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.

¶ The aunswere of P. Cornelius Scipio, to the oration of Q. Fabius Maximus: And of his saylynge into Sicilia with his armye. Cap. lx. (Book 60)

QVintus Fabius in the beginning of his oratiō (fathers conscript) said, that in the declarati∣on of his opinyon he mighte be suspected to speke of euill wylle and enuy: but it is not I that do accuse so great & so noble a man ther∣of: Although I doo not perceyue the same suspition as yet to be by him sufficiētly auoy∣ded, whether the defaulte therof be in the deformitie of his o∣ration, or for lacke of good matter, I knowe not. But this I well perceiue, that to auoyde the crime or suspition of enuy, he hath so extolled his owne honour, with the fame of his noble actes, as though it shuld not becom him, or stand with his ho∣nor, to contende with me, being my selfe but a childe, vnder the age of his sonne. Considerynge the great offices that he hath borne in the citie, wherby as it semeth, his meanynge is, that the desyre of glory shulde be measured onely, by the length of the lyfe of man, and not extende to be had in perpetuall memo∣ry with our posteritie. But this I knowe well, that euery no∣ble herte hathe a couetous desyre to be equiualent in famouse vertue, not only with the age present, but also with the people of al ages, both past and yet to come. And (onles I wold dissem¦ble) truly Q. Fabius, my wyll is not only to be equall vnto the in renowme, but also to passe the in prayses, yf I may atteyne thervnto. Lette neyther of vs bothe thynke, that none that shall come after vs, shall be lyke vnto vs. For that were a de∣syre of greate hurt and hynderaunce, bothe of our posteritie, and also of the common welth, and generally of all mankynde. Furthermore, Fabius hath remembred the ieoperdies and pe∣ryls, that I shulde entre into, by my goynge into Affrica, as though he were carefull bothe for me and myne army. I mer∣uaile greatly, from whens this louing care and thought for me is so sodeinly spronge. For whan my father and myn vncle wer bothe slayne, and bothe theyr armies almoste distroied, slayne, and cleane loste, the Affricanes ouerrounnynge the countrey with .iiii. seuerall hoostes and capytaines: than woulde no man offre hym selfe to be a capitayne of the Romaines in Spayne,

but onely I. Atwhychetyme, whan the people of the citie made me gouernor, being thā but .xxiiii. yeres old, there was no man founde, whiche would remembre my tendre age: ney∣ther the power of our ennemies, the daungerousnes of bat∣tayle, nor yet the late death and destruction of my frendes in Spayne. Is there nowe in Affrica any greatter armies or bet∣ter capitaines, than were than in Spayne? Was mine age at that tyme more mete for the warre, thanne it is nowe? or is it greater matter to fight with our enemies of Affrica in Spayn, than it is in Affrica? As it is nowe easy to auaunce my selfe of iiii. armies of Carthage, by me distroied: after so many cities taken by force, after so many princes and wylde nations sub∣dued, and all Spaine won vnto the occean sea, so that none ap∣parence is lefte there of any warre: Likewise after my victo∣rious returne from Affrica, it shalbe as easie to set forthe the ouercominge of all thinges, whiche nowe be laide very terry∣ble and dangerdus: only to the intent to kepe me stil at home. Fabius demeth, that I shal haue no hauens or portes open for me to enter. He also remembreth the taking of M. Attilius Regulus in Affrica: as though M. Attilius had his fall at his firste arriuall into that countreye. Where of trueth he hadde hauens open and entre at his pleasure, ye by the space of an hole yere he did many noble actes there: Whome the Cartha¦ginenses were neuer able of their owne power to subdue, till the seconde yere after his coming, and many of his host slaine. They sent for Xantippus, capitayne of the Lacedemonians, with his power: by whome he was at lengthe ouercome and taken in battayle. This exaumple can nothing feare me. For why shoulde I more feare to sayle into Affrica bycause of the taking of M. Attilius, then I was afrayd to saile into Spaine after the deathe of bothe the Scipions? And I truste Xan∣tippus 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 Athe∣nienses, 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 coun∣trey of Sicilia had ben long troubled with warre by the Car∣thaginenses, he with his host failed ouer into Affrica: where∣by 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 diffe∣rence 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 af∣ter the battail at Cannas: moch lesse cause shal the Carthagi∣nenses 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 An¦niball 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. Se∣condely, throughe the truste of the goddes, whiche are wit∣nesses 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 An¦niball my matche: but I wyll rather drawe hym, then he shall retire me. I wyll cause him to fyght with me in his owne cun∣trey. 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, I∣talye shalbe in daungier by my departynge hens, I praye you, may not P. Licinius the consull (whyles I am say lynge thy∣ther)

staye with his hoste Anniball, that is nowe of small po∣wer: aswell as thou Q. Fabius, dyddest slaye him, when he as a conquerour ouerranne all Italy? Yt shall be a greate ho∣nour 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 Sici∣lia, 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 de∣fende 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 altercaci∣on 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 cō∣sul to kepe warre in the countrey of the Brutians against An∣niball. 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, appoin∣tynge 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, se∣med 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 al¦thinges necessary. Then said Scipio: It is shewed me, that certaine of you, men of armes of Sicilia, grudge sore to go in∣this 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 gen∣tylman was verie ioyefull, and delyuerynge him all his appa∣reyll 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 fauour of the Capytayne: euery one of theym also beganne to make his excuse, and desyred to haue Scipio to appoynte other in theyre roumes. Whyche he gladdelye dydde, and by this meane he horsed, harneysed, and instructed the three hundred wyllynge Romaynes, that were vnarmed, with the horses and harneys of the knyghtes of Sicilia, withoute anye charge of the stocke of the cytie of Rome: Whyche proued after valiaunte menne of armes, and dydde manye noble actes for the aduauncemente of the common welth. Than Scipio serched out suche souldiours as warred vnder Marcellus the consull, at the wynnyng of Sy∣racusa, whom he chose chiefly: for that he iudged theim to be expert in assaultyng and scalyng of townes and castelles. For euen than he imagined the wynnyng of great Carthage. Sone

after he sette menne a worke to make shyppes with speede, and to amende and to repayre his olde shyppes. Which done he sent C. Lelius, with a good numbre of men into Affrica, to spoyle robbe and wast the sea costes: where he landed in the nyghte. And in the dawnynge of the daye, settynge his men in good order, he spoyled the fieldes, distroyed and slewe manye of the Affricans: whiche loked lyttell for any suche sodeyn in∣uasion, they had so longe continued in pleasure and ease. The fame of the destruction came anone to Carthage: the messan∣gers noysed abrode, that Scipio was arriued. For they hadde herde before, that he was alredy come into Sicilia: and they were so sodeinly taken, that for feare they coulde tell the cer∣tayntie of nothynge, neyther of the numbre of the Romaynes, nor of theyr shyppes: But feare caused theim to make moche more therof then it was in dede. The citezens of Carthage were then in a meruaylous feare and pensifenesse, beholdynge the sodeyne chaunge of fortune, that of late had so aduaunced them, that theyr army lay before the gates of Rome: and their capytaines had almost subdued al Italy: Nowe contrary wise, they loked for none other, but the spoyling of theyr countrey, and the besieginge of Carthage by the Romaynes. When they considered their helpe, they founde theyr citezens, and menne of theyr owne countrey about them, weake and nothyng mete for the warre. All theyr strength was in hyred souldiours frō other partes of Affrica: and they were wauerynge people, vn¦trewe and vnstedfast. They also rekened Syphax to be turned from them by the secrete cōmunication, that Scipio had with hym: and Massanissa was apparently become theyr ennemye. Of Mago they had no tidinges of his remouing from Gene, and goinge into Italy to ioyne his hoste with Annibals hoste: and the fame, and also the strengthe of Anniball was waxed faynte.

¶ When they had all hole consydered theyr wofull state and condition: then began the senatours to counsayle and prouide for helpe in theyr present necessitie. They mustered theyr men, both in the citie & without. They hyred many souldiours Af∣fricans. They vytayled theyr citie: they amended theyr ship∣pes, they prouided harnesse and all other thynges nedefull.

¶ When they were thus busy, true tidinges came, that it was not the capitayne Scipio, that was arryued: it was Lelius,

that with certayne shyppes and menne was come to robbe and spoyle the countrey onely. And that the great rest of the army was yet in Sicilia. With these newes they were somewhat comforted: and then they deuysed to sende embassadours to Syphax, and to other princes aboute theim, for a sure aliance and frendshyp. They sent also to Phillip kyng of Macedonia, promysynge hym great summes of money, to inuade eyther I∣taly or Sicilia with a great host. Into Italy also were messan∣gers sent, to cause the capitayns Annibal & Mago to stay Sci∣pio in Italy. To Mago was sente .xxv. longe shyppes .vi. M. fotemen .viii. C. horsemen, and .vii. elephantes, with greate plenty of money, to hyre mo men in those parties, willyng him with all his strengthe to remoue towardes the citie of Rome, and ioyne his host with Annibals. This preparation made the Carthaginenses.

¶ When the shippes of Carthage were arriued at Gene, they founde there Mago with his army and nauy of shyppes: who knowyng the mynde of the Carthaginenses, called before him a great numbre of frenchemen and Liguriens, vnto whome he shewed, that he was sent into those parties to purchase theim lybertie, and delyuer them from bondage, wherin they hadde longe ben holden. He declared also to them, how M. Liuius, and Sp. Lucretius laye with theyr two Romayne armies not farre from them. The one in Hetruria, the other in Fraunce. Whose powers to resyst, he neded to haue a great assemble of people. Then the frenchemen aunswered, that theyr hertes & myndes were holly to serue hym therin. But they sayd, there was an host of Romaynes all redy in theyr countrey: whiche if they dyd perceyue, that Mago were ayded by theym, they wolde incontinent wast and destroy theyr countrey. Wherfore they desyred, that the Liguriens might helpe hym: who were nothynge so nere daunger, and they wolde priuely helpe hym with vittayles and all thynges necessarye, to the beste of theyr power. Wherunto the Liguriens agreed, and desyred two monthes space, to assemble and take musters of theyr beste soudiours.

¶ Marcus Liuius, herynge that Mago gathered to gether so great a numbre of people: he remoued with his hoste in to Fraunce, and ioyned hym selfe to Sp. Lucretius, lyinge euer in awayte to mete with Mago, so sone as he remouynge from

the Liguriens wolde offer to entre into Italye, and take his iourney towardes Rome. But in case Mago wolde rest in the angle of the mounteynes without further procedynge: then they lyke wyse wold abyde about Arminius, euer redy for the defence of Italy.