History of Rome

​Gala had a son, Masinissa, seventeen years old, but a youth of such a character that even then it was apparent that he would make a greater and wealthier kingdom than the one he would receive.

​The ambassadors, since Syphax had joined himself to the Romans so that he might be more powerful against the kings and peoples of Africa by their alliance, ​pointed out that it would be better for Gala also to be joined to the Carthaginians as soon as possible, before Syphax should cross into Spain or the Romans into Africa; and that Syphax, possessing as yet nothing but a name from the Roman treaty, could be crushed.

​Gala was easily persuaded, as his son was demanding that war, to send an army; which, having joined with the Carthaginian legions, defeated Syphax in a great battle. Thirty thousand men are said to have been slain in that battle.

​Syphax, with a few horsemen, fled from the battle-line to the Maurusian Numidians—who dwell near the Ocean, opposite Gades, at the edge of the world—and as the barbarians flocked to him from all sides at his fame, he armed huge forces in a short time, ​with which he might cross into Spain, which was separated by a narrow strait. Meanwhile, Masinissa arrived with his victorious army; and there, by himself without any resources of the Carthaginians, he waged war against Syphax with great glory.

​In Spain, nothing memorable was done except that the Roman commanders won over the youth of the Celtiberians to themselves for the same pay that had been agreed upon with the Carthaginians, ​and sent more than three hundred of the most noble Spaniards into Italy to solicit their countrymen who were among the auxiliaries of Hannibal.