At the conclusion of these operations Livius stayed where he was, but Nero returned to Apulia, reaching it on the sixth day; his absence up to that time had not been detected.  Some of the prisoners he sent into Hannibal’s camp to explain what had happened, and he fixed Hasdrubal’s head on a pole nearby.  Hannibal, learning that his brother was vanquished and dead, and that Nero had conquered and returned, lamented bitterly, often crying out upon Fortune and Cannae.  And he retired into Bruttium where he remained inactive.

[Sidenote:  B.C. 206 (a.u. 548)] IX, 10.—­Scipio was detailed to superintend Roman interests in Spain till what time he should reach a satisfactory adjustment of them all.  First he sailed to Libya with two quinqueremes, and it so happened that Hasdrubal son of Gisco landed there at the same time as he did.  Syphax, who was king of a portion of Libya and had enjoyed friendly relations with the Carthaginians, entertained them both and endeavored to reconcile them.  But Scipio said that he had no private enmity and he could not on his own responsibility arrange terms for his country.

Accordingly he went back again and began a war against the Iliturgitani because they had handed over to the Carthaginians the Romans who took refuge with them after the death of the Scipios.  He did not make himself master of their city until he dared to scale the wall in person and got wounded.  Then the soldiers, put to shame and fearing for his life, made a very vigorous assault.  Having mastered the situation they killed the whole population and burned down the entire city.  As a result of the fear thus inspired many voluntarily ranged themselves on his side, whereas many others had to be subdued by force.  Some when subjected to siege burned their cities and slew their kinsmen and finally themselves.

After subjugating the greater part of the country Scipio shifted his position to Carthage and there instituted funeral combats in full armor in honor of his father and his uncle.  When many others had contended, there came also two brothers who continued at variance about a kingdom, though Scipio had made efforts to reconcile them.  And the elder slew the younger in spite of the superior strength of the latter.

Subsequently Scipio fell sick, and that was the signal for a rebellion of the Spaniards.  One of Scipio’s legions that was in winter quarters near Sucro became restless.  It had shown a lack of docility before this, but had not ventured upon open rebellion.  Now, however, perceiving that Scipio was incapacitated and influenced further by the fact that their pay had been slow in coming they mutinied outright, drove away the tribunes, and elected consuls for themselves.  Their number was about eight thousand.  The Spaniards on ascertaining this revolted with greater readiness and proceeded to damage the territory belonging to the Roman alliance.  Mago, who had intended to abandon Gades, consequently did not abandon it, but crossed over to the mainland and wrought considerable mischief.