Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 42
Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. and Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D., Ed.

24. The senate voted to ask Gulussa what he would reply to these charges, or, if he preferred to explain this first, on what business he had come to Rome. [2] Gulussa replied that it was not easy for him to discuss matters on which he had no instructions from his father, nor had it been easy for his father to give instructions, inasmuch as the Carthaginians had not given notice as to what they intended to discuss, or even that they were going to Rome in the first place. [3] They had held a secret council of the leading men in the temple of Aesculapius¹ for several [p. 359]nights, about which no news had leaked out except² that envoys with secret instructions were being sent to Rome. [4] This had been the occasion of his father's sending him to Rome, in order that he might beg the senate not to believe the enemies of both peoples when they brought charges against Masinissa, whom they hated for no other reason than his unwavering loyalty toward the Roman people. [5] After these addresses from both parties, the senate, when questioned³ on the subject of the requests of the Carthaginians, ordered the following answer to be given: [6] It was the decision of the senate that Gulussa should depart at once for Numidia and report to his father that he should send envoys as soon as possible to the senate to answer the complaints of the Carthaginians, and that he should announce this to the Carthaginians, so that they might come to argue the matter. [7] The senate had done and would do whatever it could to honour Masinissa, but justice it did not hand over to favouritism. [8] It wished land to be in the possession of the rightful owner, and its purpose was not to set new boundaries, but to maintain the old. [9] After conquering the Carthaginians, the Romans had granted them both their city and their territory, not in order to rob them unjustly in peace of what they had not taken under the laws of war. With this reply the prince and the Carthaginians were dismissed. [10] Gifts were given to both embassies according to custom⁴ and the other duties of hospitality were courteously observed.