es, until the answer of the Roman senate could be
returned.

The Carthaginians agreed to the terms. They were very onerous. The
Romans say that they did not really mean to abide by them, but acceded
for the moment in order to gain time to send for Hannibal. They had
great confidence in his resources and military power, and thought
that, if he were in Africa, he could save them. At the same time,
therefore, that they sent their embassadors to Rome with their
propositions for peace, they dispatched expresses to Hannibal,
ordering him to embark his troops as soon as possible, and, abandoning
Italy, to hasten home, to save, if it was not already too late, his
native city from destruction.

When Hannibal received these messages, he was overwhelmed with
disappointment and sorrow. He spent hours in extreme agitation,
sometimes in a moody silence, interrupted now and then by groans of
despair, and sometimes uttering loud and angry curses, prompted by the
exasperation of his feelings. He, however, could not resist. He made
the best of his way to Carthage. The Roman senate, at the same time,
instead of deciding on the question of peace or war, which Scipio had
submitted to them, referred the question back to him. They sent
commissioners to Scipio, authorizing him to act for them, and to
decide himself alone whether the war should be continued or closed,
and if to be closed, on what conditions.

Hannibal raised a large force at Carthage, joining with it such
remains of former armies as had been left after Scipio's battles, and
he went forth at the head of these troops to meet his enemy. He
marched five days, going, perhaps, seventy-five or one hundred miles
from Carthage, when he found himself approaching Scipio's camp. He
sent out spies to reconnoiter. The patrols of Scipio's army seized
these spies and brought them to the general's tent, as they supposed,
for execution. Instead of punishing them, Scipio ordered them to be
led around his camp, and to be allowed to see every thing they
desired. He then dismissed them, that they might return to Hannibal
with the information they had obtained.

Of course, the report which they brought in respect to the strength
and resources of Scipio's army was very formidable to Hannibal. He
thought it best to make an attempt to negotiate a peace rather than to
risk a battle, and he accordingly sent word to Scipio requesting a
personal interview. Scipio acceded to this request, and a place wa