21.  Scip’io was not long in Africa without employment; Hanno opposed him, but was defeated and slain.  Sy’phax, the usurper of Numid’ia, led up a large army against him. 22.  The Roman general, for a time, declined fighting, till finding an opportunity, he set fire to the enemy’s tents, and attacking them in the midst of the confusion, killed forty thousand, and took six thousand prisoners.

23.  The Carthaginians, terrified at their repeated defeats, and at the fame of Scip’io’s successes, determined to recall Hannibal, their great champion, out of Italy, in order to oppose the Romans at home.  Deputies were accordingly despatched with a positive command for him to return and oppose the Roman general, who at that time threatened Carthage with a siege. 24.  Nothing could exceed the regret and disappointment of Hannibal; but he obeyed the orders of his infatuated country with the submission of the meanest soldier; and took leave of Italy with tears, after having kept possession of its most beautiful parts above fifteen years.

25.  Upon his arrival at Leptis, in Africa, he set out for Adrume’tum, and at last approached Za’ma, a city about seventy-five miles from Carthage. 26.  Scip’io, in the mean time, led his army to meet him, joined by Massinis’sa, with six thousand horse; and to show his rival how little he feared his approach, sent back the spies which were sent to explore his camp, having previously shown them the whole, with directions to inform Hannibal of what they had seen. 27.  The Carthaginian general, conscious of his inferiority, endeavoured to discontinue the war by negociation, and desired a meeting with.  Scip’io to confer upon terms of peace; to which the Roman general assented. 28.  But after a long conference, both sides parting dissatisfied, they returned to their camps, to prepare for deciding the controversy by the sword. 29.  Never was a more memorable battle fought, whether we regard the generals, the armies, the two states that contended, or the empire that was in dispute.  The disposition Hannibal made of his men, is said to be superior to any even of his former arrangements. 30.  The battle began with the elephants on the side of the Carthaginians, which being terrified at the cries of the Romans, and wounded by the slingers and archers, turned upon their drivers, and caused much confusion in both wings of their army, where the cavalry were placed. 31.  Being thus deprived of the assistance of the horse, in which their greatest strength consisted, the heavy infantry joined on both sides; but the Romans being stronger of body, the Carthaginians gave ground. 32.  In the mean time, Massinissa, who had been in pursuit of their cavalry, returning and attacking them in the rear, completed their-defeat.  A total rout ensued, twenty thousand men were killed, and as many taken prisoners. 33.  Hannibal, who had done all that a great and undaunted general could perform, fled with a small body of horse to Adrume’tum; fortune seeming to delight in confounding his ability, his valour, and experience.