INTRODUCTION. 4,3 



some new enemy. When we add to this, that people naturally war- 

 like, were inspired to deeds of valour by every consideration which 

 could excite them....that the citizens of Rome were all soldiers, and 

 fought for their lands, their children, and their hberties....we shall 

 not be surprised that they should, in the course of some centuries 3 

 extend their power over all Italy. 



The Romans, now secure at home, and finding no enemy to con- 

 tend with in Italy, turned their eyes abroad, and met with a power- 

 ful rival in the Carthaginians. This state had been founded or en- , 

 larged on the coast of the Mediterranean in Africa, some time be- 

 fore Rome, by a colony of Phoenicians, anno B. C. 869 ; and, ac- 

 cording to the practice of their mother-country, they had cultivated 

 commerce and naval greatness. 



Carthage, in this design, had proved wonderfully successful. 

 She commanded both sides of the Mediterranean. Besides that of 

 Africa, which she almost entirely possessed, she had extended her- 

 self on the Spanish side through the Straits. Thus mistress of the 

 sea and of commerce, she had seized on the islands of Corsica and 

 Sardinia. Sicily had difficulty to defend itself; and the Romans 

 Were too nearly threatened, not to take up arms. Hence a R /, 

 succession of hostilities between these rival states, known in ' . 

 history by the name of Punic wars in which the Carthaginians, 

 with all their wealth and power, were an unequal match for the 

 Romans. Carthage was a powerful republic when Rome was an in- 

 considerable state ; but she was now become corrupt and effeminate, 

 while Rome was in the vigour of her political constitution. Car- 

 thage employed mercenaries to carry on her wars ; Rome, as we 

 have already mentioned, was composed of soldiers. The first war 

 with Carthage lasted twenty-three years, and taught the Romans 

 the art of fighting on the sea, with which they had hitherto been 

 unacquainted. A Carthaginian vessel was wrecked on their „ p 

 coast ; they used it for a model ; in three months fitted out a 9 " " 

 fleet; and the consul Duilius, who fought their first naval 

 battle, was victorious. The behaviour of Regulus, the Roman ge- 

 neral, may give us an idea of the spirit which then animated t> *i 

 this people. Being taken prisoner in Africa, he was sent back ' ' * 

 on his parole to negotiate a change of prisoners. He maintain- 

 ed in the senate the propriety of that law which cut off from those 

 who suffered themselves to be taken, all hopes of being saved ; and 

 returned to certain death. 



Neither was Carthage, though corrupted, deficient in great men. 

 Of all the enemies the Romans ever had to contend with, Hanni- 

 bal, the Carthaginian, was the most inflexible and dangerous. His 

 father, Hamilcar, had imbibed an extreme hatred against the Ro- 

 mans ; and having settled the intestine troubles of his country, he 

 took an early opportunity to inspire his son, though but nine years 

 old, with his own sentiments. For this purpose he ordered a so- 

 lemn sacrifice to be offered to Jupiter, and, leading his son to the 

 altar, asked him whether he was willing to attend him in his expe- 

 dit'on against the Romans. The courageous boy not only consent- 

 ed to go, but conjured his father, by the gods present, to form him 

 to victory, and teach him the art of conquering. " That I will joy- 

 fully do," replied Hamilcar, " and with all the care of a father who 

 loves you, if you will swear upon the altar to be an eternal enemy to 

 the Romans*" Hannibal readily complied j and the solemnity of 



