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