Summary of Book XXVIII
Successes gained in Spain against the Carthaginians
by Silanus, Scipio's lieutenant, and by his brother Lucius
Scipio are narrated, and those gained by Publius Sulpicius as
proconsul with Attalus, King of Asia, as ally against Philip,
King of the Macedonians, on behalf of the Aetolians.
When a triumph was awarded by decree to Marcus Livius
and Claudius Nero, the consuls, Livius, who had commanded in his own province, drove into the city in a four-horse chariot. Nero, who had entered his colleague's
province to aid him to victory, followed on horseback;
and in this appearance he earned more fame and respect; for he had done more also than his colleague in the
war. The fire in Vesta's temple went out owing to the
carelessness of the virgin who had failed to keep watch
over it. She was scourged. Publius Scipio brought the
war with the Carthaginians in Spain to an end in the
fourteenth year of the war, the fifth year after his arrival;
and he gained possession of Spain after completely shutting
the enemy out from occupation of that province. And
from Tarraco
1 he crossed over into Africa, to Syphax, King of the Massylians, and made a treaty with him. Hasdrubal son of Gisgo dined with him there, reclining on the
same couch. Scipio gave a gladiatorial show at New
Carthage in honour of his father and uncle, not by gladiators
but by men who went into the arena either to honour the
general or in accepting a challenge. In that show princes
who were brothers fought for kingship with the sword.
During the siege of the city of Gisia
2 the citizens slew their children and wives upon a pyre which they had built and threw themselves upon it. Scipio himself, when a
mutiny broke out in one part of the army while he was
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seriously ill, upon recovering quelled it and compelled
the rebellious peoples in Spain to surrender. And he
made friends with Masinissa, King of the Numidians,
who promised him assistance if he should cross over to
Africa. Having made friends with the men of Gades also
after the departure of Mago, who had received written
orders from Carthage to cross over to Italy, Scipio returned
to Rome and was elected consul. When he begged for
Africa as his province, while Quintus Fabius Maximus
opposed, Sicily was given to him and he was permitted
to cross over to Africa if he thought that for the advantage
of the state. Mago son of Hamilcar crossed over to Italy
from the smaller of the Balearic Islands, where he had
wintered.