ROME IN THE EAST. 139 



In the meantime Rome advanced into the East. As 

 soon as the battle of Zama had been fought, Alexan- 

 dria demanded her protection. This brought the 

 Romans into contact with the Graeco-Asiatic world ; 

 they found it in much the same condition as the Eng- 

 lish found Hindostan, and they conquered it in much 

 the same manner. 



Time went on. The generation of Hannibal had 

 almost become extinct. In Carthage war had become 

 a tradition of the past. The business of that city was 

 again as flourishing as it had ever been. Again ships 

 sailed to the coasts of Cornwall and Guinea ; again the 

 streets were lined with the workshops of industrious 

 artisans. Such is the vis medicatrix, the restoring 

 power of a widely extended commerce, combined 

 with active manufactures and the skilful management 

 of soil, that the city soon regained its ancient wealth. 

 The Romans had imposed an enormous indemnity, 

 which was to be paid off by instalments extending 

 over a series of years. The Carthaginians paid it off 

 at once. 



But in the midst of all their prosperity and happi- 

 ness there were grave and anxious hearts. They saw 

 ever before them the menacing figure of Masinissa. 

 The very slowness of his movements was portentous. 

 He was in all things deliberate, gradual, and calm. 

 From time to time he demanded a tract of land : if it 

 was not given up at once, he took it by force. Then, 

 waiting as if to digest it, he left them for a while in 

 peace. 



They were bound by treaty not to make war against 

 the Friends of Rome. They therefore petitioned the 

 senate that commissioners should be sent, and the 

 boundary definitely settled. But the senate had no 



