CHAPTER XXIV.

SECOND PUNIO WAR-continued.

SCIPIO AFRICANUS LANDS IN AFRICA, B. C. 204.

B. C. 204.

SCIPIO remained in Spain three

years,

and at the end of that time the Romans were masters of the whole country. The great wish of Scipio then was to cross over to Africa, and attack the Carthaginians in their own country, as Hannibal had invaded Italy, hoping to take Rome. In one respect, Scipio was more fortunate than Hannibal, for he had allies in Africa, who engaged to help him. There were then two princes in Numidia, a country near to Carthage, named Syphax and Masinissa. These princes were often quarrelling with each other, because Masinissa laid claim to part of the dominions of Syphax, and they always took different sides in the wars between Carthage and Rome. There was also another great cause of hatred between them, for both had wished to marry the same person-Sophonisba, the daughter of Hannibal Gisco, a Carthaginian of high rank.

Sophonisba was extremely beautiful and accomplished, and Masinissa loved her very much, but Hannibal Gisco said she should be the wife of Syphax, and from that time Masinissa determined to take part with the Romans; and sending secretly to Scipio promised to support him when he should reach Africa.

As soon as all the necessary preparations were made, Scipio set sail for Africa. The Carthaginians heard that he was coming, yet they did not make any attempt to stop his landing. There were, however, armies ready to oppose him after

wards, commanded by Hannibal Gisco and Syphax. Masinissa at first pretended to be the enemy of the Romans, but he very soon openly went over to them. Scipio could not at once proceed to Carthage, but he was very successful in his schemes against the Carthaginians. One night, in particular, as the African soldiers were asleep in their beds, they were wakened by the smoke and flames of a dreadful fire. The tents were made of straw and dry branches, and the flames rushed over them with horrible swiftness. The unfortunate soldiers in despair fled from the camp, but it was only to find a worse enemy waiting for them. The Roman troops surrounded the camp, and stood ready to kill all who tried to save themselves. Hasdrubal and Syphax escaped, but they had lost so many men that but little hope was left them of being able to defend themselves against the Romans.

After this disaster Syphax withdrew to his own country, but Masinissa followed and attacked him. A battle was fought, in which Syphax was defeated. Masinissa took possession of Cirta, the capital city, in triumph. When he entered the palace Sophonisba met him. She must have been very miserable, for her misfortunes were great; but that which she dreaded above all other evils, was that she might be given over to the Romans and exhibited in triumph through the streets, walking before the car of the conqueror. In her agony she entreated Masinissa to kill her rather than permit her to suffer such a dreadful disgrace. He swore to save her, yet it seemed scarcely possible to keep his oath. She was in fact the prisoner of Scipio, for Masinissa was only fighting under him; but he thought he could save her if she were his wife, and he offered to marry her that very evening. Sophonisba consented, and when

Scipio arrived, Masinissa presented her to him as his wife. The rage of the Roman general was extreme; he still commanded Masinissa to give her up, and the prince was afraid to disobey. But when he told Sophonisba that she was to be the prisoner of Scipio, he added, that he had one way of redeeming her from slavery, and that was by death. He then left her, and a slave entering, presented her with a cup of poison. Sophonisba took it with perfect calmness. "Let my husband," she said, "know that I die contented since I die by his orders," and immediately drinking the poison she expired.

The Carthaginians were now brought to great distress, and they determined to call back Hannibal from Italy. The order was obeyed with sorrow, for Hannibal remembered the vow he had made to avenge his country, and he could not bear to give up the prospect of destroying Rome. But it was impossible to refuse, and as soon as the necessary preparations could be made, he set sail for Africa. Before proceeding to Carthage, however, he thought it would be desirable to obtain a meeting with Scipio, and, if possible, arrange between them terms of peace.

The meeting of the two generals must have been very interesting to both, for they were two of the most celebrated men that ever lived. They did not however agree in giving peace to Carthage, and the great battle of Zama followed. It was the last of this long war. The Carthaginians fought with the utmost bravery, but they were defeated; and Hannibal, in despair, hastened to Carthage to advise that peace should instantly be made. He had left the city as a youth, following his father, with the vow of hatred to Rome. He returned to it, a worn, weary soldier of forty-five; all his proud

hopes were over, his brother whom he loved was dead, and thousands and thousands of the soldiers who had followed him were dead likewise; his country was invaded, and the enemies whom he had hoped to destroy were about to take possession of Carthage.

Brave deeds and great names sound well in history, but we can little tell the bitter sorrows that must be borne, and the dreadful scenes that must be looked upon by those who set their hearts upon them.

The peace which the Carthaginians now made was in fact submitting entirely to Rome. They were obliged to give up their possessions in Spain, and the islands in the Mediterranean, the whole of their fleet, except ten ships, and all their elephants. They were besides compelled to restore all the Roman prisoners-to pay a large sum of money-to acknowledge Masinissa as king of Numidiato promise never to make war again without the consent of the Roman people, and to allow Scipio to take away with him a hundred young men as pledges that these agreements should be kept.

Scipio was honoured with a splendid triumph when he returned to Rome. It was then that the surname of Africanus was given him. The unfortunate Syphax was exhibited in the procession, walking in chains. He was kept a prisoner for his whole life.

CHAPTER XXV.

WARS IN GREECE.

A ROMAN ARMY SENT TO GREECE, B. c. 200

THE second punic war was now over; B. C. 200. but the Romans as usual began another directly afterwards, with Philip the Third, king of Macedon. This king had given assistance to Hannibal whilst he was in Italy, but the Romans then were too much engaged with the Carthaginians to exert themselves much against him; now, however, they were glad to take the first opportunity of declaring war. Macedonia was close to the states of Greece. King Philip invaded Attica, one of these states, and besieged the city of Athens; and the Athenians sent to Rome for aid, which was very willingly given; since, besides their anger against Philip, the Romans knew that by interfering with the affairs of Greece they might gain power for themselves whilst they assisted their friends.

For three years they carried on the war very successfully, professing to wish only that the Greeks were free from the power of the king of Macedon, but secretly desiring their own good, and often stirring up the different states to quarrel with each other, in order that they might be called in, and settle the disputes to their own advantage. At last the Macedonians were so far conquered, that the king consented to make peace, and to leave the Grecian states at liberty; and then the Romans turned against another enemy, Antiochus, the king of Syria.

Antiochus was the monarch of a great empire, ruling from the straits of the Dardanelles, then