Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 3.djvu/757

Rh SCIPIO. tifex maximus, and could not, therefore, leave Italy. Consequently if the war was to be carried on abroad, the conduct of it must of necessity de- volve upon Scipio. The latter was anxious to cross over at once to Africa, and bring the contest to an end at the gates of Carthage ; but the oldest mem- bers of the senate, and among them Q. Fabius Maximus, opposed his project, partly through ti- midity and partly through jealousy of the youthful conqueror. All that Scipio could obtain was the province of Sicily, with permission to cross over to Africa, if he should think it for the advantage of the republic ; but the senate resolutely refused him an army, thus making the permission reluctantly granted of no practical use. But the allies had a truer view of the interests of Italy than the Roman senate : what the latter, blinded by their fears and their jealousy, refused, the Italian allies generously granted ; and from all the towns of Italy volunteers flocked to join the standard of the youthful hero, and to enable him to subdue Car- thage without the aid of the Roman government. The senate could not refuse to allow him to enlist volunteers ; and such was the enthusiasm in his favour, that he was able to cross over to Sicily with an army and a fleet contrary to the expectations and even the wishes of the senate. While busy with his preparations in Sicily he sent over Laelius to Africa with a small fleet to concert a plan of co-operation with Masinissa, and to convince his opponents that the invasion of Africa was not such a mad and impracticable project as they supposed. But meanwhile his enemies at Rome had nearly succeeded in depriving him of his command. Al- though he had no command in Lower Italy, he had assisted in the reduction of Locri, and after the conquest of the town had left his legate, Q. Pleminius, in command of the place. The latter had been guilty of such acts of excesses against the inhabitants, that they sent an embassy to the Roman senate to complain of his conduct. In the course of the investigation it was alleged that Scipio had allowed Pleminius to continue in the command after he had been fully informed of the misconduct of his lieutenant; and thereupon Q. Fabius Maximus and his other enemies eagerly availed themselves of the opportunity to inveigh in general against the conduct of Scipio, and to press for his immediate recall. Scipio's magnificent style of living, and his love for Greek literature and art, were denounced as dangerous innovations upon old Roman manners and frugality ; and they asserted that the time which ought to be given to the exer- cise and the training of his troops was wasted in the Greek gymnasia or in literary pursuits. Though the senate lent a willing ear to these attacks, they did not venture upon his immediate recall, but sent a commission into Sicily to inquire into the state of the army ; and if the charges against him were well founded, to order him to return to Rome. The commissioners arrived in Sicily at the beginning of B. c. 204. During the winter Scipio had been busy in completing his prepara- tions ; and by this time he had collected all his stores, and brought his army and navy into the most efficient state. The commissioners were asto- nished at what they saw. Instead of ordering him to return to Rome, they bade him cross over to Africa as soon as possible. Accordingly in b. c. '204, Scipio, who was now proconsul, sailed from Lilybaeum and landed in SCIPIO. 745 Africa, not far from Utica, The force which he brought with him is stated so differently that it is impossible to determine what its numbers were, some accounts making it as low as 12,200, others as high as 35,000 men. As soon as Scipio landed he was joined by Masinissa, who rendered him the most important services in the war. With his assistance he obtained some advantages over the enemy [see Hanno, No. 23], but was unable to obtain possession of Utica, where he was anxious to establish his quarters for the winter. He was therefore obliged to pass the winter on a projecting headland, which he fortified. Meantime the Car- thaginians had collected a powerful army which they placed under the command of Hasdrubal, son of Gisco, Scipio's old opponent in Spain, and Syphax came to their assistance with a great force. Towards the close of the winter, in the early part of B. c. 203, Hasdrubal and Syphax meditated a general attack upon the land and sea forces of Scipio ; but the latter, who was informed of their plan by some Numidians, anticipated them by an attack upon their two encampments in the night. With the assistance of Masinissa, his enterprise was crowned with success ; the two camps were burnt to the ground, and only a few of the enemy escaped the fire and the sword. Among these, how- ever, were both Hasdrubal and Syphax ; the former fled to Carthage, where he persuaded the senate to raise another army, and the latter retreated to his native dominions, where he likewise collected fresh troops. But their united forces were again de- feated by Scipio. Hasdrubal did not venture to make his appearance again in Carthage ; and Syphax once more fled into Numidia. Scipio, how- ever, did not give the Numidian prince any repose ; he was pursued by Laelius and Masinissa, and finally taken prisoner. Among the captives who fell into their hands was Sophonisba, the wife of Syphax, whom Masinissa had long loved, and had expected to marry when she was given to his rival. He now hastened to marry her ; but the well- known story of the tragical termination of these nuptials is related elsewhere. [Sophonisba.] These repeated disasters so alarmed the Cartha- ginians that they resolved to recall Hannibal and Mago from Italy. At the same time they opened negotiations with Scipio for a peace. The terms which Scipio offered were not objected to by the Carthaginians, and a suspension of arms for forty - five days was agreed to, while a Carthaginian em- bassy went to Rome. It would appear, however, that the great mass of the Carthaginian people were not in reality anxious for peace, and only wanted to gain time till Hannibal's arrival in Africa. Be- fore the time had expired, a Carthaginian mob plundered some ships which were bringing pro- visions for Scipio's army, and then insulted the ambassadors whom he had sent to demand restitu- tion. As soon as Hannibal arrived, hostilities were re-commenced against the Romans. The Carthaginian army was numerically superior to the Romans, but inferior in discipline and skill. Still the presence of Hannibal gave the nation con- fidence, and they looked forward to a favourable termination of the war. Hannibal, however, formed a truer estimate of the real state of affairs ; he saw that the loss of a battle would be the ruin of Carthage, and was therefore anxious to conclude a peace before it was too late. Scipio, who was anxious to have the glory of bringing the war to a