Two years after the siege began, PUBLIUS CORNELIUS SCIPIO AFRICÁNUS,
the Younger, was elected Consul while but thirty-seven (under the
legal age), for the express purpose of giving him charge of the siege.
After two years of desperate fighting and splendid heroism on the part
of the defenders, the famished garrison could hold out no longer.

Carthage fell in 146, and the ruins of the city burned for seventeen
days. The destruction was complete. A part of her territory was given
to Numidia. The rest was made a Roman province, and called AFRICA.

The year 149 saw the death of two men who had been Carthage's most
bitter enemies, but who were not allowed to see her downfall,--
MASINISSA and CATO, the one aged ninety, the other eighty-five.

Masinissa's (239-149) hostility dates from the time he failed to get
the promised hand of Hasdrubal's daughter, Sophonisba, who was given
to his rival, Syphax. After the battle of Zama, most of the
possessions of Syphax fell to Masinissa, and among them this same
Sophonisba, whom he married. Scipio, however, fearing her influence
over him, demanded her as a Roman captive, whereupon she took poison.
Masinissa was a courageous prince, but a convenient tool for the
Romans.

CATO THE ELDER (_Major_), (234-149,) whose long public career was
a constant struggle with the enemies of the state abroad, and with the
fashions of his countrymen at home, was a type of the _old_ Roman
character, with a stern sense of duty that forbade his neglecting the
interests of state, farm, or household. In 184, in his capacity as
Censor, he acted with extreme rigor. He zealously asserted old-