confidence of the future, a little before this, order was taken for the repayment of those monies that had been borrowed in time of more necessity from private men. Hence also proceeded the severe chastisement laid upon those twelve colonies, that, for want either of means, or of good-will, had refused to give aid to the Romans. They were commanded, and enforced to give double the number of foot to that which they had been wont to set out for the wars, with a proportion of horse answerable to the very utmost of their ability. So confident were the Romans grown (though their wealth were not as yet suitable to the greatness of their spirit) upon the good success of the battle of Metaurus, and the hopes which they reposed in Scipio. All this notwithstanding, when they considered more nearly of that which might happen, and were informed, that the terrible army whereof Italy had been few days since discharged, was landed safe in Africa, they be gan to revolve a thousand fearful matters in their heads, and to stand in doubt lest Q. Fabius (who died about the same time) would be found a true prophet. For bethinking themselves of that which might comfort them in their hopes, they found in

the victories against Syphax and Asdrubal no specialty of such great worth as might promise the like success against another manner of general, followed by other manner of men than were either of those two. The Numidian king had been wont to bring into the field a rascally multitude of half-scullions, that were good for nothing, being himself a fit captain for such soldiers. Likewise Asdrubal, the son of Gisco, was well thought of by the Carthaginian senate; but otherwise one that in the field was only good at saving himself by a swift retreat. But now there came an army of men, hardened from their childhood with incredible patience, fleshed many hundred times in Roman blood, and wearing the spoils, not only of good soldiers, but brave captains, by them slain. Such talk used the people of Rome, saying, That Scipio was like to meet in battle with many that had slain Roman prætors, yea, and consuls, with their own hands, with many, that had been first in getting over the trenches of several Roman camps, or in winning the tops of walls at the siege of towns; briefly, that he should now be opposed by an army as good as had ever served in war, and following the dreadful name of Hannibal.

SECT. XXI.

Hannibal in Africa prepares to fight with Scipio; treats with him about peace in vain; loseth a battle at Nadagara, and persuades the Carthaginians to sue for peace. Of the peace granted from Rome to Carthage.

HANNIBAL disembarked his army at Leptis, almost an hundred miles from Carthage, eastward from

the headland of Mercury, and somewhat more than one degree to the south. He was ill provided of horse, which it was not easy for him to transport out of Italy. Therefore it behoved him to land, as he. did, somewhat far from the enemy, that he might furnish himself with this and the like needful helps, against the day of battle. From Leptis he passed on to Adrumetum, and so along through the inland country, gathering friends unto him by the way. Tychæus, a Numidian prince, and a familiar friend of Syphax, was said to have in those days the best horses of service that were to be found in Africa. Him, therefore, did Hannibal allure unto his party, making him understand, that if the Romans got the victory, it should be easy for Masinissa, by their countenance and help, to oppress both him, and as many other of the neighbour princes as hindered his prospect. This argument, and the fame of him that used it, prevailed with Tychæus, who shortly after brought unto the Carthaginian two thousand horse. Appian further adds, that Mezetulus (the same who had made himself protector over Masinissa's cousins, and was head of a family, and adverse to the Numidian kings of that race,) brought unto Hannibal another thousand horse; as likewise that Vermina, the son of Syphax, holding a great part of his father's kingdom, began at the same time to assail the places that yielded obedience to Masinissa. This Vermina, as we find in Livy, came with more than sixteen thousand men (for he lost more than so many) to succour Hannibal when it was too late.

The Carthaginians were at this time in such hard estate, or (at least) so impatient of the state wherein they were, that they could not attend the leisure of those preparations which would have made the victory assured. When they considered the worth of Hannibal, and the greatness of his acts, it offended them to think that they had been so base as to VOL. V.

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make humble suit unto the Romans for peace, whilst they had such a brave champion alive, to maintain their cause by war. But when they bethought themselves of their own sufferings, which, for want of Roman magnanimity to endure them, appeared greater than indeed they were; then cried out they earnestly, that it was no time to linger, but presently to fight, that so they might see an end of these troubles, either good or bad. And to this purpose, they sent their mandates to Hannibal; requiring him, without any further protraction, to do what he could do out of hand. Hannibal made answer, that they were his good lords, and had power to dispose of him and his army; but since he was general of their forces, he thought it reasonable that they should suffer him to do as a general ought to do, and to choose his own times. Nevertheless, to give them satisfaction, he made great marches to Zama; and there encamped.

The breach of truce made by the Carthaginians, the violence done to his embassadors, and the news of Hannibal's being landed in Africa, made Scipio to understand the resolution of the Carthaginians; which was, not to yield unto any conditions unprofitable for themselves, as long as they were able to make resistance. Wherefore he sent unto Masinissa, and informed him of all that was fallen out; praying him to come away with speed, and lay all other business a-part. Ten Roman companies of horse and foot together Masinissa had with him, that were lent unto him by Scipio, to do him service in the establishing and enlarging of his kingdom. But he well understood, that those, and many more, besides all his own forces, would little avail him, if Hannibal should drive the Romans out of Africa. Wherefore taking such order as he could upon the sudden for the safety of his own kingdom, with four thou sand horse, and six thousand foot, he made all haste unto Scipio.