he contrary, had recovered their spirits. Their troops were
considerably increased; they daily got new allies; and even sent an
express as far as Macedonia, to the counterfeit Philip,(888) who pretended
to be the son of Perseus, and was then engaged in a war with the Romans;
to exhort him to carry it on with vigour, and promising to furnish him
with money and ships.

This news occasioned some uneasiness at Rome.(889) The people began to
doubt the success of a war, which grew daily more uncertain, and was more
important, than had at first been imagined. As much as they were
dissatisfied with the dilatoriness of the generals, and exclaimed against
their conduct, so much did they unanimously agree in applauding young
Scipio, and extolling his rare and uncommon virtues. He was come to Rome,
in order to stand candidate for the edileship. The instant he appeared in
the assembly, his name, his countenance, his reputation, a general
persuasion that he was designed by the gods to end the third Punic war, as
the first Scipio, his grandfather by adoption, had terminated the second;
these several circumstances made a very strong impression on the people,
and though it was contrary to law, and therefore opposed by the ancient
men, instead of the edileship which(M144) he sued for, the people,
disregarding for once the laws, conferred the consulship upon him, and
assigned him Africa for his province, without casting lots for the
provinces, as usual, and as Drusus his colleague demanded.

As soon as Scipio had completed his recruits, he set out for Sicily, and
arrived soon after in Utica.(890) He came very seasonably for Mancinus,
Piso's lieutenant, who had rashly fixed himself in a post where he was
surrounded by the enemy; and would have been cut to pieces that very
morning, had not the new consul, who, on his arrival, heard of the danger
he was in, reembarked his troops in the night, and sailed with the utmost
speed to his assistance.

Scipio's first care, after his arrival, was to revive discipline among the
troops, which he found had been entirely neglected.(891) There was not the
least regularity, subordination, or obedience. Nothing was attended to but
rapine, feasting, and diversions. He drove from the camp all useless
persons, settled the quality of the provisions he would have brought in by
the sutlers, and allowed of none but what were plain and fit for soldiers,
studiously banishing all dainties and luxuries.

After he h