before her funeral. And herewithal she boldly drank off the poison. Thus Livy reports it. But Appian varies from this, and sets it down agreeably to that which hath been spoken before, concerning the precontract between Masinissa and Sophonisba. He saith, that, after the taking of Syphax, ambassadors from Cirta met with Lælius and Masinissa upon their way thither, yielding up their city and the king's palace; and that Sophonisba, for her own private, sent messengers to excuse her marriage with Syphax, as made against her will, by compulsion of those in whose power she was. Masinissa readily admitted this excuse, and accepted her to wife. But when Scipio had received information from Syphax, how cunning in persuasion Sophonisba was, and that all her thoughts laboured for the good of Carthage, he fell out. about her with Masinissa at his return, and challenged her as a part of the booty belonging to the Romans. Masinissa said, she was his own wife, and unto him betrothed many years before. But Scipio would not hear of this; or if it were true, yet he said it was no reason that Masinissa should keep her in possession, as long as it was disputable unto whom she might appertain. Wherefore he willed him first of all to produce her, and then afterwards to make his claim unto her, wherein he should have no wrong. Herewithal he sent to fetch her away, and Masinissa accompanied the messengers, as it were to deliver her; but, making her acquainted with the necessity, gave unto her a cup of poison, wherewith she ended her life, before they came that should have apprehended her. So he shewed unto the Romans her dead body, which he royally interred. The sudden violence of Masinissa's love, and the ready consent of Sophonisba to marry with him, add not so much credit unto this relation of Appian, as doth the want of all other evident cause (which n Livy notes) of the sudden falling out between him and the Carthaginians, under whom he had been trained up, and done them great service. Howsoever it were, Scipio, hearing of this tragical accident, sent for Masinissa, and com

" Liv. 1. 28.

forted him as well as he could, lest his melancholy should lead him to some inconvenience. Having therefore gently rebuked him for his rashness, he brought him forth in presence of the army, where, extolling his noble acts, and shewing how highly he had deserved of the city of Rome, he proclaimed him king, and gave unto him a crown of gold, with other royal ornaments. This was indeed the ready way to divert his thoughts from the sad remembrance of that which was past, unto the more cheerful contemplation of good fortune, that began to smile upon him.

This was the first time that the Romans took upon them to create or proclaim a king. Which honour, though Masinissa well deserved, yet would not the title have redounded unto his great benefit, neither should he have been much beholding to them for it, if he had not by their means recovered possession of his country, together with the greatest part of Syphax's dominions. It seems not unlikely, that had he remained a neuter in these wars, and sustained himself with his troop of horse, in such sort as he did before the coming of the Romans, he might nevertheless have recovered his proper inheritance, by the love of his own subjects, without other help, when Syphax had once or twice been vanquished. As for the enlargement of his kingdom, it was not more than he deserved; neither were the Romans then in case to make a conquest of Numidia for themselves; neither could they have wished a fitter opportunity, than of such a man upon whom to bestow it, that was their assured friend, and passable withal among the Numidians, as being (for the Masæsylii were a Numidian tribe) a great prince of the same nation. Yet this liberality of the Romans was noised abroad as very glorious, and the Romans themselves, in a politic sort of gravity, took highly upon them, as if even their saluting him by the name of king had been a matter of great consequence. He thrived indeed well after it, and by their maintenance waxed mighty in times following, encroaching upon his neighbours on all sides, but most of all upon the state of Carthage, whereat they were little displeased. Hence it grew that Vermina

the son of Syphax, (of whom we shall shortly speak more,) which held some piece of his father's kingdom, desiring friendship of the Romans, and promising by all means to deserve their love, requested therewithal that they would call him king. But though it were so, that never any before him had made this a matter of suit, yet the Roman senate was punctilious herein, and answered very gravely, that it was not their custom to give the honour of that appellation, save only unto such kings as had greatly deserved of their city. Thus they made it a matter of state, and in process of time grew so proud of this their imaginary prerogative, that they imputed as a singular benefit unto kings, that no way depended upon them, the salutation by P that name, though it were not accompanied with any other favour or profit thence redounding.

SECT. XIX.

The Carthaginians desire truce, and break it.

THE Carthaginians were extremely dismayed, when they heard of the great calamity that was befallen their good friend Syphax, and understood that Masinissa, their mortal enemy, had got possession of his kingdom. To increase their fear, Scipio returned again to Tunis, in view of their city; where he made an end of that fortification which he had begun at his last being there. The Carthaginians had neither forces nor courage to withstand him, but their hearts so failed them, that they sent forth unto him thirty ambassadors, princes of the city, which were their privy counsel, to make suit for peace. These, being admitted into the presence of Scipio, did not only prostrate themselves on the ground, but kissed the 9 feet of him, and of those that sat in council with him.

Answerable to this base adoration was their speech that followed. They confessed themselves to have unjustly broken the peace between them and Rome, and to have deserved whatsoever punishment it should please the Ro

"Liv. 1. 31. P Cæsar's Com. 1. 1. Excerpt. e Polyb. 1. 15. Liv. 1. 30.

mans to inflict upon them. Yet they humbly besought Scipio and the rest, that, in common regard of those misfortunes, whereto all men are subject, they would shew mercy unto the city of Carthage, and let it remain as a monument of their clemency, which, by the folly of her citizens, had now twice deserved to be overthrown. Herewithal they did not forget to lay the blame upon Hannibal, who without their appointment had begun the war, and was maintained in his doings by a faction, without the good liking of the whole city. By this it appears, that these ambassadors were no Barchines, but rather, that they were Hanno, and the choice of his company, who had now their long desired work in hand, of suing unto the Romans for peace. Whatsoever they were, it must needs be that they were most insolent men over those that were subject unto their power; for they would not have made such adoration unto the Romans, in their own necessity, unless they themselves had expected the like, where they had the advantage.

It was not unknown to Scipio, or to his assistants, in what poor case the city of Rome then was, and how unable to defray the charges of continuing the war. Neither were the Carthaginians, notwithstanding the loss of so many armies, in such ill case as the Romans themselves had very lately been for they had money enough wherewith to wage more men, they had a city far stronger than Rome, and they had the sea free. But they wanted the Roman resolution, and therefore distrusted the walls of Carthage; though Utica, a weaker city, had all this while held out against Scipio, and could not yet be forced by him and his army, though so often victorious in the field. Scipio therefore accepted their submission, and told them, that though he came into Afric to make a conquest, and not a peace, yet having the conquest as it were in his hand, he would not deny to grant them the peace which they desired; for thereby should all nations understand, that the people of Rome did follow the rule of justice, both in making war and in concluding it. The conditions which he imposed upon

them were these: That they should render up unto him all prisoners that they had taken, together with all renegadoes and fugitive slaves; that they should withdraw their armies out of Italy and Gaul; that they should not meddle in Spain, nor yet in any island between Italy and Afric; that they should deliver up all their ships of war, save twenty; and that they should pay a great sum of money, with certain hundred thousand bushels of wheat and barley. To consider of these articles, he gave them three days; and, when they had approved them, he granted a truce, that they might send ambassadors unto the Roman senate.

This done, Masinissa was dismissed, and went home into his kingdom, as if the war had been already at an end. Syphax was a little before sent with Lælius unto Rome, where the fame of these victories filled men with joy, and gave hope, that the long endured miseries would be shortly at an end. Wherefore all the temples were set open, and an holyday appointed for thanksgiving and supplication to their gods. Lælius was accompanied with ambassadors from king Masinissa, who, gratulating the happy success of the Romans in their African war, and giving thanks unto the senate for the benefits done by Scipio unto their master, made request for the Numidians, such as were now his subjects and prisoners in Rome, that they might be bestowed upon him, who, by rendering them to liberty, should do an act very plausible, that would make him gracious among his people in the beginning of his reign. The Ro man senate were not behind with Masinissa in compliment; but shewing themselves to be highly pleased with all that Scipio had done and should do for him, they called him king again, released his Numidians that were captives, and sent him two purple cassocks, that had each of them one gold button; with such other presents, as in time of their poverty might serve to testify their good-will. Scarcely were these and Lælius gone from Rome, when the news came, that ambassadors from Carthage were arrived to desire peace. These ambassadors were not admitted into the city, but were lodged without; until Lælius, being sent for,