t any thing would be laid to his charge. He
only desired the senate to reflect, that the circumstance which drew all
this hatred upon him from the Carthaginians, was, the inviolable fidelity
with which he had always been attached to the side of the Romans. The
senate, after hearing both sides, answered, that they were inclined to do
justice to either party to whom it might be due: that Gulussa should set
out immediately with their orders to his father, who was thereby commanded
to send immediately deputies with those of Carthage; that they would do
all that lay in their power to serve him, but not to the prejudice of the
Carthaginians: that it was but just the ancient limits should be
preserved; and that it was far from being the intention of the Romans, to
have the Carthaginians dispossessed, during the peace, of those
territories and cities which had been left them by the treaty. The
deputies of both powers were then dismissed with the usual presents.

But all these assurances were but mere words.(856) It is plain that the
Romans did not once endeavour to satisfy the Carthaginians, or do them the
least justice; and that they protracted the business, on purpose to give
Masinissa time to establish himself in his usurpation, and weaken his
enemies.

(M140) A new deputation was sent to examine the affair upon the spot, and
Cato was one of the commissioners.(857) On their arrival, they asked the
parties if they were willing to abide by their determination. Masinissa
readily complied. The Carthaginians answered, that they had fixed a rule
to which they adhered, and that this was the treaty which had been
concluded by Scipio, and desired that their cause might be examined with
all possible rigour. They therefore could not come to any decision. The
deputies visited all the country, and found it in a very good condition,
especially the city of Carthage: and they were surprised to see it, after
having been involved in such a calamity, so soon again raised to so
exalted a pitch of power and grandeur. The deputies, on their return, did
not fail to acquaint the senate with this circumstance; and declared, Rome
could never be in safety, so long as Carthage should subsist. From this
time, whatever affair was debated in the senate, Cato always added the
following words to his opinion, "and I conclude that Carthage ought to be
destroyed." This grave senator did not give himself the trouble to prove,
that bare jealousy of the growing p