Cornelius Lentulus, Publius Quinctilius Varus, Publius Aelius Paetus, and Publius Villius Tappulus.  The last two were plebeian aediles when elected praetors.  The elections finished, the consul returned into Etruria to his army.  The priests who died this year, and those who were put in their places, were Tiberius Veturius Philo, flamen of Mars, elected and inaugurated in the room of Marcus Aemilius Regillus, who died the year before:  in the room of Marcus Pomponius Matho, augur and decemvir, were elected Marcus Aurelius Cotta, decemvir, and Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, augur, being then a very young man; an instance of very rare occurrence in the disposal of the priests’ offices in those times.  Golden four-horsed chariots were placed this year in the Capitol by the curule aediles, Caius Livius and Marcus Servilius Geminus.  The Roman games were repeated during two days.  During two days also the plebeian games were repeated by the aediles, Publius Aelius and Publius Villius.  There was likewise a feast of Jupiter on occasion of the games.

BOOK XXX.

Scipio, aided by Masinissa, defeats the Carthaginians, Syphax and Hasdrubal, in several battles.  Syphax taken by Laelius and Masinissa.  Masinissa espouses Sophonisba, the wife of Syphax, Hasdrubal’s daughter; being reproved by Scipio, he sends her poison, with which she puts an end to her life.  The Carthaginians, reduced to great extremity by Scipio’s repeated victories, call Hannibal home from Italy; he holds a conference with Scipio on the subject of peace, and is again defeated by him in battle.  The Carthaginians sue for peace, which is granted them.  Masinissa reinstated in his kingdom.  Scipio returns to Rome; his splendid triumph; is surnamed Africanus.

1.  Cneius Servilius and Caius Servilius Geminus, the consuls in the sixteenth year of the Punic war, having consulted the senate respecting the state, the war, and the provinces, they decreed that the consuls should arrange between themselves, or draw lots, which of them should have the province of Bruttium, to act against Hannibal, and which that of Etruria and Liguria; that the consul to whose lot Bruttium fell should receive the army from Publius Sempronius; that Publius Sempronius, who was continued in command as proconsul for a year, should succeed Publius Licinius, who was to return to Rome.  In addition to the other qualifications with which he was adorned in a degree surpassed by no citizen of that time, for in him were accumulated all the perfections of nature and fortune, Licinius was also esteemed eminent in war.  He was at once a man of noble family and great wealth; possessing a fine person and great bodily strength.  He was considered an orator of the highest order, both in respect of judicial eloquence, and also when engaged in promoting or opposing any measure in the senate, or before the people.  He was also accurately skilled in the pontifical law.