22, 23, 24. Who succeeded Fabius ?What was his character, and that of his colleague? 25. How were the Carthaginians posted at Cannæ ? 26/27. How did the consuls behave? How did Varro act? 28. What were the circumstances of the engagement? 29. How did the battle terminate? AX 30. What was the fate of Æmilius? 31. What generous offer was made by Lentulus ? 32. Did the consul accept the tribune's offer? 33. Was the loss of the Romans severe ? 1.WHEN the first consternation was abated after this dreadful blow, the senate came to a resolution to create a dictator in order to give strength to their government 2.A short time after Varro arrived, having left behind him the wretched remains of his army As he had been the principal cause of the late calamity, it was natural to suppose that the senate would severely reprimand the rashness of his conduct. But far otherwise! The Romans went out in multitudes to meet him; and the senate returned him thanks, that he had not despaired of the safety of Rome. 3.Fa'bius, who was considered as the shield, and Marcel'lus, as the sword of Rome, were appointed to 1 The terms of the surrender were, that each Roman should pay a sum equal to 97. 78. 9d. for his ransom. (Liv. 1. xxii. c. 51.) The senate, however, refused to ransom them, and they were compelled by Hannibal to fight as gladiators, for the diversion of his troops. (Liv. 1. xxiii. c. 58.) lead the armies; and though Hannibal once more offered them peace, they refused it, but upon condition that he should quit Italy-a measure similar to that they had formerly insisted upon from Pyrrhus. 4.(Han'nibal finding the impossibility of marching directly to Rome, or willing to give his forces rest after so mighty a victory, fed them to Cap'ua', where he resolved to winter.) 5. This city had long been considered as the nurse of luxury, and the corrupter of all military virtue 6. (Here, a new scene of pleasure opened to his barbarian troops: they at once gave themselves up to intoxication ; and from being hardy veterans, became infirm rioters 2.) 7.Hitherto we have found this great man successful; but now we are to reverse the picture, and survey him struggling with accumulated misfortunes, and, at last, sinking beneath them. / 8. His first loss was at the siege of Nola where Marcellus, the prætor, made a successful sally. He some time after attempted to raise the siege of Cap'ua, attacked the Romans in their trenches, and was repulsed with considerable loss. He then made a feint to besiege Rome, but finding a superior army ready to receive him, was obliged to retire. 9. For many years he fought with various success: Marcel'lus, his opponent, sometimes gaining, and sometimes losing the advantage, without coming to any decisive engagement. 10. The senate of Carthage at length came to a resolution of sending his brother As'drubal to his assistance, with a body of forces drawn out of Spain./ 11. Asdrubal's march being made known to the consuls Liv’ius and Nero, they went against him with great expedition; and, surrounding him in a place into which he was led by the treachery of his guides, they cut his whole army to pieces 12. Han'nibal had long expected these succours with impatience; and the very night on which he had been assured Cap'ua was a very ancient city, and the capital of Campania. It rivalled Rome for opulence, and was usually enumerated with Rome and Carthage as the great cities. (Florus, l. i. c. 16.) 2 While the affairs of the Romans succeeded so ill in Italy, their troops, under the command of the two Scipios, obtained great advantages in Spain, thus making some amends for the disasters at home. (Liv. 1. xxiii. c. 26, 27.) Nola, an ancient town of Campa'nia, remarkable for being the place where Augustus died. (Suet. in Aug.) of his brother's arrival, Nero ordered Asdrubal's head to be cut off, and thrown into his brother's camp./ 13/ The Carthaginian general now began to perceive the downfal of Carthage; and with a sigh observed to those about him, that fortune seemed fatigued with granting her favours. 14. In the mean time, the Roman arms seemed to be favoured in other parts Marcel'lus took the city of Syracuse, in Sicily defended by the machines and the fires of Archime'des the mathematician. 15. The inhabitants were put to the sword, and among the rest, Archime'des himself, who was found, by a Roman soldier, meditating in his study 16./Marcel'lus, the general, was not a little grieved at his death. A love of literature at that time began to prevail among the higher ranks at Rome. Marcellus ordered Archime'des to be honourably buried, and a tomb to be erected to his memory.\ 17. As to their fortunes in Spain, though for a while doubtful, they soon recovered their complexion under the conduct of Scipio Africanus who sued for the office of proconsul to that kingdom, at a time when every one else was willing to decline it. 18. Scipio, now 19. twenty-four years old, had all the qualifications requisite for forming a great general, and a good man he united courage with tenderness, was superior to Hannibal in the arts of peace, and almost his equal in those of war. His father had been killed in Spain, so that he seemed to have an hereditary claim to attack that country. He therefore appeared irresistible, obtaining many great victories, yet subduing more by his generosity, mildness, and benevolent disposition, than by the force of arms. During his command, a circumstance occurred which has contributed more to the fame and glory of Scipio, than all his military exploits. At the taking of New Carthage, a lady of extraordinary beauty was brought to Scipio, who found himself greatly affected by her charms. Understanding, however, that she was betrothed to a Celtibe'rian prince, named Allu'cius, he generously resolved to conquer his rising passion, and sending for her lover, restored her without any other recompense than requesting his friendship to the republic. Her parents had brought a large sum of money for her ransom, which they earnestly entreated Scipio to accept; but he generously bestowed it on Allu'cius, as the portion of his bride. A silver shield on which this interesting event is depicted, was found in the river Rhone by some fishermen, in the seventeenth century. We subjoin an engraving of this valuable relic of antiquity. 20. He returned with an army from the conquest of Spain, and was made consul at the age of twenty-nine. It was at first supposed he intended meeting Hannibal in Italy, and that he would attempt driving him from thence; but he had formed a wiser plan, which was to carry the war into Africa; and while the Carthaginians kept an army near Rome, to make them tremble for their own capital. 21. ment; Scip'io was not long in Africa without employopposed him, but was defeated and slain. Sy'phax, the usurper of Numid'ia,/led up a large army against him. 22. The Roman general, for a time, declined fighting, till finding an opportunity, he set fire to the enemy's tents, and attacking them in the midst of the confusion, killed forty thousand, and took six thousand prisoners. 23. The Carthaginians, terrified at their repeated defeats, and at the fame of Scip'io's successes, determined to recal Hannibal, their great champion, out of Italy, in order to oppose the Romans at home! Deputies were accordingly despatched, with a positive command for him to return and oppose the Roman general, who at that time threatened Carthage with a siege. 24. Nothing could exceed the regret and disappointment of Hannibal but he obeyed the orders of his infatuated country with the submission of the meanest soldier; and took leave of Italy with tears, after having kept possession of its most beautiful parts above fifteen years. 25. Upon his arrival at Leptis, in Africa, he set out for Adrumetum, and at last approached Za'ma, a city about seventy-five miles from Carthage. 26.Scipio, in the mean time, led his army to meet him, joined by Massinis'sa, with six thousand horse; and to show his rival how little he feared his approach, sent back the spies which were sent to explore his camp, having previously shown them the whole, with directions to inform Hannibal of what they had seen. 27./The Carthaginian general, conscious of his inferiority, endeavoured to put an end to the war by negotiation; and desired a meeting with Scipio, to confer upon terms of peace; to which the Roman general assented., 28. But after a long conference, both sides parting dissatisfied, they returned to their camps, to prepare for deciding the controversy by the sword. 29 Never was a more memorable battle fought, whether we regard the generals, the armies, the two states that contended, or the empire that was in dispute. The disposition Hannibal made of his men is said to be superior to any even of his former arrangements; it may be understood from the accompanying plan :— |