A census was held by the censors [Y. R. 600. B. C. 152]; the number of
citizens amounted to three hundred and twenty-four thousand. The causes
of the third Punic war are enumerated: when a large army of Numidians
was said to be in the territory of the Carthaginians, with Ariobarzanes,
the descendant of Syphax, as general, Marcus Porcius Cato advised that
war should be declared against the Carthaginians, because they had
invited Ariobarzanes into their country, apparently to oppose king
Masinissa, but in reality against the Romans. Publius Scipio Nasica
being of a contrary opinion, it is resolved to send ambassadors to
Carthage, to inquire into the truth of the affair. The Carthaginian
senate being reproved for levying forces, and preparing materials for
ship-building, contrary to treaty, declare themselves ready to make
peace with Masinissa, upon condition of his giving up the lands in
dispute. But Gisgo, son of Hamilcar, a man of a seditious disposition,
at that time chief magistrate, notwithstanding the determination of the
senate to abide by the decision of the ambassadors, urges the
Carthaginians to war against the Romans, in such strong terms, that the
ambassadors are obliged to save themselves by flight from personal
violence. On this being announced at Rome, the senate becomes more
highly incensed against them. Cato, being poor, celebrated the funeral
obsequies of his son, who died in the office of prætor, at a very small
expense. Andriscus, an impostor, pretending to be the son of Perseus,
king of Macedonia, was sent to Rome. Marcus Æmilius Lepidus, who had
been six times declared chief of the senate, on his death-bed, gives
strict orders to his sons that he shall be carried out to burial on a
couch, without the usual ornaments of purple and fine linen, and that
there shall not be expended on his funeral more than ten pieces of
brass: alleging that the funerals of the most distinguished men used,
formerly, to be decorated by trains of images, and not by vast expense.
An inquiry was instituted concerning poisoning. Publicia and Licinia,
women of high rank, accused of the murder of their husbands, were tried
before the prætor, and executed, [Y. R. 601. B. C. 151.] Gulussa, son of
Masinissa, gives information that troops were levying and a fleet
fitting out at Carthage, and that there could be no doubt of their
intending war. Cato urging a declaration of war, and Nasica speaking
against it, entreated the senate to do nothing rashly; it is resolved to
send ten ambassadors to inquire into the affair. The consuls, Lucius
Licinius Lucullus, and Aulus Postumius Albinus, carrying on the levying
of soldiers with inflexible severity, were committed to prison by the
tribunes of the people, for not, at their entreaty, sparing some of
their friends. The ill success of the war in Spain having so discouraged
the citizens of Rome, that none could be found to undertake any military
command or office, Publius Cornelius Æmilianus comes forward, and offers
to undertake any office whatever, which it should be thought proper to
call him to: roused by his example, the whole body of the people make
the like offer. It was thought that the consul, Claudius Marcellus, had
reduced all the states of Celtiberia to a state of tranquillity;
nevertheless, his successor, Lucius Lucullus, is engaged in war with the
Vaccosans, Cantabrians, and other nations of Spaniards, hitherto
unknown; all of which he subdues. In this war, Publius Cornelius
Africanus Scipio Æmilianus, the son of Lucius Paullus, and nephew, by
adoption, of Africanus, a military tribune, slays a barbarian who had
challenged him, and distinguishes himself highly at the siege of
Intercatia; being the first who scaled the wall. The prætor, Servius
Sulpicius Galba, fights against the Lusitanians unsuccessfully. When the
ambassadors, returning from Africa, together with some Carthaginian
deputies, and Gulussa, reported that they found an army and a fleet
ready for service at Carthage, the matter was taken into consideration
by the senate. Cato, and other principal Senators, urge that an army
should be immediately sent over into Africa; but Cornelius Nasica
declaring that he yet saw no just cause for war, it is resolved that it
should not be declared, provided the Carthaginians would burn their
fleet, and disband their troops; but if not, that then the next
succeeding consuls should propose the question of war. A theatre which
the censors had contracted for, being built, Cornelius Nasica moves, and
carries the question, that it be pulled down, as being not only useless,
but injurious to the morals of the people: the people, therefore,
continue to behold the public shows standing. Masinissa, now ninety-two
years old, vanquishes the Carthaginians, who had made war against him
unjustly, and contrary to treaty. By this infraction of the treaty, they
also involve themselves in a war with Rome.