a most injurious course in the actual state of affairs, and second, because he was inferior to the other in political renown.  For he saw that in military matters the principle of preference to ex-magistrates as a matter of course had especial force, and therefore he willingly yielded him the command and furthermore delivered to him the troops that he had brought there.  After this Cato made a request for Utica, which was suspected of favoring Caesar’s cause and had come near having its citizens removed by the others on this account, and he received it to guard; and the whole country and sea in that vicinity was entrusted to his garrisons.  The rest Scipio commanded as dictator.  His very name was a source of strength to those who sided with him, since by some strange, unreasonable hope they believed that no Scipio could meet with misfortune in Africa.

[-58-] Caesar, when he learned this and saw that his own soldiers also were persuaded that it was so and were consequently afraid, took with him as an aid a man of the family of the Scipios who bore that name (he was otherwise known as Salvito)[83]and then made the voyage to Adrymetum, since the neighborhood of Utica was strictly guarded.  His unexpected crossing in the winter enabled him to escape detection.  When he had left his ship an accident happened to him which, even if some disaster was portended by Heaven, he nevertheless turned to a good omen.  Just as he was setting foot on land he slipped, and the soldiers seeing him fall on his face were disheartened and in their chagrin raised an outcry; but he never lost his presence of mind, and stretching out his hands as if he had fallen on purpose he embraced and kissed repeatedly the land, and cried with a shout:  “I have thee, Africa!” His next move was an assault upon Adrymetum, from which he was repulsed and moreover driven violently out of his camp.  Then he transferred his position to another city called Ruspina, and being received by the inhabitants set up his winter quarters there and made it the base for subsequent warfare.

DIO’S ROMAN HISTORY

43

The following is contained in the Forty-third of Dio’s Rome: 

How Caesar conquered Scipio and Juba (chapters 1-8).  How the Romans got possession of Numidia (chapter 9).  How Cato slew himself (chapters 10-13).  How Caesar returned to Rome and celebrated his triumph and settled what business remained (chapters 14-21).  How the Forum of Caesar and the Temple of Venus were consecrated (chapters 22-25).  How Caesar arranged the year in its present fashion (chapters 26, 27).  How Caesar conquered in Spain Gnaeus Pompey the son of Pompey (chapters 28-45).  How for the first time consuls were appointed for not an entire year (chapters 46-48).  How Carthage and Corinth received colonies (chapters 49, 50).  How the Aediles Cereales were appointed (chapter 51).

Duration of time, three years, in which there were the following magistrates here enumerated.