Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 30
Frank Gardener Moore, Professor Emeritus in Columbia University, Ed.

16. Scipio, having sent Gaius Laelius with Syphax and other captives to Rome, while with these went Masinissa's legates also, himself moved his camp back again to Tynes and completed the fortifications he had already begun.¹ [2] The Carthaginians, on account of their attack upon the fleet with considerable success for the moment, had been filled with a joy not only short-lived but almost unfounded. But on hearing of the capture of Syphax, on whom they had rested their hopes almost more than on Hasdrubal and their own army, they were discouraged. No longer listening to any advocate of war, they sent their thirty elder statesmen to plead for peace. This was their privy council,² and it had great influence even in guiding the senate. [3] When they reached the Roman camp and headquarters they fell to the ground after the custom of courtiers, having derived that ceremony, I suppose, from the region from which they sprang.³ [4] Such humble obeisance was matched by their discourse, as they did not try to clear themselves of blame, but shifted the original blame to Hannibal and to those who [p. 425]supported his power. [5] They craved pardon for a⁴ state now twice overthrown by the rashness of its citizens, to [6??] be saved a second time by the favour of its foes. It was power, they said, that the Roman people sought from vanquished enemies, not their destruction. [7] They were ready to be obedient servants; let him give them whatever commands he pleased.

[8] Scipio said he had come to Africa in the hope that he would carry home a victory, not a treaty of peace; that his hope had been also confirmed by a successful issue of the war. [9] Nevertheless, although he had victory almost within his grasp, he was not rejecting a peace, in order that all nations might know that the Roman people acted fairly both in beginning and ending wars. [10] He said that he announced the following terms of peace: that they restore captives and deserters and fugitive slaves; that they withdraw their armies from Italy and Gaul;⁵ that they have nothing to do with Spain; that they give up ownership of all the islands lying between Italy and Africa;⁶ that they deliver all their war-ships except twenty, and 500,000 pecks of wheat, 300,000 pecks of barley.⁷ [11] —As for money, there is no agreement as to the sum which he imposed. [12] In one source I find that 5,000 talents⁸ were imposed, in another 5,000 pounds of silver, in another double the pay of his soldiers. [13] — [p. 427]“Whether on these terms,” said he, “you are disposed⁹ to make peace, on that point three days will be given you for deliberation. If that shall be your decision, make an armistice with me, send your embassy to the senate at Rome.” [14] Dismissed with these words, the Carthaginians agreed that no peace terms should be rejected, since they were seeking to gain time for Hannibal to cross over to Africa.¹⁰ [15] Accordingly they sent one embassy to Scipio to arrange an armistice and another to Rome to sue for peace,¹¹ taking with them a few captives and deserters and fugitive slaves for appearance' sake, that they might more readily obtain peace.