to hym to declare his mynde to the olde souldyours that were lefte in Spayne after the laste great losse and slaughter of the Romaynes he called them togyther and made his oration as hereafter foloweth ¶ There was neuer newe capitayn before me that had cause to gyue thankes vnto his souldyours before he hadde tryed theyr hardines and diligence in bataile but fortune hath bouÌ„d me vnto you louinge souldiours before I knewe this countreye or sawe the place of our Campe. Fyrste for the loue and obedience that ye haue borne to my father and mine vncle bothe quycke and deade secundarily for that whan the hole countrey was as loste by reason of the greate distruction of our people yet you by your noble vertue and myghte haue obteyned the possession of the same agayne bothe to the Romaynes and also to me theyr deputie here and successour to my sayd father and vncle But now sens through the fauour of the goddis we intende to worke not that we may dwell in Spayne styll our selues but that the Carthaginenses shall haue no dwellyng here Nother onely to restraine them that they shall not come on this syde the bankes of the water of Iberus but that we intend to passe the same floode with our army to gyue them battayle I feare lest it shall be thoughte by you that this my counsayle is more hardy and spoken after myne age than wyse consyderynge the late losse that we haue had here wherby the tyme shuld not serue vs to vndertake suche great enterpryses There is noo manne hath more cause than I to remembre our euyll fortune in batayle in Spayne who haue had both my father and myne vncle slayne here within the space of thyrty days as ye wold say to make here a heape of corps of our family one vpon an other Neuerthelesse as the losse and lacke of frendes is displeasant to the mynde of men euen so doth fortune and noble vertuouse courage forbyd a man in suche case to dispayre specially sens thorough fatall fortune our chaunce hath heretofore bene that after we haue bene beaten and susteined great losses in the beginning yet at the last we haue euer ouercome our ennemies that before suppressed vs. I wyll not reherse the olde hystories of our warres with Porsena with the Frenchmen and with the Samnites I wyll onely remembre the warres with these our ennemies the Carthaginenses how many nauies of shyppes howe many capitaynes and howe many armies lost we in the fyrst battayles that we had with theym before the tyme of this Anniball And nowe in his tyme at Trebia at Trasymenus and at Cannas what other thinges did appere other than hole armyes with theyr capitaynes and Romayne Consuls slayne Furthermore howe great a parte of Italy of Sardinia and Sicilia haue forsaken the Romaynes to folowe the amitie of Anniball and how nigh the citie of Rome pytched he his campe ye he hym self was sene almost to ride hard to the gates of Rome In all the tyme of this great ruyne and hard fortune the hertes the vertue and courage of of the Romaynes remayned styl stedfast hole and vnmouable wherby they haue ben euer susteyned and set vp agayne After the cruell batayle of Cannas Hasdruball with a great armye was goynge ouer the mountaynes into Italye to helpe his brother Anniball and to ioyne theyr powers together whych if he had done accordynge to his intent there hadde by thys day ben almost no memorye or name of the Romayns left But then ye hardy souldyours by the gouernaunce of my father withstode theim and by your good fortune so wel sped there that therby the euel chaunces which before hapned vs were wel releued and nowe through the goodnes of the goddes are dayly more ioyfull and prosperous In Sicilia the great cities of Syracusa and Agrigentum be wonne agayn and the hole Ile brought vnto the obedience of the Romaines and our ennemies clene expulsed In Italy Capua is taken the Arpines brought again vnder the subiection of Rome And Anniball in gret feare fleing froÌ„ Rome is nowe bryuen into an angle of the countrey of the Brutians where the dayly prayer that he maketh to the goddes aboue al thinges is that he may safe and sound escape without daunger out of the countrey of his ennemies Wherfore frendes there is nothyng more vnmete or more contrary to reason then that you who haue in al aduersitie and lowe ebbe when the goddes were them selues almost on Annibals partie yet by the guyding of my father and frendes haue susteyned and borne vp the estate of the Romaynes that ye nowe when al thynges ar mery and prosperous shoulde shrynke or suffre your hartes to fayle you Nowe the immortall goddes the gouernours of the Romayne Empyre who wylled the people of Rome by one assent to elect me vnto this gret offyce and dignitie the same goddes by sundry presages signes and dreames in the nyght haue shewed me that all thynges hereafter shal haue prosperous successe ye and that I most at this time do regarde my harte giueth me that ere it be long al Spaine shalbe ours so that as many as beare the name of a Carthaginense shall be gladde for feare to flee hens both by lande and by sea And reason also gyueth that the same whiche in my herte is conceyued must nedes be trewe For dyuers of theyr frendes whyche haue by theym ben euil intreted haue of late sent embassadours to vs for socours Agayne there be of them thre captaines whiche can not agree among them selues For whiche cause they haue deuided theyr armye in three partes and are departed farre a sundre Wherfore the same fortune that skourged and distroyed vs doth nowe come on theim For their felowes and friendes in whom they trust be gone from theim euen as the people called Celtiberi departed and forsoke you when yâ—hadde moste nede of theim They also haue deuided and seuered theyr hostes which was the cause of the destruction bothe of my father of myne vncle This discorde wyll not suffer theim to ioyne to gether againe And be ye sure no one armie of theim by it selfe is able to withstande you Wherfore I moste hertely pray you good souldiours loue and fauour nowe the name of the Scipions whiche am I the sonne of your olde capitaine Scipio an impe growen out as ye woulde saye of a stocke that is cut downe by the grounde And ye olde knightes so worke that ye may brynge me a yonge capitaine with my newe armie ouer Iberus into the countrey which ye haue passed after many great actes and prowes shewed and I doubte not shortly to bringe to passe that as ye nowe knowe in me to be a similitude or resemblaunce of my father and vncle by my face countenaunce and features of my body euen so shall ye see in me also an exaumple of theyr witte faith and vertue in suche wyse that euery one of you shall saye Scipio our olde capitaine is
citizens Scipio let go at libertie and suffered to dwel styl in the towne and to enioy as moche of their goodes as was not before spoyled Amonge other prisoners there were two M. of craftes men which he caused to be bōd men to worke for the common profytte of the citie of Rome puttyng them in comfort that they should within shorte space be made all free if they wolde labour and worke earnestely about suche necessaryes as they shoulde haue nede of in the warre A greate noumber of the rest that were seruauntes and lusty yonge men he sent to be rowers in his shyppes and galeys in the places of suche as lacked And he also encreased his nauy of eyght shyppes wel furnished Beside al these prisoners he had also the pledges of noble men and cities to a greate noumbre whome he caused to be well kepte and gently entreated The rest of that daye Scipio gaue lycence to his wery men to rest theym selues For there were fewe but they had al the daye before ben sore trauayled with fyghtyng in one place or other The custody of the towne he gaue to Cn. Lelius and his company of see men and him selfe wente to his tentes ¶ Of the gentylnes of Scipio in restoryng a fayre yonge virgin vndefiled to Luceius vnto whom she was fyaunced Cap. xlvi ON the morowe he assembled all his hoste togyther and fyrst he gaue humble thankes praise to the goddis that had gyuen into his handes in one day so great so noble and so riche a citie the lyke wherof was not to be found in Spain Into which his ennemies had gathered togither the treasure bothe of Affrica and also of Spayne in such abundance that there was but lyttell or nothyng left for thē the Romayns hauyng great plenty of all thinges Nexte he muche praysed the noble courage and valyantnes of his men of warre whom nother the sodayne excursation of theyr ennemies out of the towne nother the hygh walles or waters of the same coulde make afrayde or let them of theyr enterpryse nother yet theyr castels and strong towres coulde resist theyr powers Aboue other he praised muche twayn that first scaled the walles and entred the towne to eche of them he gaue a crowne of good value his other souldiours he rewarded euery man after his vertue and merites but specially Cn. Lelius the gouernour of the nauye he praysed and muche loued to whome he gaue for a rewarde a crowne of golde and .xxx. oxen ¶ Than caused he the pledges to be brought before him willyng them to be of good comforte and that they shuld consider that they wer now in the power of the Romayns whose naturall propretie and desire is to bynde men throughe theyr benefytes shewinge to loue them rather than by compulsion to kepe men in feare of them And had leauer to ioyne strange nations in amitie with them by faithfull felowshyp then sorowfully to kepe them in myserable seruitude Than he toke the names of the cities that had their pledges there and to the ambassadours that by chaunce were with hym present of any of the sayde cities he incontinent delyuered the pledges vnto theim to the other cities he sent messangers wyllynge theim to send vnto him for theim and they shulde haue theyr pledges frely delyuered There were also taken many noble matrones and honest maydens whom he committed to sobre and honest men to be kept without any force or dishonour to be done vnto them among other captiues there was one virgin brought vnto hym of so excellent beautie that where so euer she went all men delyted to beholde her Scipio enquired of her of what cuntrey she was and of what kynred she was descended he perceyned by her that she was betrouthed or made sure to a yong prince of the Celtiberiās whose name was Luceius Wherevppon he incontinent sent for the said yonge man and also for her parentes At whose coming knowyng that the yonge man was soore enamoured of her he thus sayd vnto hym I being a yonge man haue sente for you that are also a yong man to come to me the cause is for that whan this yong maiden being fianced or ensured to you was brought to me by my soldiors I herd say that you entierly loued her And her beautie witnesseth that you haue good cause so to do If I might laufully enioy her pleasaunt loue and were not otherwyse occupied in my mynde about the affayres of the commune welthe I coulde perchaunce beare her my loue and desyre to enioy the same but nowe I wyll beare fauour to your loue that of ryght ought to haue her She hath bene here with me as well and honourably kept her virginite preserued as though she had dwelled styl with her owne parentes to thintent I might make of her a present to you most acceptable for the conseruation of mine honor And for this my gift I require of you but one only reward that is that you from hēsforth becom a louing frēd to the Romās And if ye esteme me to be a good or an honorable man as my father and vncle before me were reputed for to be thinke that there are in the noble citie of Rome many like vnto vs. And trust me neuer if any people can this daye be founde on the earth that you wyll be gladder to haue the loue and frend shyppe of or that ye wolde be more sory to haue the displeasure of The yong man after gret thankes gyuen hym praide the goddes to rewarde him for his goodnes where his power suffised not Then were the parentes of the mayden called forthe who had broughte with them a great summe of golde for the redemption of theyr chyld But when they perceiued that he had giuen her frely to her husband they desired him to take a parte therof as of theyr gyfte for the declaration of theyr good hertes towardes hym affirminge that his receyuinge therof shulde be as ioyfull vnto them as the restitution of theyr dowghter vndefiled ¶ Then Scipio beinge ouercome with theyr longe and vehement intercession caused the sayde summe to be layde on the grounde before his fete and callinge Luceius againe to hym he sayde Besyde the dowere that ye shal receyue of your father in lawe for the mariage of his doughter ye shall also take this gyfte of dower at my hande With whiche his great gift and also moch honour to hym done besyde he retourned home to his house and countrey declaring to euery man the honour and magnifycence of Scipio sayinge that there was a yonge man come most lyke vnto a god who bothe with his power in warre and also with his gentilnesse and liberalitie in peace had ouercome all the countrey This yonge gentilman leauing his house and familye in good ordre shortely after retourned to Scipio bringynge with hym a. M. CCCC good horsemen to the ayde and socour of the Romaynes ¶ Then Scipio sent C. Lelius to Rome to beare
before the day as by the memory of our grandfathers Publius Decius dyd in Samnio and as Calphurnius Flamma whan we were but yonge men dyd in the first warres Punicke to .iii. hundred that wyllyngely folowed hym Whan he hadde brought them to take a hylle whyche was in the myddell of their ennemyes Let vs here dye sowldiours sayde he and let vs throughe our death delyuer our legyons and army whyche are inclosed and besiged by our ennemies If Publius Sempronius had spoken suche wordes to you and yf none of you had ben of suche hardynes to consent to him he myght haue supposed you neyther to be men nor Romaynes but he shewed you a moche more easye way whyche wolde brynge you as well to glory and prayse as to health and profyte He made hym selfe a capytayne and guyde to bryng you to your cuntrey to your fathers to your wyues and chyldren But you lacked audacitie to folowe hym what wolde you haue done yf he wolde haue moued you to haue dyed for your countrey Fifty thousande citezens and of your frendes laye deade about you that daye in the fielde If the examples of hardynesse and vertue of soo many noble menne wolde nat moue you there is nothynge that euer shall moue you If suche slaughter of your frendes dothe not cause you to haue smalle estymation of youre owne lyues nothynge shall euer moue you thereto You shoulde haue desyred youre countreye whyles ye were free safe and sounde yea you shoulde haue desyred it whyles it was youre countrey nowe doo ye desyre it to late Ye be cleane separate from it ye are vtterly alienate frome the ryght of the Cytezens Ye are nowe made seruauntes vnto the Carthaginenses Wylle ye be redemed srome thense whither you wyllyngly went with cowardyse slowenes and wyckednes you wolde not here Sempronius your citezen commaundynge you to take harneys and to folowe hym but soone after you hearde Anniball commandynge you to yelde your armour and your tentes Why doo I accuse Fathers conscript theyr slouthfulnes and cowardise whan I may rather accuse theyr wicked and abhominable facte they dyd not onely refuse his counsaile which was profitable but also they went about to withstande hym and to constrayne hym to forsake the common welthe vnles noble men with theyr naked swerdes hadde put them from their purpose Publius Sempronius was dryuen I say fyrst to escape by manful courage through those his felowes and citezēs and after through the myddell of his ennemies And shulde this citie and countrey desyre the restitution of suche citezens whom yf the residue of their felowes who were at Cannas had folowed and bene lyke there had no citezen ben lefte vs of those whiche were at the battell of .vii. M. men there were .vi. C. that aduentured to escape and retourne free with armour to theyr countrey nother dyd the hoste of theyr ennemyes whyche were xl M. men lette or hynder them howe safe than myght the two armyes being ioyned togyther haue passed thynke you whiche yf they had done fathers conscript ye shoulde haue had nowe .xx. M. stronge and hardy souldiours at Cannusiū but nowe howe can these be accompted for good and faythful citezens as for bolde they wyll not call them selfes whyche had rather to lye lurkyng in theyr tentes and tary bothe the day and theyr ennemyes than to endeuour them selues with theyr company to escape awaye in the nyghte but seing that theyr hartes wolde not serue theym to auoyde theyr tentes was it lyke trowe ye that they shulde haue hardynes to cōserue kepe the same tētes They say that where they were besyeged for certayne days and nyghtes they defended them selues and at the length whan they had suffered the extremitie whan all the necessaries to their lyfe dyd fayle theym than they being ouerpressed with hungre coulde noo longer susteyn battaile And they say they were rather ouercome for lacke of humayne necessities than with batayle This greate warre that ye speake of lastyng two days was ended in two howres Annibal came to the tentes before the sonne arose to whome without any battayle gyuen or resistence made they yelded vp theyr weapons and them selues Whan they shuld haue fought in the battayle they fiedde to theyr campe and whan they shuld haue defended theyr campe they nother profitable in the battaile nor in theyr tentes yelded vp campe and all Shuld such a sorte be redemed I thynke them fathers cōscript no more worthy to be redemed than I thynke them worthy to be yelded to Anniball whiche escaped from theyr tentes through the myddell of theyr ennemies And through theyr great hardines restored them selues to theyr countrey Whan Manlius had fynyshed his oration al though many of theym were of the kynrede and alyance to the senatours yet the answere was gyuen them that they shuld not be redemed And that for two causes the one was for the olde exaumple of the citie that had euer lyttell fauoured the redemption of captiue prysoners An other was the greate summe of money that muste be payde for them wherof theyr treasure had ben before made bare with manyfolde charges of warre And also they were loth that Anniball than being nedy of money shulde with theyr substance be so greatly enryched Than beganne a newe mournyng for the losse of the cytezens They folowed the legates with greate wepynge and sorowe to the gates One of those tenne Romayne messangers that were sent from Anniball after that his company departed towarde Rome fayned that he had lefte some thynge behynde hym and so returned to his tentes and in the nyght ouertoke his company by whiche fraudulent retourne thynking him selfe quytte and discharged of his othe wente home to his owne house And there remayned styl not returnyng to Anniball but whan his vntruth was knowen he was taken sent to the tentes of the Carthaginenses to do with hym theyr pleasure ¶ Howe Pacuuius by crafte became chiefe ruler of Capua and of the yeldyng of that citie to Annibal Cap. xxvii ANniball after the battayle at Cannas with as greatte spede as he myght went from Apulia to Samniū and to Cossa and so to Naples but the strengthe of that towne made him afrayde to gyue assaut therto Wherfore he went from thens and came to Capua whiche as than flouryshed in pleasure and abundance by long felicitie fauor of fortune Than was there in Capua one Pacuuius a noble mā sauing that he gat not his goodes and riches by honest meanes This Pacuuius bare gret office in the city the same yere that the Romans lost the bataile at Trasimenus And now thynkyng to make a discord betwene the senate and the cōmon people who long had vsed great licence and liberty without reason and therby to increase both his authoritie and substāce deuised a great and perillous enterprise which was that so sone as Anniball shuld come thyther with his army he wold cause the commons to slea the Senatours After whose death he myght
gouerned Nowe bycause I haue sufficiently spoken what maner of men ye ought to chuse cōsulles I wyll speake a lyttell of those to whome the fauour of this election hath inclyned ¶ Marcus Aemilius is one of the sacred priestes whom we can not sende from the sacrifice but we shall want the seruice due and accustomed to the goddis And you Octacilius haue maryed my systers doughter and haue chyldren by her Neuerthelesse your merytes and desertes towardes me and my frendes are not suche but that I haue more respecte to the common welthe than to my priuate busynes Euery maryner can in caulme wether rule the shyppe but whan the sharpe stormes aryse the sea beyng troubled and the shyppe tossed with the wynde Than is there nede of a man and a gouernour We sayle not now quietly but are with troublous stormes almost drowned Therfore we must prouyde with great diligence who shal gouerne the sterne or helme yea we must therof take hede before We haue proued thy diligence T. Octacilius in lesser busynes wherin truely thou dyddest not deserue that we shulde committe to the any greatter charge For thre causes we sent furthe a nauy the laste yere of which thou were gouernour Fyrst that the border of Affrica shuld haue bene wasted and distroyed Seconde that the hauens or strondes of Italy shulde haue ben kepte safe for vs And before all thynges that no succour stypende or other necessaries beinge sent from Carthage to Anniball shulde haue free passage I am content that ye make T. Octacilius consull yf he can proue that he dyd performe to the common welth any of these thynges to hym cōmytted But yf thou being capytayn of the nauy all that was sent from Carthage to Anniball had as free passage as though the sea had bene open And if the borders of Italy this yere were more indaungered than the borders of Affrica what canst thou alledge for thy selfe that thou shuldest be chosen chiefe capytayne agaynst Anniball it appertayneth to no man more than to the T. Octacilius to take heede that suche a burthen be not layde on thy necke the weyght wherof wyll peise the downe I do admonyshe and perswade you all that in chosynge your consuls at this tyme ye vse the same circumspection that ye wolde vse yf ye were dryuen to chose twayne to gouerne your bataile whan ye beinge in harneys on the playne againste your ennemies were redy to fyght with theym Trasymenus and the example of Cannas are very sorowfull to be remembred but they are ryght profytable and a good document to be ware of suche an other ¶ After this oration the prerogatiue of the yonge men was called in agayne And than wente they to a newe election in the which Quintus Fabius hym selfe was created the fourth tyme consul and Marcus Marcellus the thyrd time These were created without any variance Nother did any man suspect Quintus Fabius of couetousnes of rule and gouernāce but rather they praised the noblenes and courage of his hart For that whan he sawe that the common welthe dyd want a good capytayne and knewe hym selfe withoute doubte to be one estemed the enuy that he shulde haue yf any shulde aryse of that matter lesse than the profyt of the cōmon welth ¶ Whan all thynges were ordeyned with great care and dyligence for the warres in all partes the Campanes meruaylyng of the great and exquisite ordynance of the Romanes whiche was moche greatter than it was wonte to be and fearyng greatly leste they wold that yere begynne warre vpon theym they sent legates to Anniball incontinent desyrynge hym to moue his army to Capua shewyng hym that the Romanes hoste was chosen and proscribed to besiege Capua for that the defection of them was more displesantly taken of the Romanes than of any citie in Italy And bycause the matter was so fearefully pronounced vnto hym he made the greater spede to come thyther before the Romans Whan he hadde bene there a season he lefte certayne of the Numidians and Spanyardes to defende the citie and wente hym selfe to the lake of Auernus vnder the colour to make sacrifyce Not withstandyng his pretence was to set on Puteolus and them that were left there in garryson ¶ Whan Fabius Maximus hearde that Anniball was gone from Arpos and tourned agayne to Campania without restyng nyght or day he went to the hest and caused T. Gracchus to remoue frome Luceria to Beneuentum and made Quintus Fabius his sonne to abyde in his place at Luceria and hym selfe came to Cassilinum intendyng to besiege it and the Carthaginenses that were therein The same tyme as it were a thynge appoynted Hanno came from the Brusianes with a great host of horsmen and fotemen to Beneuentū but it chanced so that Titus Gracchus came from Luceria thyther somwhat before hym and entred the towne And whan he hearde that Hanno had pitched his tentes .iii. miles from the towne at a water called Calor and wasted the countrey he went hym selfe out of the towne and pytched his tentes a myle from his ennemy and there he had an assemble of souldiours wherof the moste part were of bondemen that had bene in the warre the yere before These bondemen thought by theyr desertes to be made free before they wold desyre it openly not withstandyng he perceyued a murmure of some ofthem complaynyng and sayinge Shall we neuer be free and do battaile like free souldiours and citezens Wherof he wrote letters to the senate as well of their desyre as of their deseruyng sayinge that he had euer vnto that day had theyr good faithful and strong helpe and that they wanted nothing that belonged to good and iust souldiours sauing liberty Cōcerning that matter it was permitted vnto him to do that whiche he shuld thinke mete for the profite of the cōmon welth Whervpon before he wold do battaile with his aduersarye he shewed his men that the tyme was come in whiche they might opteyne theyr libertie that they so longe desyred and hoped after for the nexte day they shuld fyght in a fayre and playne fielde where the battayle shulde be done without any feare of disceyte with cleane strengthe and hardynes and he that then wold shewe the head of one of his ennemies stryken of in battaile shuld streight way be made free and he that fledde shuld be punished with vile seruitude for euer Wherfore nowe sayde he euery mans fortune lyeth in his owne handes For the confirmation of whiche his wordes he said that he alone was not the auctour of theyr lybertie but that Marcus Marcellus the consull and the fathers conscripte were agreable to the same And thereof he had sente hym theyr letters whiche he shewed and red vnto them At these his wordes there arose a great noyse amonge them desyryng battaylle incontynent yf it myghte soo please hym Than Gracchus lette the Conuocation passe and appoynted the battayle agaynste the nexte daye The souldyours were verye gladde and in especiall
and of noble courage of mynde correspondent to the same ¶ This Centenius being broughte into the senate house by P. Cornelius Sulla desyred of the senatours that he might haue deliuered him only .v. M. souldiours with whose helpe he doubted not but that with the knowlege that he had both of the countreys and also of the crafty feates of his ennemy he wold with the same subtiltie and policies deceiue Anniball by whiche he before had deceiued the Romaynes This his vnwise promise vnto them was as vnwisely beleued of them And where he demaunded but .v. M. they gaue him .viii. M. men and he in the countreys as he went gathered togyther almoste as many mo of suche as willyngly went with him hauing hope in his courage and promise With this noumbre of men he came into the fieldes of the Lucanes where Anniball had rested hym and his company wery of the chase of Appius Claudius Whan either of them sawe others army they incontineÌ„t put their folke in aray The matche was not equall nother of capitaines nor of souldiours neuerthelesse the bataile indured more than two howres Centenius perceiuinge his part to suffre the worse and fearing leste if he shulde lyue after his men were slayne he shulde suffer great shame and infamy during his lyfe for the losse of suche a numbre of men by his folishe enterprise at the last willingly he entred the thickest prease of his enemies where he was shortly slayne and than his men fledde on all partes but they were so harde chased with horsemen that of that great company there escaped scant one thousand ¶ One other happy chaÌ„ce fortune sent to Annibal as it were for a farewel or leue takyng of him before she thought to depart to the Romans the occasion therof was that one Cneiê° Fuluius bearing the office of pretor lay than in Apulia with his host besiegyng suche townes as before were come to the amitie of the Carthaginensis And in his busynes he had soo well sped and was become so welthy and riche bothe he and his men with prayes whiche they had taken that leauyng all good order of warre or the peynfull pursuite thereof they were growen into slouthe and sluggysshe ydelnes Of theyr vndiscrete order the Appulians sente woorde to Anniball by messangers And he knowing by experience what wolde folowe the gouernance of an army by an vnwise capitane wherof of late he had the triall by Centenius with spede he remoued into the costis of Apulia Whan the Romains had knowlege that their enemies approched and were ouen at hande they were all mynded to haue displayde their baners and to haue runne to batail without the coÌ„mandement of their capitain The night folowing Annibal perceiuing their great hast to battaile coÌ„manded .iii. M. of his light men of warre to lye priuily hyd in woodes bushes couertes next adioyning gyuing them a signe or token at what tyme they shulde issue out and assaile their enmies Than caused he Mago with .ii. M. horsemen to lye priuily in the wayes by which he demed the Romans wolde flee after theyr discomfiture These thynges in the nyght tyme being wysely disposed yarly in the morning he came with his host into the fieldes putting the rest of his men in goodly aray ¶ On the other side Fuluius the pretor made no tarying being moche inforced therto by the hasty wilfulnes of his souldiours Wherfore with suche aduysement as they came into the fielde with suche lyke aduysement were the batayles ordred For euery man went to what place him semed best and chose his coÌ„pany with whom he wold be and somtyme changed his place again at his pleasure The forward and the left wing were fyrst ordered and that all in length and of a small thyknesse The Tribunes cried to them to set more strength of men in the myddell of their battailes or els their enemies myght easyly go through them with small force at theyr pleasure But they were so wylfull and hasty that they gaue noo eare to theyr wordes By that tyme were the Carthaginenses come in good order redy to ioyne at whose fyrst cominge with great noise bruite the Romains were put to the wors whervpon the capitayn seing all lyke to go to mischiefe toke his hors and with two hundred horsemen with him fled The reste that abode were almooste all slayne for of .xviii. M. of the company there escaped not past .ii. M. alyue The tentes and stuffe was also taken by the Carthaginenses whiche was a good pray The tydinges of these great sodayn losses were brought to Rome whiche caused the citie to be in great feare and mournyng Neuerthelesse by cause bothe the Consulles with their armies were safe and did somwhat prosper in their affayres they toke the more comforte to theym And incontynent sent messangers to the Consuls wylling them to serch for all such as were escaped at these two battailes that they shuld be gathered togither and called vnto them lest either for feare or for dispaire they wold yeld them to their enmies whiche thyng with all diligence they dyd execute ¶ The citie of Capua is beseged by the two consuls Anniball coÌ„meth to the succour of the citezeÌ„s giueth the coÌ„suls battel from thens goth to Rome ward with his host to thintent therby to draw the coÌ„suls from the siege of Capua Ca. xxxix IN the meane season was Capua compassed besieged by both the consuls great prouision of corne made for the same laid in garners in the castel of Casselinê° Than sent they to Suessula for Claudius Nero the Pretor who leauyng a small garrison there came hym selfe to theym to Capua with all his power Thus was Capua compassed with thre greatte armyes on three partes and to enclose the citezens the more surely they prepared to compasse the hole city with a great diche And thervpon they made many castels a good distance thone froÌ„ the other The CaÌ„panes thinkynge to let their work issued many times fought with the RomaÌ„s but their fortune was euer such that they lost still of their meÌ„ and at the last were constrained to kepe them within the walles of their citie but before the warkes or siege was so straite and strong they had sent ambassadours to Anniball complaynyng that he had forsaken theym and his citie of Capua and that yf he dyd not shortly succour them they must yeld them to the Romans To whom Anniball answered that of late he had resâ—ued them and raysed their siege ones and that shortly he wolde come to helpe them againe not doubting but the Romayns shuld be vnable to resist his power at his coÌ„myng With this comfortable message they retourned to their citie whyche they founde so compassed with a double dyche that with peyne coulde they fynde the meane to enter into it neither coulde they haue entred had not the letters of P. Cornelius the pretor bene wherin he aduysed the consuls before the dyche shuld be fully
and straites of Spayn made such spede that by the guyding of certayne runawayes of Celtiberia he came within ten myles of his ennemies before any knowledge was hadde or any fame was bruted of his comynge There he stode for a season tyll he had by the sayde runawayes or espyes knowledge that his ennemies were lodged in .ii. campes the Celtiberiens on the left hande of the hye waie and were to the noumbre of .ix. M. souldyours the Carthaginenses were on the ryghte hande Sillanus fyrste assayled the Celtiberiens who by the meanes of Mago were soone put in order The battaile endured soore for a season and somewhat the longer by meanes of resorte of the Carthaginenses whiche came frome the other campe to the healpe of the Celtiberiens At the laste Mago seinge his parte lyke to be putte to the worste with two thousande footemen and the wholle power of horsemenne that were lefte on lyue fledde vnto the Gades and came to Asdruball Hanno the other capytayne was taken on lyue with many other noble prysoners ¶ Soone after the battayle with Hanno Cornelius Scipio departed to Tarracon leauynge in that countrey L. Scipio his brother with tenne thousande fotemen and one thousand horsemen who after his brothers departing with this power assanted the townâ— of Qungin not without peyne For they scarsely were suffered to put theyr scalinge ladders to the walles so great was the violence of the dartes and other ingins whiche were throwen at them And so sone as any were raised vp thervnto and men theron striuinge to ascende anone they were eyther throwen downe men and all by the souldiours of the towne hauinge forkes made for that purpose orels they were in ieoperdy to be drawen vp ladders men and all by reason of iron hokes that were throwen vpon the ladders taking suche sure holde on them that the clymbers were often times pulled vp farre frome the grounde and hanged longe by the roundes of the ladders Thus continued the assault very long and was verye fyers and daungerous on bothe partes Then had Scipio deuided his host in thre partes to the intente one parte shulde euer assaulte the towne while the other rested Wherfore he commaunded those whiche were at the fyrst assaulte to withdrawe to their tentes and rest them and incontinent with other two partes of his freshe souldiours he gaue a newe assaulte on two partes of the towne so that the defondours beinge wery with the longe susteinyng the furst assault and also soore afraide as desperate leauinge the walles withdrewe them wherupon the towne was wonne and great occision made of people of all kyndes and ages ¶ Whan tidinges of this noble acte was brought to P. Scipio the capitiane he gretly praysed his brother doing to hym as moche honour as he myght And after sente hym to Rome to beare newes to the senate of theyr spede with hym also he sent Hanno the capitayn of the Carthaginenses diuers other noble prisoners that were before by them taken ¶ Asdruball the sonne of Gysgon and Mago the son of Amilcar desyrouse to redresse theyr harmes and to recouer theyr losses gathered together of theyr friendes in Spayne and of hyred souldiours an huge army to the numbre of .l. M. fotemen and .iiii. M. v. C. horsemen and came to the towne of Silpia where in the plaine fieldes they pitched theyr campes ¶ P. Scipio heringe of theyr great armye assembled all his men lykewise and to be more able to rencountre with his ennemies he sente Sillanus to Colchas the kynge and ruler ouer xxviii cities and townes of whom he had .iii. M. footemen and .v. C. horsemen He hâ—dde in his army when he came to Betula .xlv. M. of horsemen and fotemen Certaine daies after theyr metynge there were shyrmisshes and iustes betwene the horsemen and the lighte fotemen of bothe the armies At the last they bothe descended into the fieldes with al theyr powers in good order of battayle The middell wardes kept the Romaynes on the one syde and the Carthaginenses and the Affricanes on the other syde the wynges of both the parties were of spaniardes and hyred souldiours Thus stode they redye to do battayle tyll it was night without stroke strikinge and euen so they dyd certayne dayes folowynge So that euer it was bruted in bothe armies that the myddle wardes shulde be still of the Romaynes and Carthaginenses where the greatest strength was and where that most noble and experte men of warre were betwene whom also rested the cause and chiefe grounde of the warre Scipio beinge aduertised that his ennemies trusted and beleued that this order shulde be kept still in the battayle againste the daye wherin he thought to fight he chaunged all his order Fyrst in the euenyng before he commaunded all his horsemen before the dawnynge of the day to eate some meate and then to be armed and euery one of them to haue his horse also made redy for the battayle Whiche his commaundement they diligently accomplished Then Scipio so sone as the day appered caused al his horsemen with lyght armour to inuade the station or campe of the Carthaginenses and he with the rest of his hole hoste folowed in good arraye but otherwyse ordered then eyther his ennemies or his owne company loked for For he put his Romaynes in the wynges and in the middle he put all straungers and hyred souldiours Asdruball heringe the greate noyse of the Romayne horsemen with the sodayne rumour and feare of his owne menne ranne out of his tente And when he perceyued all the fieldes garnyshed with his ennemies he sent forthe anone his horsemen against the Romayn horsemen and sone after he hym selfe with all his fotemen came forth of his campe kepyng the same â—rdre that he had doue certayne dayes before without chaungynge any parte therof The battayle betwene the horsemen endured longe but whan the host of fotemen were within half a myle together Scipio caused his horsemen to withdrawe them selues whom he deuided then in two partes and caused to stande behynde the two wynges to be euer redy for theyr ayde and succour Nowe was his myddle warde most of Spaniardes whom he commaunded to marche forwardes not fast but a softe pace Then sente he a messanger to Sillanus and Martius who gouerned the lefte wynge chargyng them to make speede forwardes on theyr partes in lyke maner as they sawe hym do with the ryght winge whiche he ledde hym selfe so that the wynges might be fyghtyng a good space before the myddle wardes shulde mete In this ordre they wente forwardes spreadynge theyr wynges and makynge a great bosome in the myddell of theyr hoste For the spanyardes in the middel went a moch softer pace then the wynges wherby the winges were al redy come to strokes and fought a long space before that the Affricans and Carthaginenses in whom rested the great strength of theyr ennemies were come to any stroke strikinge Agayne to bende to any part of the winges to helpe theyr
galeys and castyng their ankers drewe as neere the shore as they coulde Asdruball perceyuinge the other two galeys or rowbarges of Scipios comynge towardes the same hauen knewe full welle they were the vesselles of his ennemyes Wherefore not doubtynge but that they beynge soo fewe in numbre myght easyly be oppressed and vanquysâ—hed before they shoulde gette the hauen he commaunded his folkes to wey vp the ankers and to make theim redy to sette furthe with all speede But the other hauynge good wynde to theyr furtherance entred the hauen before the galeys of Asdruball myght gette out suche ruffelinge noise and littell shifte was made by his men Wherefore when the Romaynes had ones gotten the kinges hauen no man durste be so bolde to meddell with theym Thus wente the two capyteynes on lande fyrste Asdruball and then Scipio with Lelius and bothe wente to the kynges palayes whose comynge dydde vnto Syphax greatte honour For it was neuer before seene that the gouernoures of the .ii. most noble seignories that were in those dayes in all the world came euer to his palayce vpon one day to desire his amitie and peace The kynge ryght gentylly receyued theim bothe and sens theyr chaunces were to mete both at one time in his howse he dydde what he myght to brynge them both to communication trustynge therby to appease all stryfe and discorde for any mattier that hadde beene betweene theym But that Scipio refused to doo affyrmynge that there was no pryuate matter of displeasure betweene hym and Asdruball whyche by communication or hearynge of friendes neded to be determined Neyther was there any thynge touchynge the common welthe of his countrey wherin he might trauayle or intreate onelesse it were by speciall auctoritie or commaundement of the wholle senate Than the kynge made great instance to Scipio seinge they were bothe his guestes at ones that he wolde be contented to be so ordered that he myghte not haue cause to expelle any of theim bothe frome his table Scipio at the kynges requeste was not onely contented to sytte with Asdruball at oone table but also for the kynges pleasure he laye in the same bedde that he dyd For Scipio was naturally of suche dexteritie and so conformable to reason that thereby he not onely wanne the herte of Syphax but alsoo he broughte his mooste mortall ennemye Asdruball in more admyration of hym after he hadde seene his conuersation than euer he dydde before for any acte that euer he dydde Wherevppon he beganne than to coniecture and to iudge that Syphax with all his myghte was become friende to the Romaynes Suche polycie he deemed Scipio to haue in wynnynge the hertes of men And than he beganne to dyuise that it was necessary for the Carthaginenses to consult among theim selues not how Spayne was loste and myghte be recouered but rather howe they myghte keepe their domynion in Affrica Specyally he was moued thus to be in doubte for that he iudged that soo greatte a capytayne of the Romaynes woulde not leaue the countrey that he lately hadde conquered to wander abrode in a straunge domynyon onely with two galeys leauynge behynde hym his greatte power and committyng hym vnto the daungier of an vnknowen kynge but onely vppon some truste that he had therby to wynne Affrica ¶ Scipio concludinge a peace and amitie with the kynge departed from hym leauynge Asdruball wrapped in manyfolde troubles And within foure dayes after susteynynge many stormes on the seas he arriued in safegard at newe Carthage ¶ Massanissa speaketh secretely with Scipio and entreth in leage with the Romaynes Mago sayleth into Italy to ioyne with Anniball Cap. lvii IT is before declared howe Sillanus had secrete communication with Massanissa and had wonne hym to be friende to the Romaynes but the conclusyon of this communication was deferred tyll Massanissa myghte speake with Scipio personallye for the more sure and faythfull assurance of theyr alliaunce Whiche caused P. Scipio to enterpryse that longe peynfull iourney to come nere to the sea side to mete hym Of whose approchynge Massanissa being in the yle called the Gades was aduertised by L. Martius He fained to Mago that his horses were lost and spylt for that they were so longe kepte within the yle without any exercise and his men also were empayred throughe idlenes not puttynge them selues in vre to do any feates of armes Furthermore he saide their longe lienge in that ilande caused derth and scarsitie of all thynges Wherfore he desired licence of him that he mighte with his horsemen passe ouer in to Spayne there to spoyle and wast the countrey nere to the sea syde ¶ By this perswasyon he obteyned lycence and came ouer in to Spayne At his fyrste arryuaile he sente thre noble men of Numidie to Scipio wherof he wylled him to reteyne with hym two of them as pledges And to sende againe the third of theim to acertayne hym of the tyme and place of theyr metynge by whose conducte he myght be broughte to the place appoynted When the daye came they met to gether with a smalle numbre in their companye where Massanissa at the fyrste syghte althoughe before he had a greate admyration of Scipio throughe the noble fame of his actes yet vppon the syght of hym and his presence he had hym in moche more veneration For besydes that of nature he was indowed with goodlye and large stature wherein he shewed a marueylouse magnifycence yet the same was set forthe the more by reason of his goodly long heare and his comly apparell after a manly and warrelyke fashion He was also of a myddle age at his full strength and was become so beautyfull after a sickenes of whiche he was late recouered that his lusty youthe semed renewed wherby he was more pleasaunt to beholde At theyr first metyng Massanissa half astonied gaue hym humble thankes for his goodnesse shewed in sendynge home his brothers sonne whom he before had as prisoner From which tyme he sayde he ceassed not to seke occasion of his friendshyp and amitie for the whiche nowe that he had obteyned it he gaue thankes to the goddes Trustynge that he wold so apply himselfe in his affayres and the Romaynes causes that theyr common welthe was neuer more aduaunced by one man beinge a straunger vnto them Which his harty beneuolence and good wyll that he bare to them he coulde neuer before althoughe he wolde haue shewed to hym and to them in Spayne beinge to hym a straunge and an vnknowen countrey But in case the Romaynes wolde sende Scipio as theyr capitayne into Affrica where he was bred and brought vp he doubted not there to do them such hie seruice that the honour of Carthage shuld no longe while endure ¶ Scipio gladly behelde hym and also heard hym knowinge surely that he was the chiefe of al the horsemen in the army of his ennemies and a lusty yonge man of a nobleherte and courage Wherfore after they had entreated of theyr busines giuynge faythe the
M. Attilius then I was afrayd to saile into Spaine after the deathe of bothe the Scipions And I truste Xantippus the Lacedemonien was not born to be more fortunate to the Carthaginenses then I shalbe to the Romayns and to mine owne countrey The tale muste be recited of the Athenienses howe fondely leauynge warre at home they entred into Affrica But why doest thou not reherse the historie of Agathocles king of the Syracusanes Who when his countrey of Sicilia had ben long troubled with warre by the Carthaginenses he with his host failed ouer into Affrica whereby he delyuered his owne countrey from warre and tourned all to the defence of him his power in Affrica But to shewe the commoditie of inuadinge of a foreyne countreye thereby to auoyde ieopardyes at home what better example can any man reherse then of this Anniball There is greate difference betwene the syght of bournynge and spoylyng of other mennes countreyes and the syght of the destruction of thine owne cities and regyons There is more courage in a manne that offrethe battayle then in him that defendethe Lyttell thoughte Anniball at his fyrst comyng to Italye that so many cities and people wolde haue yelded them vnto him as did after the battail at Cannas moch lesse cause shal the Carthaginenses haue of truste or hoope in Affrica consideringe their vntruthes to their neyghbours their owne proud and cruel dominion ouer their subiectes We beynge forsaken of our neyghbours haue stil endured al dangers by our owne power and strength The Carthaginenses haue no great strength of their owne Their power is in hyred souldiours of Affrica and Numidia whose lyghte wyttes cause lyghte faythe when they se cause of chaunge Yf ye suffer me to depart hence with spede ye shall shortely heare of my passage thither and of the warre wherewith I shal vexe theim And then shal ye see Anniball make spede to departe from this countreye and ye shall heare shortely of the syege of Carthage not doubtynge but that ye shal receiue gladder tydynges from Affrica then euer ye had fro me out of Spayne These hopes I do conceyue Fyrste of the fortune of this citie and people of Rome Secondely throughe the truste of the goddes whiche are witnesses of the truse broken by theim Thyrdely that occasyon offered by Syphax and Massanissa to whose promyse and faythe I wyll soo truste that I wyll also be well ware of theyr falsehode and dysceipte And it is the parte of a manne and a good capyteyne not to shrynke and forsake fortune when it is offered I knowe well Quintus Fabius that I shall find Anniball my matche but I wyll rather drawe hym then he shall retire me I wyll cause him to fyght with me in his owne cuntrey And Carthage shall rather be a pray and a rewarde of our victory then the countrey and castelles of the Brutians whyche are almost dystroyed already Nowe when ye say Italye shalbe in daungier by my departynge hens I praye you may not P. Licinius the consull whyles I am say lynge thyther staye with his hoste Anniball that is nowe of small power aswell as thou Q. Fabius dyddest slaye him when he as a conquerour ouerranne all Italy Yt shall be a greate honour to the Romayns and an eternal same among kinges and strange nations that we haue the courage not only to defend Italy but also to enter make warre in Affrica What shame shal it be when it shall be sayde that Anniball enterprised an act that no Romayne capiteyn euer durste enterprise When contention was betwene vs and the Carthaginenses for Sicilia our nauies and armies oftentimes inuaded Affrica Howe when contention is for Italy betwene vs Affrica remaineth quiet and in peace But nowe let Italy take rest be in peace whiche of long tyme hath ben vexed and let Affrica an other season suffer bournynge spoylynge and wastyng And let the puissaunt Romayne army approche the walles of Carthage rather then we should with bulwarkes and fortifycations defende our ennemies from our owne walles Let Affrica be from henseforthe the place of warre Let feare flieng sleing wastynge of fyeldes and other dystructions belongynge to warre be nowe tourned thyther whiche by the space of .xiiii. yeres hath inuaded our countrey ¶ After this aunswere of Scipio greate stryfe and altercacion was in the senate house At the laste it was decreed that Sicipo with thyrty shyppes shulde go into Sicilia and from thence at his pleasure yf he thoughte it most conueniente for the common welthe to sayle ouer into Affrica the other cōsul to kepe warre in the countrey of the Brutians against Anniball Besydes these shyppes and the Romayne legyons whiche were appoynted to Scipio many cities and cuntreys adioyning to Rome willingly ayded him with shyppes with vii thousande souldiours and all thinges necessarye of their owne costes and charges With whiche noumbre he arriued in Sicilia and there deuyded theim into companyes appointynge to euery company an hundred men Amonge al whiche nomber he chose oute thre hunderd of the moost valyant and actife yonge men that were withoute armour whom he kept euer aboute hym But they knewe not to what pourpose he mente it And on a daie he chose and named .iii. C of the most noble and rychest yonge gentylmen of all Sicilia whome he sayde should sayle with him into Affrica assygninge theym a day at whiche they shuld appere before him with theyr horse and armour This commaundement troubled theim sore and to be so farre frō home with the labours by land and by sea semed very painful not onely to theim but also to their frendes and kinsefolkes At the daye appointed for their retorne they came all before him bringing with theim horses harneis and althinges necessary Then said Scipio It is shewed me that certaine of you men of armes of Sicilia grudge sore to go inthis iourneye with me Wherefore if there be anye of you here of that mynd I pray you speake nowe and I wil gladly heare you For I had moche leauer that ye vttered it nowe betymes then that ye shuld agaynst your hertes go forth and become vnprofitable souldiors to me and to the cōmon welth Wherevnto one of the .iii. C. answered Truely syr yf it were in my choyse and election what I shulde do I woulde not go forthe in the warres Well sayde Scipio Sence ye haue playnely declared your mynde without dissimulation I wyll appoynte one in your place to whome ye shall delyuer youre horse harneyes and other necessarye instrumentes of warre whome ye shall take home with you to youre howse and there teache instruct and exercyse hym in feates of warre tyll I sende for hym agayne Of this bargaine the yong gentylman was verie ioyefull and delyuerynge him all his appareyll for the warre he toke him home with him When the reste of the three hundred men of armes of Sicilia perceiued their companion by this meane dismyssed from the warre with the good loue and
a citie in the vttermost parte of Italy that then was holden by the Carthaginenses Whiche citie in shorte tyme he obteyned partly by treason of certayne carpenters that wrought in the castell partly by the fauour of the citezens therof Who beinge greuously opressed by Amylcar the capitayne and other Carthaginenses of the garrison that ceassed not to vse all kyndes of oppression ouer them at the last consented to receyue the Romaynes into the towne Whiche brought to passe Scipio returned to Sicilia leauynge behynde hym Q. Pleminius capitayne of the towne with a garryson sufficient for the kepinge of the same After whose departynge Pleminius with his souldyours farre passed Amylcar and the Carthaginenses in pride auaryce and all other vyces So that it seemed they stroue not who shuld ouercome other in feates of armes but who shuld excede other in vice They spared nother mens wiues maidens nor doughters they exercysed cruell rapine of mens goodes and spoilyng of temples Wherof the citizens beynge wery sent message of complaint to Scipio the consul whervpon he eftsones came to Locrus where he had al their matters debated and at length punyshed certayne of theim by emprysonmente and after departed leauynge styll Q. Pleminius capitayne there with no lesse auctority then he had be fore But after he departed Pleminius wyllinge to execute his malice ouer his ennemies put certayne of theym to cruell deathe whiche before had complayned of him to the consull His souldiours also were afterwarde more cruell and vnrulye then they were before Therfore they sent legates to Rome with greuous complaynte to the senate of the manyfolde iniuries hurtes and cruell paynes that they suffered moche more by the Romaynes then euer they hadde by the Carthaginenses Whose complaynte beynge well and delyberately herd in the senate Quintus Fabius replete with olde malyce agaynst Scipio to set forthe his neglygence inquired of the legates whether they had neuer before that time shewed their cause to the consul Scipio They aunswered that at their first complaynt he herd the matter and then putting the tribunes in pryson he let Pleminius go at libertie and put him again in auctority although he was worthy more punishement then the other But at their second complaynt made to him by their legates he was so busied aboute the setting forewardes of his shippes men into Affrica that he could not attend to here or examine their matter Then was there gret reproch spoken of Scipio by many of the princes of the senate specially Q. Fabius alleged that he was born to corrupt and distroy al warlike policy and lernyng by his ouermoche sufferāce and giuing of libertie Some would haue had Pleminius brought to Rome bound and Scipio called frō his prouince At the laste the sentence of Q. Metellus toke place whiche was that it was good to send for Pleminius according to the mynde of Fabius But as touching Scipio whom the whole citie fyrste had chosen in his youth to be a capitaine in Spayn and he according to theyr expectation had delyuered the hole countrey out of the handes of their ennemies whervpon they also of late had chosen hym consull to subdue Affrica and to deliuer Italy of Anniball He thought it not meete for suche a noble man to be sodainly condemned his cause not being duly herd and debated or to haue him called frome his iourney without a greatter cause than this was Consideringe that the Locrenses could lay no defaut to Scipio but only ouermuch sufferance of Pleminius Wherfore he thought it best that M. Pomponius with .ii. tribunes shuld be sent to Locrus frō thens to Sicilia to examyne trie whether the wronges done to the Locrēses wer done by the cōmandement or assent of P. Scipio or not And in case he were consentyng therto then that they shuld cōmand him to returne to Rome other legates to occupy his place or els that he shoulde continue in his purpose and iourney into Affrica as he had appoynted ¶ According to this sentence Pomponius with .ii. tribunes other legates came to Locrus makyng proclamation that yf any man wold accuse Pleminius Scipio or any other mā that they shulde come before theim and they shuld be well herde The Locrenses gyuyng great thankes to the Romaines for the goodnes therin to them shewed answered that they wold accuse Pleminius as chief doer of all the mischief and certain other with him But as touching Scipio they had nothynge to charge hym withal but that he eyther gaue ouermoch credēce to Pleminius or to litell faith to their wordes But they sayd they knewe wery well that the wronges to theim done were neither by the wyll nor commaundement of Scipio but they thought hym to be of the nature of many men which are sory that any wronge or offence shulde be committed and yet whan the iniuries be done they haue not the hertes or willes to reuenge or punishe the offenders of the same ¶ With this aunswere M. Pomponius and the other were moch eased of any further inquirie of Scipios matter Wher fore they toke Pleminius and .xxx. other of his complices that were founde gyltie of dyuers greatte offences and sente them bound to Rome where Pleminius dyed in prison Sone after the other wer put to condigne execution Then thought they to go to Scipio to see whether the sclaunder spoken of his slouthe in gouernaunce or of the mysorder of his hooste were true or not that they myght therof make true reporte whan they were returned to Rome ¶ Scipio hearyng of their coming caused all his army to repayre to Syracusa where he than lay and also caused his nauy of shyppes to be sette furthe and ordered in all poyntes as though he shulde the same day haue fought with the Carthaginenses bothe by water and by lande Whan Pomponius and the other embassadours were come he gentilly and louingly receiued them he shewed them his army on the land in array redy to fight his nauy also on the sea he shewed them not onely redy to battaile but makyng a shew of a fight in the hauen Than ledde he them to his garners of corne and into his armory and store houses of ordinance and artillary and all instrumentes of warre Who seing al his prouision and order were striken with a great admiration of hym and his conduict iudgyng that through his gouernance and his army the Carthaginenses shoulde be ouercome or elles it were neuer possyble for theim to be subdewed Wherfore desyrynge the goddis to prospere welle his iourneye they departed frome hym takynge theyr waye to Rome with greatte ioye as though they were goinge to brynge tydynges to Rome of victory rather than to report the meruaylouse preparation towarde battayle whiche they hadde seene in Sicilia Whanne they came into the senate howse they extolled the fame and actes of Scipio after suche sorte that they sent hym worde incontinent to departe towardes Carthage takynge with him whom he wolde leauynge behynd
hym for the defence of Sicilia certaine at his pleasure ¶ King Syphax marieth the daughter of Asdruball he sendeth letters to Scipio willing him to abstein from any warre in Affrica with the aunswere and dyssimulation of Scipio vnto the same Scipio arryueth in Affrica with his hoost to whom cometh Massanissa Ca. lxii VVhyles the Romaynes made this great ordynance for the warre the Carthaginenses fearing greatly the coming of Scipio prepared as moche as they coulde for theyr defence and strengthe Wherfore to plucke Syphax from the amitie of the Romaynes Asdrubal the sonne of Gisgon made hast to fynishe a maryage betwene Syphax and his daughter that was a very fayre mayden The kynge being inflamed with loue made hast also to be maried Then Asdrubal besides his particular aliance made a newe general bonde of amitie betwene hym and the Carthaginenses with greate solempnitie and othes takynge promisynge faythfully that the friendes and ennemies of the one shulde also be the friendes or ennemies to the other Neuer the lesse Asdruball remembringe the promyse of amytie that the kynge had ones made with Scipio when he was lodged with him in his palais knowynge the mutabilitie and vnstedfastnes of those barbarous nations and fearynge leste if that Scipio were ones arryued in Affrica that the bande of mariage wolde be but lyttel worthe Therfore whyles the loue was feruent betwene the kyng and his daughter he by his greate desyre and his daughter also with her fayre entreatynge caused the kynge to sende his embassadours to Scipio into Sicilia with letters gyuynge hym warnynge that he shulde not vpon the truste of any promise to hym before made by the kynge sayle ouer into Affrica aduertisynge hym that he had maryed the daughter of one Asdruball of Carthage whom Scipio mette in his palaice when he arriued in Affrica Furthermore he sayde he was in a greate leage and amitie with the people of Carthage Wherfore he desyred hym and the Romaynes if they wolde warre with the Carthaginenses that they do it farre from Carthage as they haue done heretofore that he shulde not nede to be present at theyr battailes For in case Scipio wold not forbeare Affrica but lay siege to Carthage he coulde no lesse do but fighte for the defence of his countrey of Affrica in which he was gotten borne and brought vp and for the defence of the countrey of his wyfe for her father and family ¶ With these letters came the messangers to the citie of Syracusa to Scipio who parceiued by the contentes of the same that he shuld haue great lacke of the kynges helpe in his busines of Affrica yet he set forth a countenaunce kepynge secrete the cause of theyr coming tyll he had sent them home agayne to the kynge with letters wherin he moued him neuer to breake the promise that he ones made him nor swarue from the faith and amitie made with the Romains wherof the goddes were witnesses When the messangers wer departed with his letters Scipio fearing lest his soudiours wold muse moch and deuise also of the cause of the comynge of the sayd messangers to hyde the sayd cause from them and to put them in courage he dissembled the matter and callinge his men to gether sayde to them ¶ Sirs nowe is the ful tyme for vs to depart hense into Affrica without further tarieng For the kinges our friendes haue sent vnto vs instantly desiring vs to make spede Fyrst Massanissa came to Lelius complaining greatly of our tractynge of tyme. And nowe Syphax hath also sent vnto vs marueylynge why we tary so longe Desiringe that we wyll eyther shortlye come ouer to him or els in case we be otherwise minded to certifie hym by writing that therupon he maye prouyde for hymselfe and his countrey Wherfore sens althinges is now redy and the matter requireth hast I intende to leade mine army nauy to the partes of Lilibeus as soone as the wether serueth to depart with the fauour of the gods towardes Affrica ¶ After these wordes to them spoken he ordered al thynges for his departynge and soone after came to the sayde porte with all his host All his shyppes also met him there The nomber whereof was so greatte that the hauen suffysed not to conteine theym nor the citie coulde not receyue the men Of the certainte of the nombre wrytars do not agre Wherefore I wyll let it passe But it semeth the nomber of the men was greatte that achyeued so greatte an enterpryse and for whom so gret prouisiō was made For there were .iiii. C. shippes charged with men vitailes ordinances and other necessary cariage besides .xx. great and long shippes wherof Scipio him selfe and L Scipio his brother toke the gouernance and other .xx. like shippes vnder the rule of C. Lelius his admyrall of the sea Whiche .xl. great shippes thus deuided sailed euer on both sydes of the other .iiii. C. as wafters for the defence of theyr vitayles and cariage In euery shyppe also he caused to be vittailes and freshe water for .xlv. dayes wherof the meate that wolde serue for .xv. dayes was redye sodden the other was rawe Then gaue he commaundement to al his souldiours to kepe peace and sylence in theyr shyps for troublynge the shipmen and that they shulde be redy to do al that the sayd shypmen desyred them to do if nede requyred With this great numbre of shippes and of mē they departed the day folowyng Euery one of the .xl. long shyppes beinge appointed to haue in the nyght season one lyght euery one of the .iiii. C. laden shyppes u. lyghtes and the capitaynes chiefe ships for a speciall marke or knowlege had thre fayre lightes In the mornynge at the soundinge of a trumpet the vesselles set forth in good order And Scipio hym selfe at his departynge made his praier openly in the audience of many peple on this maner ¶ Oye goddes and goddesses whiche inhabite rule and gouerne both sea and lande I humbly beseche you that ye graūt all thynges that I haue done do or shall do may turne to the honour and welthe of me and the citizens of Rome and that ye wyll be aydynge and assistinge to me in my procedinges So that our ennemies beinge ouer come we maye safe and sounde returne home to our houses laden with the pray gotten by the spoyle of our ennemies Graunt ye also that I may haue power so to do vnto the people and citie of Carthage as they haue intended to do to the citie of Rome ¶ After these wordes doing sacrifice after the custome that they vsed he departed The wynde was good and in shorte space toke them from the fyght of the lande and within foure dayes they were brought vpon the cost of Affrica Then Scipio seinge a great mounteyne or rocke lienge out vpon the sea inquired of the mayster of his shyppe what was the name of that mountain He answered it is named the mount of Beaute Then sayde Scipio I lyke the name and
of the kynge he made aunswere that he wolde intreate of peace betwene the Romains and the Carthaginenses Vpon this condition that the Romaynes shulde departe cleane out of Affrica and the Carthaginenses lykewyse out of Italy without further trouble orelles he wolde not fayle to pursue the warre on the partie of the Carthaginenses With these conditions Scipio was nothynge pleased Neuerthelesse trustinge by further communication in the matter to haue aduauntage by the serche and trewe knowledge of the state of his ennemyes throughe the common entercourse of eyther partie to the others campe he fayntly refused those conditions wherby his ennemies myght take some hope of the achieuinge of theyr purpose Now were the wynter houses in the campes of the Carthaginenses made of wodde and bowes suche as they coulde get together The Numidiens lodginges were couered with flagges and redes and they laye within theyr campe without order Many also chosynge theyr owne places without assignemente laye withoute the campe or dyches whiche beinge shewed to Scipio gaue hym a comfort and an hope that the lodginges of his ennemies by pollicie myghte be set on fyre Wherfore at euerye tyme that he sente any embassadours to the kynge Syphax to entreate of the peace to be parfectly assured of the â—rewe state of all thynges he euer sent with them certayne witty fellowes of his army disguysed in the habite and fourme of slaues commaundinge them whiles the embassadours were busy in theyr communication that they shulde straye abrode to all partes of the campe of his ennemies and to marke well the entrees and issues of the campes with the syte fascion of the stacion or lodginges as well of the Carthaginenses as of the Numidiens and in what quarter they were sette and howe farre the kynges campe was distante from the campe of Asdruball with the maner of theyr watche and warde bothe by nyghte and by daye ¶ When the matter was thus dyuerse tymes debated betwen the two counsayles and that the Romaynes were parfecte of all the state of theyr ennemies and theyr order Then the legates of Scipio sayde vnto the kynge that they were commaunded neuer to returne vntyll they had brought determynate aunswere eyther of peace or of warre Desyrynge hym eyther to gyue aunswere therof hym selfe or to take the counsayle and aduyse of Asdruball and the Carthaginenses and therupon to make them theyr aunswere For it was nowe hye tyme to knowe eyther the oone or the other withoute further tryfelynge forthe of tyme. Thus while Syphax toke the aduyse of Asdruball and Asdruball of the noble menne of Carthage the espyes had leysar to viewe and serche all thynges that they were charged with and Scipio hadde tyme to prepare all that was mete to serue his purpose The Numidiens also and the Carthaginenses trustynge euer on peace were neglygente in foreseinge and aduoydynge daungiers of warre that were prepared for theyr myschiefe At the laste aunswere was made that the Romaynes woulde haue peace but theyr conditions were not indifferente whiche they desyred Wheruppon Scipio hauynge a good occasion honestlye to breake the truse before betwene theim taken On the morrowe he sente worde to the kynge that syns he perceyued no man wyllynge to haue peace but hym selfe therefore the kynge from thens forthe shulde truste to haue noo peace with the Romaynes onlesse he wolde leaue the amitie of the Carthaginenses Then was the tyme of truse expyred and the sprynge of the yere was come Wherefore Scipio to brynge his pourpose aboute assembled to gether his shippes and furnished theim with ordynaunce and artyllery as though he woulde assayle Vtica on the sea coste He also sente two thousande men of warre to kepe the hyll about Vtica whiche before laye vnkepte And that he dydde for two purposes Fyrste to drawe the myndes of his ennemies from the suspection of that whiche he had deuysed and to occupy them with contrary worke Secondly with that power to defende his campe from the excursions of the citezens in case they wolde issue out whyles he with his power were gone to Syphax and Asdruball Then dydde he open vnto Massanissa and certayne other what his mynde was to doo the nyghte folowynge And he commaunded the Tribunes that in the euenynge folowynge they shulde brynge forthe the hoste into the fyeldes They accordynge to his commaundement aboute the sonne settynge sette forthe the standardes and banners and in the begynnynge of the nyghte the hoste set forwarde in arraye so that by mydnyghte they hadde gone .vii. myles and were come nere to the campe of theyr ennemyes Then Scipio deuyded his army in .ii. partes The one parte with the Numidiens he appoynted to Lelius and Massanissa wyllynge them to inuade the campe of kynge Syphax and to set fire on the lodginges made of bowes and of flagges hartely prayinge them bothe that nyght to apply theyr businesse with great dilygence And he sayde that so sone as he myghte perceyue the fyre to be in the kynges campe then wolde he also assayle the campe of Asdruball ¶ Accordyng to his commaundement the purpose was achieued For incontinent after the fyre was put into the vttermost partes and houses the fyre anon toke in the drye styckes and flagges and ranne from one house to an other so that in shorte space it was abrode in euery parte of the campe The Numidiens of the kynges hoste parceyuinge the fyre were stryken with a sodeyne great feare and the more bycause it chaunced in the nyght season yet nothynge mistrustinge the cause therof to aryse throughe their ennemies but iudginge it to come throughe some negligence or euyll fortune They ranne on all partes to helpe to ceasse or quenche the fyre without armour or weapons Nowe Massanissa whiche knewe the wayes and entrees about the kinges campe had soo laide his Numidiens in embushmeÌ„tes that as the people ran abrode to quenche the fyre they fel into the company of theyr ennemies er they knew where they were and by that meanes many were slaine many also wer burned in theyr beddes with fyre The watche of the Carthaginenses in the campe of Asdruball parceyuinge the great fires in the kynges campe awaked the rest of the hoste Who being also deceyued for that they thought the fyre was hapned by negligence and not by the deuise of theyr ennemies and herynge the greate crye of theyr companye in the kynges hoste that were slayne whiche they thought came but onely throughe the sodeyne feare of the fyre that was happened in the nyghte they ranne together in companyes vnarmed out of the gates of theyr campes the next way takyng onely with them suche thynges wherwith they myght quenche the fyre Whom the Romaynes receyued as they came and flewe them euery one that none escaped to beare tydynges therof Then Scipio incontinent inuaded the campe Where fyudynge the gates ther of vnwarded he entred with his armye and set fyre on the lodginges in diuerse partes whiche spreadyng abrode in short space burned all
was stnyshed Lelius with his hoste of footemen came to the citie of Cyrtha And knowing of the sodeine weddyng he was so displesed with the act that he was mynded to take her from the plesant bedde of her new husband and to send her to Scipio with her husband Syphax and other â—â—isoners But at the last he being ouercome by thintercessioÌ„ of Massanissa who remitted the order of that matter to the iudgement of Scipio he sent Syphax and other prisoners to the emperour Scipio After whose departyng he by the helpe of Massanissa receiued the other townes and cities of that countrey of Numidia into his handes which before were kept by the retinue of kyng Syphax ¶ Syphax is brought to the campe of Scipio Massanissa sendeth to Sophonisba poyson whiche she without feare drinketh Capi. lxv VVhan tydinges came into the Romain campe of the coming of Syphax and the other noble captiues greatte was the numbre of people that ranne to behold theim The king being bounde was caried formooste and after hym folowed a great numbre of the nobilitie of Numidia And as the opinion of men is dyuers so diuerse were the tales of the people extollynge the honour of the victorye by the myghty power of Syphax and by the noble fame of the people that was ouercome There was recounted the myghty power of the kyng to whose maiestie in one day .ii. of the most noble seignories of the worlde sued for his fauour and frendeship that is to say the Romayns and the Carthaginenses The Romanes sent theyr valyaunt emperour and capitaine Scipio onely with .ii. galeys that bare fiue oores on euery syde into Affrica to seke his amitie leauyng in Spayn than his prouince all his hoste and great charge Agayne Asdruball the capytayne of the Carthaginenses not onely came into his countrey for amitie but also he gaue hym his daughter in mariage for the more sure consyrmation of alyaunce betweene theim Some rehersed the power and actes of Syphax to be suche that he had driuen Massanissa out of his realme brynging him to suche extreme calamitie that his lyfe coulde none otherwyse be saued but by the bruite and fame of his death and he after gladde to hyde his head in dennes or caues and to lyue in the forestes and woddes lyke a wylde beast ¶ With these and suche lyke famous report of the beholders he was brought into the tent of Scipio who was by his presence and syght muche moued with pitie consyderyng the honour that he of olde tyme had knowen hym in and conferryng the same to his present misery Than Scipio after salutations made other coÌ„municatioÌ„ betwene them had 〈…〉 what he wold haue him to do to him seing he 〈◊〉 onely refused the amitie of the Romaynes but also wyllingely gauetheim battayle To whom the kinge aunswered that he knewe wel that he had offended and he confessed that he was not in his right mynde whan he moued warre againste them He was madde when he dyd forget the comynge of Scipio into his realme and the bonde of alliance that he then made with hym but specially whan he receiued into his house a matrone of Carthage of whose hot loue and mariage the fyry brondes had alredy set fyre in his royall palaice That madde and pestilente fury by her intisement neuer ceassed tyll she had turned his harte and mynde from his olde friendes the Romaynes causynge hym to pursue the warre againste them Neuer the lesse sayde he in all my mysery I haue nothynge that so moche doth comfort me and reioyse my herte as when I beholde the same pestilent madde fury nowe to be entred the house of my most ennemy And when I consyder that Massanissa is noo more wyse then Syphar was but that he more madly and with lesse temperaunce hath receiued her then euer I dyd ¶ With these wordes of the kynge Scipio was not a lyttell troubled and then herynge the great offence layde to Massanissa he sawe good cause why he shuld gyue credence therto Consydering the great hast made in the maryage without the aduise of Lelius and without abydinge his comynge This acte also semed worse and more to be abhorred consyderyng that he beinge a yonge man in Spayne was neuer before taken with the loue of any captiue or prisoner ¶ As he was musynge hereon anone Lelius and Massanissa came vnto hym whom in open audience he meryly and ioyfully receyued giuynge them great thankes and praises for their dilygence in that iourney shewed But anone takynge Massanissa alone with hym in to a secrete place he sayde thus vnto hym ¶ I knowe ryght well Massanissa that you dydde perceyue some good qualities and vertues in me whan you fyrste came into Spayne to me defyrynge there my frendshyp and amitie and afterwarde in Affrica when ye holly coÌ„mytted your selfe into my gouernaunce But at that tyme ye thought your selfe that there was no vertue in me whiche ye soo moche estemed as temperaunce and continencie of whiche also I truely dyd most glory of my selfe And these vertues Massanissa I wolde ye shulde ioyne vnto other noble qualities and vertues wherwith ye are indued For beleue me there is not so moche daunger to men of our yonge age by armed ennemies as is by voluptuouse pleasure of our wanton desyres whiche euer are redy to vainquishe vs. And who so euer throughe temperaunce can bridle and subdue those affecions is worthy more honour and hath achieued a greatter victory then we haue nowe had by the takynge of kynge Syphax The actes whiche ye haue so valyauntly and nobly done in myne absence remayne daylye in my memory the other your euill actes I had leuer ye dyd call to remembraunce your selfe then that I shoulde declare theym to youre greatte shame Syphax by the good fortune of the Romaynes is nowe ouercome and taken Wherefore he his wyfe his kyngedome his possessions his townes and castelles his people inhabitauntes of the same with all that euer to Syphax belonged is nowe a praye due to the people of Rome The king and his wife although she had not beÌ„ a citezen of Carthage and althoughe her father were not the capitain of our ennemies ought to be sent to Rome and there she ought to abide the iudgement of the senatours and people of the citie for that she turned the minde of the kyng her husbande from our friendshyp perswadynge hym to take armour agaynste vs. Wherfore nowe ouercome your owne affectionate mynde and beware that with one vyce ye dysgrace not so many your good vertues and by one offence lose the rewarde and the thankes whiche by your merites ye haue here tofore worthely deserued ¶ With these secrete rebukes Massanissa was not onely ashamed but also constrayned to wepe sayinge that he wolde alwayes be at his commaundemente Neuer the lesse he desyred hym as moche as myght be admitted to regarde the faythful promesse that he had vnaduisedly made vnto her whiche was that he wolde delyuer her into
was that they myght continue in the same leage and conditions of amitie and peace with the Romaines as were before at the last truce taken with them by Luctatius than being consull ¶ Then dyuers of the auncient Senatours of Rome whyche were presente at the leage taken by Luctatius demaunded sundrye questyons of the legates of Carthage concernynge the sayde condition of peace conteyned in that leage Wherevnto they beynge all younge menne aunswered that they were not of aege to remembre that treatie This aunswere was greattely suspected of the fathers Wherefore they said with one assent that the Carthaginenses accordyng to theyr olde accustomed crafte and falsehode had chosen suche imbassadours to requyre a peace to be renued wherof they had no knowlege nor remembrance Whervppon the legates were caused to auoide the place whiles they counsayled vppon the matter And after longe deliberate discussynge therof Lelius and Fuluius declared to theim the opinyon of Scipio touchyng this peace whiche was that he dydde not myslyke the meanyng of the Carthaginenses in case they dyd not sende to call home Anniball and Mago out of Italy but if they so dyd than he thought they wolde dissemble the matter vnto their capitains coming with succours and afterward forgettyng their promise wolde renewe the warre Vpon these wordes the whole counsayle agreed to the saying of M. Valerius Leuinus who sayde that they were to be taken as espies and not as embassadours and that they shuld be cōmanded to auoyde Italy hauyng guides sente with theim to conduct theim vnto their shyppes And that word shulde be sente to Scipio to procede in the warre as he had begunne ¶ Nowe in the meane space whiles the legates of Scipio and of Carthage were at Rome Cn. Octauius with .ii. C. shippes of cariage and .xxx. other longe shippes to guyde theim passed from Sicilia to go into Affrica but the windes were so vehement the stormes so importunate that he with the long shyppes with peyne saued hym selfe in a porte neere to the mountayn of Apollo The other hulkes of cariage were driuen to diuers places on the coste of Affrica in the sight of the men of Carthage The Carthaginenses perceyuing this great praye easy to be taken forgettynge theyr desyre of peace and also the tyme of truse taken with Scipio yet mention of them bothe was made to them by certayne of the citie they by hole assente appoynted Asdruball with fyfty shyppes to gather togither and to bring home those seabeaten disparpled shippes with all that was in them At whose comynge the shypmenne fled away leauynge theyr vesselles and he without any resystence drewe them with hym to Carthage Scipio considering this theyr acte to be doone before the legates were returned from Rome or that they knewe what aunswere they shuld receyue eyther of warre or of peace Also seinge the tyme of truse was not yet expyred toke it to be moche more heynous and displeasaunt ¶ Sone after this breake of truse on the parte of the Carthaginenses arryued Lelius and Fuluius with the legates of Carthage to whom Scipio declarynge theyr vntrewe dealynge cōmaunded them to departe and he with all spede prepared for the warre ¶ This yere folowynge were chosen consulles M. Seruilius Geminus and T. Claudius Nero. Seruilius was apoynted to Hetruria as his prouynce and Claudius Nero to Affrica He had ordeyned fyfty good shyppes wherwith he and his host shulde passe into Affrica where he shulde be equal ruler with Scipio ¶ NOVVE VVAS Anniball with his armye arriued safe in Affrica and by land came to Zama fyue days iourney from Carthage From thens sente he espies before hym to knowe the state of the Romayne campe and armye These spyes by chaunce happed on the skoute watche of the Romaynes and were taken and brought to Scipio Who demaunded of them the cause why theyr capitayne sent them thyther They aunswered to espye and to haue knowlege of his army and order Then Scipio called certayn of his capitaines called tribunes commaundinge them to go with the espies of Anniball and to conducte them throughe all his campe not fearynge to shewe them what so euer they desyred to see Whan they had gone rounde about a longe season and were brought agayne to him he demaunded of them whether they had well accordinge to theyr myndes viewed his campe and hoste They sayde ye Then said he Go ye to Anniball and make to hym relation of that ye haue seene Thus let he them departe sendynge with them guides to conduct them out of daunger ¶ The spies whan they came to Anniball declared vnto him how Scipio had intreated thē Besides that they shewed him that Massanissa the same day was come to Scipio with .vi. M fotemen and .iiii. M. horsemen But there was nothyng that euer they tolde him so moch abated his courage as the libertie that he gaue his espies to viewe his order and power For that great boldenes of his ennemye he iudged and knewe well proceded of some great assuraunce that he had in his strength and good order Wherfore although he him selfe was the first cause and occasion bothe of the warre and also of the truse brekinge yet he deuysed hym selfe to speake with Scipio thinkinge before any battayle whyles his power was not assayed he shuld obteine peace with more easy conditiōs then he shuld in case it chaunced hym to be ouercome Wherfore he sente a messanger to Scipio desyringe that he myght haue lybertie to speake with him and that he wolde apoynt a place where they might come together Scipio refused not to accomplysshe his desyre The place was apoynted voyde of al deceite and gile Thyther came the .ii. most noble capitaines of the worlde hauing onely eche of them one interpretour with him to declare to eche other what shulde be spoken by them Theyr hostes abode a good space from them When they were come together either of them was astonied with the fyght of the other So that as persons amased through admiration they spake no worde of a good season At the laste Anniball began to speake in maner folowynge ¶ The wytty oration that Anniball made to Scipio before the battayle betwene them Cap. lxix IF it be gyuen me by the fatall fortune that I whiche fyrst moued this warre against the people of Rome that so many tymes haue had the victorye ouer theim shuld nowe of mine owne voluntary wyll come to be a suiter to haue peace I am glad that it is thy chance Scipio to be the man appoynted of the goddes of whom I shulde come to require the same peace And among many other prayses that be gyuen vnto the this maye be as one of the greatest That Anniball to whome the goddes haue gyuen so many victories of the Romaynes shulde nowe gyue place and obey vnto the. So that thou mayst make an ende of this notable warre that hath ben betwene vs as yet more to your losse then to ours Again what worke is
the citie of Carthage in feare on al partes Fyrst sent Lelius to Rome to beare newes of his victory And then sent Cn. Octauius by lande towarde Carthage with his army of horsemen and fotemen Whiles he takyng with hym bothe the newe nauy of shyppes brought hym by Lentulus and also his olde nauye wente by sea from Vtica towardes the hauen of Carthage He had but a whyle sailed on the sea when a shippe of Carthage met hym couered all with white lynnen clothe and full of bowes of Oliue in token of peace In whiche shippe were .x. embassadours of the prynces of Carthage sente by the mynde of Anniball to desyre peace When this shyppe was come to the fore parte of Scipiosship the coueringe was taken awaye and the legates ryght humbly required hym to extende his mercy and pitie vpon them But other aunswere had they none giuen them but that they shoulde come to hym to Tunes for to that place he sayde he wolde remoue his campe With this aunswere they departed and he wente with his nauy of shippes before Carthage partely to viewe the situation of the towne partely to make the inhabitantes ther of the more afraide But after smal soiourninge there he departed frome thense and returned to Vtica And from thense was goinge to Tunes when sodeine newes wer brought him that Vermina the sonne of Syphax with a great numbre of horsemen and fotemen was comyng to the succours of the Carthaginenses To encountre with these people Scipio incontinent sente a good parte of the fotemen of his host and all his horsemen who metynge with theim at theyr fyrste reencountre put them to flyght and stoppinge the passages wherby they myght by fleinge escape they slewe of the Numidiens .xv. M. and toke aboue .xii. C. with many horses of that countrey to the numbre of xv C. and with peyne the capitayne hym selfe escaped hauynge a small numbre with hym From thense the campe was pytched at Tunes in the olde place where they before had set it Thyther came .xxx. noble men of Carthage embassadours sent vnto Scipio who with moche more lamentation then the other had done before required peace of Scipio constrained more therunto through the contrarietie of Fortune and by the late ouerthrow of their friende Vermina And they were lykewise herde with lesse pitie bicause of theyr late vntruthe and rebellion In so moche that it was thought by moste men that the citie of Carthage myghte then iustely and worthely be destroyed by theim And so had it ben in dede had not one thynge specially moued Scipio to the contrarye Whiche was that the newe consull was comynge thyther whose desyre was to haue the honour and fame of that victory and of fynishinge that warre whiche was before achieued by Scipios traueile to his great daungier And for this cause Scipio and his counsaylours wer fully minded to take peace with the Carthaginenses Wherefore the nexte day he called the legates of Carthage before him greatly rebukinge them of the vntrewth to him diuers times shewed Wyllynge theim nowe at the last beinge taughte by good experience to regarde bothe theyr goddes and theyr othes and shewinge them that he hauing pitie of the destruction of theim and of theyr soo noble a citie was contented to graunte them peace vpon these conditions Fyrste that they shoulde lyue free after theyr owne lawes and customes enioyinge all suche cities and townes in Affrica as they hadde in possession before the warre betwene theim taken And that frome that daye forthe the Romaynes shulde no more destroye or spoyle any parte therof Agayne the Carthaginenses shulde restore to the Romaynes all suche persons as were fled and runne away from the Romayns and all the prisoners of the Romains and theyr friendes whom they had in captiuite Also that they shoulde delyuer theim all theyr shyppes of warre and other shyppes excepte onely galeys hauynge thre orders of oores in a piece And that they shoulde also delyuer vp all theyr elephantes whiche were alredye tamed and made apte for the warre neyther shulde they after tame any moo Agayne that they shoulde moue no warre in Affrica nor withoute Affrica but by the lycence or commaundemente of the Romaynes Furthermore that they shulde restore vnto Massanissa all suche thynges as they hadde taken of his makynge a peace and agrement with hym And also yelde vnto the Romayne hoste wheate and wages vnto the return of the legates from Rome Besydes all this they shulde paye .x. M. talentes of syluer in fyftye yeres durynge whiche tyme they shulde yerely paye that summe deuyded in euen portions For the paymente wherof and perfourmaunce of these condytions they shoulde delyuer hym an C. pledges of his owne election Wherof none shuld be vnder thage of .xiiii. yeres neither aboue thage of .xxx. Vpon these conditions he agreed to giue them truce so that they wolde delyuer to him out of hand all suche hulkes or shyppes of burthen with their fraught and implementes which the Carthaginenses toke from theim duringe the laste tyme of truse that he had before graunted theim Or elles they shulde neither loke for truse nor for peace ¶ Whan the legates were come to Carthage they were cōmaunded to declare the same conditions of peace openly before the congregation of the people therevnto assembled Against which conditions one Gysgo a noble man of Carthage spake very sore and wold haue dissuaded the people from the taking of peace To whose sayinges many of the vnruly multitude gaue good audience But Annibal being therwith greatly moued went to him and with force drewe him downe from his place Which his violent facion had not bene vsed before in that citie and was thought of dyuers to be contrary to the libertie of their citie where before all people had free libertie to speake their opinions Annibal being vsed to the facion of the warres more than to the peasible vse of the citie remembrynge the liberties therof excused his rudenesse in this maner Whan I departed from this citie I was but .ix. yeres olde whiche is nowe .xxxvi. yeres agone during which time I haue sufficiently knowen and been instructed in all feates of warre beinge taught by the chaunces of fortune euen frome my chyldehoode Wherfore beynge disvsed soo longe space frome the lawes maners and customes of the citie although I doo forgette the liberties and vses therof I am the lesse to be blamed Thus after he hadde excused his folye he perswaded the people to the takynge of peace and howe necessary it was nowe for theim and also howe reasonable the conditions were consyderynge theyr presente estate To whiche his perswasions the greattest parte of the multiude agreed and the resisters agaynste it were greately blamed The greatest doubte was howe they myghte make restitution of that that was taken frome the Romaynes in the tyme of truce For all was spoyled and goone neyther knewe they who badde theym onely the shyppes and hulkes remaygned But in conclusyon worde was
sent agayne to Scipio by the same legates that they wold receyue his conditions of peace And where they coulde not knowe who had the goodes that wer in the hulkes they wold pay therfore at his owne iudgement The vessels and men shulde be restored ¶ Thus was the truce gyuen to the citie of Carthage for thre monethes with a commaundement that duryng the time of truce they shulde sende embassadours to no place but only to Rome And in case that any embassadours were sent frome any place to Carthage that they shuld in no wyse depart from thens vntyll the Romayne capitayne were ascertayned what they were and what was the cause of theyr comming ¶ Soone after went the legates of Carthage to Rome with whom were sent C. Veturius Philo M. Martius Valla and Lucius Scipio brother to P. Scipio the Romayn capytayn ¶ When they were come thyther L. Veturius Philo declared howe Scipio hadde foughten with Anniball and ouercome the Carthaginenses to theyr vtter confusyon makynge nowe an ende of the dolefull longe warre that had been betwene the Romaynes and theim And that also Vermina the sonne of Syphax with his power was beaten and ouercome Of whyche newes the senatours beinge meruaylous ioyfull commaunded hym to publysshe the same gladde tydynges to the whole multitude of the citezens Who makynge greatte ioye gaue thankes for the vyctory to the goddis Than wer the legates of Carthage broughte into the senate And whan the senatours behelde the age the dignitie and the grauitie of the ambassadours who were of the mooste noble menne of the citie of Carthage than they iudged that they intended playnely and syncerely to intreate of peace Amonge other of these nobles of Carthage there was one Asdruball called Hedus one of the chiefe of theim bothe in auctoritie and in nobilitie who was euer desyrous of peace and held moche agaynste Anniball and his affinitie This Asdruball sayde that a fewe couetous personnes of the citie were culpable for this warre and not the comminaltie Some faultes whyche were layde to theym he excused some other he confessed leste by the denying of all he myght be the worse hearde of the senate Than he perswaded the Senatours to vse theyr prosperous fortune gentylly and in due temperance professynge euer that in case the Carthaginenses would haue folowed the myndes of hym and of Hanno takynge the tyme whan it was offered that they had beene the gyuers to other of peace vppon suche conditions as they were nowe gladde to take at others handes But sayde he it is but seldome sene that good fortune and a good mynd be gyuen both at ones to men The cause of the conquestes of you Romains euer chiefly hath been for that in prosperitie ye haue had the remembrance to consulte of thynges to come And your empyre hath bene more encreased by gentylnes and fauour shewed to nations whom ye haue vanquyshed than it hath bene by the victories gotten on theim ¶ After that Asdruball had finysshed his oration the other ambassadours made moche more lamentable propositions bewayling the miserable fall of the state of the Carthaginenses who being the greattest lordes in honour of the worlde were nowe constrayned to abyde enclosed within the walles of the citie hauyng nothing els that they myghte clayme propretie of ye and that same only citie they helde but vpon the goodnes and forbearyng of the Romaynes whiles theyr pleasure was to forbere the vtter distruction therof With these humble and gentyll woordes the senatours vniuersally were fully inclyned to peace Than one of the senatours spake out with loude voyce If peace be graunted to the Carthaginenses by what goddis shall they sweare and make peace whan they haue broken promise and deceiued the goddis by whom they sware whan they laste toke peace with vs To whom the sayd Asdruball answered euen by the same goddis wyll we sweare who be so angry and are reuenged on vs that brake oure laste truse and leage Herevpon all the senatours and the comons being inclyned to peace determined that by thaduise of .x. legates of Rome P. Scipio shulde make with theim the peace vpon suche conditions as to him semed best The legates wer named and made theim redy to depart with the Carthaginenses For the whiche the ambassadours gaue greate thankes to the senate of theyr goodnes to theim shewed desyryng them before their departyng to licence theim to entre the citie and to visite certayne of their frendes and kynnesmen that were kepte in the citie as prisoners whiche requeste was graunted theim And they desyred also that they myght redeme diuers of theim vpon reasonable raunsom They were cōmaunded to write the names of suche as they wolde haue redeemed And they named .ii. C. of theim who incontinent were delyuered to the x. legates to take with theim into Affrica to Scipio wyllyng him in case the peace went forwardes with the Carthaginenses that then he shoulde rendre these .ii. C. prysoners to the Carthaginenses free without payinge any raunsome These thynges beynge so concluded the Carthaginenses with the Romayne legates departed towardes Affrica And whan they cam to Scipio they concluded the peace with hym vppon the conditions before specified The shyppes of Carthage the elephantes the fugitiues and prisoners to the numbre of .iiii. M. were delyuered to Scipio among whome was one Terentius Culleo a notable senator of Rome The shyppes vpon the deliuerie of theim were had furth into the sea to the numbre of .v. C. of al sortes and there by the commaundement of Scipio were set all on fyre Which bourninge was as sorowfull a syght to the Carthaginenses as if they had sene the whole citie of Carthage on fyre ¶ Scipio teturneth to Rome with greate triumphe and ioye of all the people Cap. lxxii THus ended the warres betwene the Romaynes and the Carthaginenses more gentylly than it was thoughte it shulde haue done For Scipio dyuers tymes after reported that the conctouse and hyghe mynde fyrst of Claudius Nero and after of Cu. Cornelius desyrynge both the honoure of the vyctorye of Carthage was the cause that the citie of Carthage was not vtterly distroyed and wasted After the sayde peace thus taken the money whyche shulde be presently payde to the Romaynes was very greuous to the Carthaginenses Whose stocke and common substaunce was before greatly wasted by reason of the longe contynuall warres Wherefore at the leuyinge of the sayde summe of theyr pryuate substaunce greate lamentation and wepinge was made in the citie Whiche Anniball beholdynge coulde not forbeare to laugh Wherat Asdruball Hedus toke great indignation rebukynge hym for that he beynge the verye origynall cause of al theyr sorowe in the common mournyng of the citie shulde so laugh Thervnto Anniball aunswered If ye myghte beholde the inwarde thoughte of my mynde as ye maye the outwarde apparent countenaunce of my face ye shulde parceiue this laughter not to come of any ioy of the herte but of a madnesse and a frenesie