had enlisted in the Roman armies
deserted. Finally, four years after Cannae, Publius Scipio was defeated
and killed and Cnaeus, shut in by three armies, suffered the same fate.
To allow the Carthaginians to hold Spain was a serious danger; to defeat
them a big task. Long did the Roman Senate deliberate over who was to be
sent. There did not seem to be any one capable who could be spared.
Fabius was very old; Aemilius dead; Marcellus needed against Hannibal.
The younger generals thought the Spanish command carried more risk than
glory.

At last Scipio came forward and offered himself. A vivid account of the
impression he made on the men of his day is given by Livy.

_Africanus, the Young Proconsul_

At Rome, after the recovery of Capua, the Senate and people were
as anxious about the situation in Spain as in Italy, and it was
determined to strengthen the army there and to send a new
commander. There was, however, no agreement about the best man for
the post, though all felt that, as two great generals had fallen
in the course of thirty days, their successor ought to be chosen
with unusual care. After various names had been proposed, it was
finally arranged that the people should elect a proconsul for the
Spanish command, and the consuls gave notice of the day of
election. It had been assumed that any who thought themselves
equal to the responsibility would come forward as candidates, and
when this expectation was disappointed, there was renewed mourning
for the recent disasters and regret for the lost generals. Thus it
happened that on the day of the election the citizens went down to
the Plain despondent and without definite purpose. Turning to the
assembled magistrates, they scanned the features of the leaders,
who were looking helplessly from one to another, and murmured that
the blow had been so great and that the position was now so
hopeless that no one dared to accept the Spanish command. All at
once P. Scipio, the son of Publius who had fallen in Spain,
proposed himself as a candidate, though he was only twenty-four
years of age, and took his stand in a conspicuous place. Every eye
was fixed on him, and the shouts of applause that at once burst
forth predicted good luck and success to his mission. Then the
election proceeded, and P. Scipio received the votes, not only of
every century, but of every individual. However, when the business
was finished and