The Carthaginians, when they saw their towns being sacked, sent to Hannibal begging him not to delay, but to approach the enemy and decide matters by a battle.
After listening to the messengers he bade them in reply pay attention to other matters and be at their ease about this; for he himself would judge when it was time.
After a few days he shifted his camp from the neighbourhood of Adrumetum and advancing encamped near Zama. This is a town lying five days\' journey to the west of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>.
From here he sent out three spies, wishing to find out where the Romans were encamped, and what disposition their general had made in his camp.
When these men were caught and brought before him Scipio was so far from punishing them, as is the usual practice, that on the contrary he ordered a tribune to attend them and point out clearly the exact arrangement of the camp.
After this had been done he asked them if the officer had explained everything to them with due diligence.
When they answered that he had done so, he furnished them with provisions and an escort, and told them to report carefully to Hannibal what had happened to them.
On their return Hannibal was so much struck with admiration of Scipio's magnanimity and daring, that he conceived, curiously enough, a strong desire to meet him and converse with him.
Having decided on this he sent a herald saying that he desired to discuss the whole situation with him,
and Scipio, on receiving the herald's message, assented to the request and said he would send to Hannibal fixing a place and hour for the interview.
Upon this the herald returned to his own camp.
Next day Massanissa arrived with six thousand foot
and four thousand horse. Scipio received him kindly, congratulating him on having brought under his dominion all the former subjects of Scyphax.
He then broke up his camp and on reaching a town called Naragara encamped there, selecting a spot which was favourably situated in other respects and had water within the throw of a javelin.
Walbank Commentary