SECT. XXI.

Hannibal in Afric prepares to fight with Scipio; treats with him about peace in vain; loseth a battle at Nargara, 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 familiar friend of Syphax, was said to have in those days the best horses of service that were to be found in Afric. 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 Mezetullus (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 BALEGH, VOL. IV.

considered the worth of Hannibal, and the greatness of his acts, it offended them to think that they had been so base as to 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 they out 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 ambassadors, and the news of Hannibal's being landed in Afric, 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 apart. 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 Afric: wherefore, taking such order as he could upon the sudden for the safety of his own kingdom, with four thousand horse and six thousand foot, he made all haste unto Scipio.

Soon after the beginning of these new troubles, the Carthaginian ambassadors that had been at Rome returned

back under the conduct of Lælius and Fulvius, who brought them safe into the Roman camp. There when they arrived, and understood what had lately passed, especially how their citizens had behaved themselves towards the Roman ambassadors, they made little doubt how their own heads should answer for such notorious outrage. To confirm them in this opinion, M. Bæbius, one of the late ambassadors that had been in Carthage, being left by Scipio to take charge of the camp, laid hands upon them, and detained them, sending word unto his general, who was gone abroad to make war in the country, that he had them in his power, and that now the Carthaginians might be repaid in their own coin for the injury by them lately done. Scipio was very glad to hear of this, and commanded Bæbius to use them with all possible courtesy, and send them safe home. By thus doing, he brake the hearts of his enemies, and caused them to acknowledge themselves (which was a great victory) far less honourable than the Romans. This notwithstanding, he made more cruel war upon them than before, taking their towns by force, and putting them to sack, without hearkening to any composition. It was the manner of the Romans, as often as they took a town by assault, to put all that came in their way to the sword, whatsoever they were, without regard. This they did to make themselves terrible, and the better to work such impression in the minds of those with whom they had to do, they used oftentimes to kill the very dogs and other beasts that ran athwart them in the streets, hewing their bodies asunder, as men delighted in shedding of blood". This being their practice at other times, it is likely that now they omitted no piece of cruelty, when they meant to give proof of their vehement indignation and revengeful minds for the injuries received. Hence it partly grew, that the Carthaginians were so earnest in pressing Hannibal to fight.

Hannibal, being encamped at Zama, sent forth his scouts and spies to discover where the Romans lay, what they were doing, and as much as might be of their demeanour. Some of

these were taken, and brought unto Scipio; who, instead of trussing them up, gave them free leave to view his camp at pleasure, appointing one to conduct them up and down, and shew them whatsoever they desired. This done, he gave them liberty to depart, and sent them away safe unto their general. Hannibal understanding this, admired the bravery and courage of his enemy, with whom on the sudden he grew desirous to have an interview and personal conference, and signified so much unto him by a messenger sent of purpose. Of this motion the Roman liked well; and returned answer, that he would meet him shortly in place convenient. The next day Masinissa came with his army, whom Scipio taking with him removed unto a town called Nargara, near unto which he sat down, in a place otherwise commodious, and close by a water that might opportunely serve his camp. Thence he sent word unto the Carthaginian, that the time and place did fitly serve, if he had ought to say to him. Hannibal thereupon removed from Zama, and came within four miles of the enemy, where he encamped well to his own good liking in all things else, excepting that his men were driven to take much pains in fetching their water somewhat far off. Then was order taken for their meeting; and the two generals, each of them with a troop of horse, rode forth of their camps, till they came unto a piece of ground, which was before well searched, for fear of ambush. There they will their followers to stand off; and themselves, with each of them one interpreter, encountered each other in the midway between their companies. They remained a while silent, viewing one the other with mutual admiration. Then began the Carthaginian, saluting the Roman, to deliver his mind to this effect: That it had been better both for Carthage and for Rome, if they could have limited and contained their ambition within the shores of Afric and of Italy; for that the countries of Sicily and of Spain, about which their fathers and themselves had striven, were no sufficient recompense for so many fleets as had been lost, and of so much blood as had been shed in making those costly purchases. But since things past could

not be recalled, he said, that it was meet for them to consider unto what extreme dangers their own cities had been exposed by the greedy desire of extending their empires abroad, and that it was even time for them now at length to make an end of their obstinate contention, and pray the gods to endue them with greater wisdom hereafter. And to such peaceable disposition he affirmed that his own years and long trial of fortune, both good and evil, had made him inclinable. But much he feared, that Scipio, by want of the like experience, might rather fix his mind upon uncertain hopes, than upon the contemplation of that mutability, whereto all human affairs are subject. "Yet," said he, "mine own example may peradventure suffice to teach thee "moderation: for I am that same Hannibal, who, after my "victory at Cannæ, won the greatest part of Italy, and de"vised with myself what I should do with your city of Rome, "which I hoped verily to have taken. Once I brought mine "army to your walls, as thou hast since brought thine to

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ours of Carthage; but now, see the change! I stand here "entreating thee to grant us peace. This may serve as a "document of fortune's instability. I fought with thy fa"ther Scipio; he was the first of the Roman generals that 66 ever met me in the field. I did then little think that the "time would come, that I should have such business, as 66 now at the present, with his son. But this is even one of "fortune's pageants, whereof she hath many. And thou

mayest have experience of the like in thyself, who knows "how soon? Think upon M.Attilius: if he would have heark❝ened unto such persuasions, as I now use to thee, he "might have returned home to Rome an happy man. And "so mayest thou do now, if any reasonable offer will give "thee satisfaction. How sayest thou? Canst thou be con"tented, that all Spain, Sicily, Sardinia, and whatsoever "islands else are situate between Italy and Afric, be aban"doned by the Carthaginians for ever, and left unto the "Romans to bear dominion therein? Thou shalt have glory "enough by effecting thus much; and the Romans may "well be glad of such a bargain. As for us, our own quiet