The historie of tvvo the moste noble capitaines of the worlde, Anniball and Scipio of theyr dyuers battailes and victories, excedyng profitable to reade, gathered and translated into Englishe, out of Titus Liuius, and other authoures, by Antonye Cope esquier.

¶ Scipio and Asdruball arriue both in one daie in Affri∣ca, and be lodged bothe togyther in the palays of kynge Syphax. Cap. lvi. (Book 56)

AFter the departynge of P. Scipio to Tarra∣con, the Carthaginenses beinge dryuen out of Spayne, Massanissa, seinge the great falle of his frendes the Carthaginenses, secretely had communication with Sillanus, and was wōne to be a sure frende to the Romayns. Whervp∣pon to haue his frendes in Affrica the more obedyent and redy to hym in all his necessities, he appoynted to sayle ouer in to his countrey, there to make hym selfe as stronge as myght be, for the ayde and succour of the Romay∣nes whan neede requyred. And Sillanus soone after retour∣ned to Scipio to Tarracon.

¶ Than P. Scipio, wylling to certifie the senate of his great victory and happie chaunces, sente his brother L. Scipio to Rome, as is before rehersed, who ledde with hym many no∣ble men prisoners, whome he hadde before taken in the war∣res: whervppon he was meruaylousely honoured and pray∣sed of all men. Yet he alone, that hadde deserued all the sayde honour, estemed all his feates done in Spayne, to be nothyng in comparison of those thynges whyche he had conceyued in his mynde. He looked for the conqueste of greate Carthage and Affrica, as the ende of his warre, and the consummation of his honour and glory. Wherfore, to worke in tyme all thin¦ges, that afterwardes shoulde serue for his pourpose, he de∣termyned to wynne vnto hym the hartes of princis, whyche were borderars vnto that countrey. And fyrste he mynded to attempt kynge Syphax.

¶ This Syphax was kyng of a people in Affrica, called Ma∣sesuli, adioynyng to the Moores, and lying on the other side of the sea Mediterrane, ouer against new Carthage in Spain, who at that tyme was a great friende to the Carthaginenses: To hym he sent C. Lelius, with a goodly present: wherwith

the kynge was verye gladde and well pleased. And consyde∣rynge in his mynde the good fortune, whyche the Romay∣nes hadde in all partes, and seynge the power of his olde friendes the Carthaginenses to be soo greately decayed, that in Italy they hadde nowe lyttell to doo, and in Spayne no∣thynge: He agreed with Lelius, to become a friende to the Romaynes. But he sayde, he woulde no further procede to the confirmation of the amitie betweene them, tyll he myghte personally speake with Scipio, the chief capitayn of the Ro∣maynes. Whervppon Lelius takynge assuraunce of hym, for the safe goynge and commynge of his capitayne, retourned to Scipio. And declared vnto hym, howe he had spedde, as is before declared. Scipio indgynge his frendshyppe to be a great helpe and furtheraunce to his purpose, touchynge his desyrous affayres in Affrica, bothe for his greatte strengthe and rychesse, and also for that his countrey was adioynyng to Carthage, directly ouer agaynste Spayne, leauynge Lucius Martius at Tarracon, and Sillanus at newe Carthage, with a power sufficient for the defence of Spayne: he with Lelius in two galeys or rowbarges of fyue oores a piece, passed o∣uer into Affrica.

¶ Nowe it happened, that euen the same tyme Asdruball, who of late had ben dryuen out of Spayne, was newely ar∣ryued in the same hauen, with seuen 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 doub∣tynge, but that they beynge soo fewe in numbre, myght ea∣syly be oppressed and vanquys••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 kyn∣ges 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 Asdru∣ball, whyche by communication or hearynge of friendes, ne∣ded to be determined. Neyther was there any thynge tou∣chynge 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 con∣tented 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 confor∣mable to reason, that thereby he not onely wanne the herte of Syphax: but alsoo he broughte his mooste mortall enne∣mye 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 Car∣thaginenses, 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 a∣brode in a straunge domynyon, onely with two galeys, lea∣uynge 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, de∣parted 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.