caused intense anxiety at Rome.
Every nerve was strained to prevent the union of the two brothers. The
Consuls for this year (207) were GAIUS CLAUDIUS NERO, a patrician,
and MARCUS LIVIUS, a plebeian. To the former was intrusted the task of
keeping Hannibal in check in Bruttium, while the duty of intercepting
Hasdrubal was given to the latter.

The Carthaginian had already reached the neighborhood of the river
Metaurus, a small stream south of the Rubicon. From here he sent
messengers to inform his brother of his approach and proposed line of
march. These messengers were captured by Nero, and the contents of their
despatches learned. He at once pushed north with his forces, joined
Livius, met Hasdrubal on the METAURUS early in 207, and defeated his
army with great slaughter. Among the slain was Hasdrubal himself. Nero
returned south without delay, and the first intimation that Hannibal had
of this battle was the sight of his brother's head thrown into the camp
by the victorious foe.

The war in Italy was now virtually ended, for, although during four
years more Hannibal stood at bay in a corner of Bruttium, he was
powerless to prevent the restoration of Roman authority throughout
Italy. Nothing now remained to Carthage outside of Africa, except the
ground on which Hannibal was making his last stand.

INVASION OF AFRICA.

Scipio, on his return from Spain, urged an immediate invasion of Africa.
He was elected Consul in 205, receiving Sicily as his province, with
permission to cross into Africa if it seemed to him wise. He was so
popular that voluntary contributions of men, money, and supplies poured
in from all sides. The old-fashioned aristocracy, however, did not like
him, as his taste for splendid living and Greek culture was particularly
offensive to them; and a party in the Senate would have recalled him,
had not the popular enthusiasm in his favor been too strong to be
resisted.

In 204 he sailed from Lilybaeum, and landed near Utica. He was welcomed
by Masinissa, whose friendship he had gained in his previous visit to
Africa from Spain. Syphax, however, sided with Carthage; but in 203
Scipio twice defeated him and the Carthaginian forces.

Negotiations for peace followed, but the war party in Carthage
prevailed. Hannibal was recalled. He returned to fight his last battle
with Rome, October 19, 202, at ZAMA, a short distance west of Carthage.
The issue was decided by the valor of the Roman legions, who love