[4] Numidia corresponds roughly to Algeria, Mauretania to Morocco.
[5] In his youth Masinissa was betrothed to Sophonisba, the accomplished and beautiful daughter of Hasdrubal, son of Gisco. The engagement was broken off for political reasons. Hasdrubal made Sophonisba's hand the price of an alliance which he wished Syphax, Masinissa's rival in the struggle for the Numidian throne, to contract with Carthage. In the war that followed, Syphax was defeated, first by the Romans, afterwards by Masinissa himself, who took Cirta, his capital, and in it Sophonisba. To marry her at once seemed to the conqueror the only way of saving her from the Romans. But the marriage did not suit the policy of Rome, which dreaded the hostile influence which such a woman might exercise. Scipio (the Elder), who was in command, insisted that Sophonisba should be given up; and Masinissa, to save her the humiliation of captivity, sent her a cup of poison.
[6] It is the Asiatic elephant only that has been domesticated in modern times, and taught to utilize his strength in the service of man.
[7] About equivalent to a colonel in our army. There were five tribunes in the legion or brigade, and these commanded in turn.
[8] Flaminius commanded at the disastrous battle of Lake Trasumennus, Varro at the still more disastrous defeat of Cannæ.
[9] Carthage was Kirjath-Hadeschath, the "new town" (opposed to Tyre, which was the old); its chief magistrates were Shophetim (Latinized into Suffetes), the Hebrew word for "judges". Barca was a well-known name, corresponding to the Hebrew Barak, and meaning "lightning".
[10] By the "League" Cleanor means the Achæan League, a combination originally of the cities of Achaia proper, or the southern shore of the Corinthian Gulf, but afterwards extended over the greater part of Mainland Greece.
[11] The Cantabri (now the Basques), who were not subdued by Rome for more than a century after this time.
[12] By the "Sea" Hasdrubal means the Mediterranean; outside the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar and Tangiers) was the Ocean (the Atlantic).
[13] The ancient boxing-glove, a formidable construction fitted to the hand, of leather thongs heavily loaded with lead.