8 5 o CARTHAGE. 
Thefe proceedings had not a Utile alarmed the inha¬ 
bitants.of Carthage. But they were not yet acquainted 
with the refolutions taken at Rome. They therefore fent 
ambaftadors, whom they inverted with full powers to a< 5 t 
as they thought proper for the good of the republic. On 
ftating their apprehenlions, the Romans difclaimed any 
iiortile defigns againft them, and promifed them the en¬ 
joyment of their laws, and in fliort every thing that was 
dear and valuable to men. This threw them into a tranf- 
port of joy, and they wanted words to extol the modera¬ 
tion of the Romans. But the fenate acquainted them, that 
this favour was to be granted upon condition that they 
would fend 300 young Carthaginian noblemen to the prae¬ 
tor Fabius at Lilybaeum, within the fpace of thirty days, 
as hoftages for their compliance with all the orders of the 
eonfuls. Thefe hard terms filled the whole city with in- 
expreflible grief: but the hoftages were delivered ; and, 
as they arrived at Lilybaeum before the thirty days were 
expired, the ambaftadors were not without hopes of fe- 
enring a peace. But the eonfuls only told them, that up¬ 
on their arrival at Utica they fhould learn the farther 
pleafure of the republic. 
The ambaftadors no fooner received intelligence of the 
Roman fleet appearing off Utica, than they repaired 
thither to know the fate of their city. The eonfuls did 
not judge it expedient to communicate all the commands 
of their republic at once, left they fhould appear fo h'arfh 
and fevere, that the Carthaginians would not comply with 
them. They firft, therefore, demanded a fufficient fup- 
ply of corn for the fubfiftence of their troops. Secondly, 
That they fhould deliver up all the fliips they were matters 
of. Thirdly, That they fhould put them in portellion of 
all. their military machines. And fourthly, That they 
fhould immediately convey all their arms into the Roman 
camp. As care was taken that there fhould be fome in¬ 
terval between every one of thefe demands, the Cartha¬ 
ginians found themfelves enfnared, and could not reject 
any one of them, though they fubmitted to the laft with 
the utmoft reluctance and concern. Cenforinns now, ima¬ 
gining them incapable of fuftaining a liege, commanded 
them to abandon their city, and to demolifh it; permit¬ 
ting them to build another eighty ftadia from the fea, but' 
without walls or fortifications. This decree threw the 
fenate into the utmoft defpair; and the whole city became 
a feene of horror and confufion. The citizens curfed their 
anceftors for not dying gloriouflv in the. defence of their 
country, rather than by concluding fuch ignominious trea¬ 
ties of peace, to have- been the caufe of the deplorable 
condition to which their pofterity was then reduced. At 
length, when the firft commotion was a little abated, the 
fenators aftembled, and refolved to fuftain a fiege. They 
were ftripped of their arms, and deftitute of provifions; 
but defpair raifed their courage, and made them find out 
expedients. They flint the gates of the city ; and ga¬ 
thered together on-the ramparts heaps of ftones, to ferve 
inftead of arms in cafe of a furprife. They took the ma¬ 
lefactors out of prifon, gave the (laves them liberty, and 
incorporated them in the militia. Afdrubal was recalled, 
v, ho had been fentenced to die only to pleafe (lie Romans ; 
and tie was invited to employ 20,0co men be had raifed 
againft his-eountry, in the defence of it. Another Af¬ 
drubal was appointed to command in Carthage; and all 
teemed refolute, either to fave their city, or perifti in its 
ruins. They wanted arms ; but, by order of the fenate,, 
t'ne' temples, porticoes,, and all public buildings*, were 
turned into workhoufe's,. where men-and women were con¬ 
tinually employed in making arms. As.they encouraged 
one another in their work,, and- lofr no-time in providing 
tile neeelfaries of life, which were brought to them at 
Bated hours, they every day made 144 bucklers,. 300- 
(words, 100a darts, and 300 lances or javelins. As to ba- 
hrt.e and catapults, they wanted proper materials for 
them.; but their in'duftry fupplied that defeat. Where 
iron and brafs were wanting, they made life of filver and 
gold, melting, down the itanice,. vafes,. and even the uteri- 
fils of private families; for, on this occafion, even th'e 
molt covetous became liberal. As tow and flax were 
wanting to make cords for working the machines, the wo¬ 
men, even thofe of the firft rank, freely cut off their hair 
and dedicated it to that uje. Without the walls, Afdru¬ 
bal employed the troops in collecting provifions, and con¬ 
veying them into Carthage; fo that there was as great 
plenty there as in the Roman camp. 
In the mean time the eonfuls delayed drawing near to 
Carthage, not doubting but the inhabitants, whom they 
imagined deftitute of neeelfaries to fuftain a liege, would, 
upon cool reflection, fubmit; but at length, finding them¬ 
felves deceived in their expectation, they came before the 
place and inverted it. As they were ftill perfuaded that 
the Carthaginians had no arms, they flattered themfelves 
that they fhould ealily carry the city by affault. Accord¬ 
ingly they approached the walls to plant their fealing lad¬ 
ders; when, to their utter aftonifliment, they dilcovered 
a prodigious multitude of men on the ramparts, fltining 
in the armour they had newly made. The legionaries 
were.fo furprifed at this unexpected fight, that they drew 
back, and would have retired, had not the eonfuls forced 
them on to the attack ; which, however, proved unfuccefs- 
ful; the Romans, in fpite of their utmoft efforts, being 
obliged to lay alide all thoughts of taking Carthage by 
affault. In the mean time, Afdrubal, having collected 
from all places fubjeCt to Carthage a great number of 
troops, came and encamped within fight of the Romans, 
and reduced them to great difficulties for want of provi¬ 
fions. As Marcius, one of the Roman eonfuls, was port¬ 
ed near a marlh, the exhalations of the ftagnating waters, 
and the heat of the feafon, infeCted the air, and caufed a 
general licknefs among his men. Marcius, therefore, or¬ 
dered his fleet to draw as near the fhore as pollible, to 
tranfport his troops to a healthier place. Afdrubal, being 
informed of this motion, ordered all the old barks in the 
harbour to be filled with faggots, tow r , fulphur, bitumen, 
and other combuftible materials ; and then taking advan¬ 
tage of the wind, which blew towards the enemy, he let 
them drive upon their (flips, which were for the moft part 
confirmed. After this difafter, Marcius was recalled to 
Rome, to prefide at the elections ; and the Carthaginians, 
looking upon his abfence as a good omen, made a briftc 
fally in the night ; and would have furprifed the Roman 
camp, had not .dSmilianus marched out at the oppofite 
fide of their intrefichments ; and, coming round, fell un¬ 
expectedly on their-rear, which obliged them to return! 
in diforder to the city. Afdrubal then potted himfelf un¬ 
der the walls of Nepheris, a city twenty-four miles from 
Carthage, fituated on a high mountain, which feemed in- 
acceftible on all fides. From thence he made incurfions 
into the neighbouring country, intercepted the Roman 
convoys, fell upon their foraging parties, and even in¬ 
flated the confular army in their camp. The conful re¬ 
folved to drive the Carthaginians from this advantageous- 
,poft ; but, as be drew near the hills, Afdrubal appeared at 
the head of his army in order of battle, and fell upon the 
Romans with incredible fury. The confular army fuf- 
tained the attack with great refolutian ; and Afdrubal 
retired in good order to his port, hoping the Romans, 
would attack him there. But the conful, feeing his dan¬ 
ger, refolved to■ retire. Afdrubal no fooner perceived 
this retreat, than he rufhed down the hill, and, falling up¬ 
on tlie enemy’s rear, cut a great number of them in pieces. 
The whole Rom.au army was now faved by the bravery of 
Scipio iEtnilianus. At the head of 300 horfe, he fnl'- 
tained. the attack of all the forces commanded by Afdru¬ 
bal, and covered the legions, while they palfed a river in 
their retreat before the enemy. Then he and his compa¬ 
nions threw' themfelves into the ftyeam, and (want acrofs 
it. When tile army had crofted the river, it was per¬ 
ceived that four manipuli were wanting ; and loon after 
they were informed that they had retired to an eminence,, 
where they refolved to fell their lives as dear as pollible. 
Upon this, AimilianuSy. taking with him a chofen body of 
koric,. 
