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U. C. 536.
A. C. 218.

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utinam vates sim) nostris capitibus incident, susceptumque cum Saguntinis bellum habendum cum Romanis est. 'Dedemus ergo Hannibalem? dicet aliquis. Scio, meam 'levem esse in eo auctoritatem propter paternas inimicitias. 'Sed et Hamilcarem eo perisse lætatus sum, quod, si ille viveret, bellum jam cum Romanis haberemus; et hunc 'juvenem, tanquam furiam facemque hujus belli, odi ac 'detestor. Nec dedendum solum id piaculum rupti fœderis; sed, si nemo deposcat, devehendum in ultimas1 'maris terrarumque oras, ablegandumque eo, unde nec ad 'nos nomen famaque ejus accedere, neque sollicitare quietæ 'civitatis statum possit. Ego ita censeo, legatos extemplo 'Romam mittendos, qui senatui satisfaciant: alios, qui 'Hannibali nuntient, ut exercitum ab Sagunto abducat, ipsumque Hannibalem ex fœdere Romanis dedant: 'tertiam legationem ad res Saguntinis reddendas decerno.' Quum Hanno perorasset, nemini omnium certare oratione cum eo necesse fuit: adeo prope omnis senatus Hannibalis erat; infestiusque locutum arguebant Hannonem, quam Flaccum Valerium, legatum Romanum. Responsum inde legatis Romanis est, Bellum ortum ab Saguntinis, non ab 'Hannibale esse. Populum Romanum injuste facere, si 'Saguntinos vetustissimæ Carthaginiensium societati præ'ponat.'

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Dum Romani tempus terunt legationibus mittendis, Hannibal, quia fessum militem præliis operibusque habebat, paucorum iis dierum quietem dedit, stationibus ad custodiam vinearum aliorumque operum dispositis. Interim animos eorum nunc ira in hostes stimulando, nunc spe præmiorum accendit. Ut vero pro concione prædam captæ urbis edixit militum fore, adeo accensi omnes sunt, ut, si extemplo signum datum esset, nulla vi resisti videre

Carthage that Hannibal is now ap-
plying, &c.; they are the walls of
Carthage that he is," &c.

9 Id piaculum.] i. e. ut sit pro
piaculo.

1 Devehendum in ultimas, &c.] As the speeches composed by the ancient historians are only artistically true, it is more probable that Livy attributes to Hanno a proposition subsequently carried into effect by Roman diplomacy, than that Hanno had, at this time, actually foreseen any possibility of effecting it.

2 Vetustissimæ Carthaginiensium societati. The first treaty between Rome and Carthage was concluded

immediately before the expulsion of the Tarquins (B. C. 509.), and was almost purely commercial. The terms were, that the Romans should not frequent the coast of Africa beyond Carthage; or, if obliged by accident, remain longer than five days; security of access for purposes of trade to Sardinia and Sicily; and non-interference on the part of Carthage with Ardea, Antium, Laurentum, Circeii, Terracina, and the Latin territory in general, with freedom of residence for one night only.

3 Fessum militem-habebat.] "Was keeping his soldiers in a state of fatigue."

tur posse. Saguntini ut a proliis quietem habuerant, nec U. C. 536. lacessentes, nec lacessiti per aliquot dies; ita non nocte, A. C. 218. non die unquam cessaverunt ab opere, ut novum murum ab ea parte, qua patefactum oppidum ruinis erat, reficerent. Inde oppugnatio eos aliquanto atrocior, quam ante, adorta est: nec, qua primum aut potissimum parte ferrent opem, quum omnia variis clamoribus streperent, satis scire poterant. Ipse Hannibal, qua turris mobilis' omnia munimenta urbis superans altitudine, agebatur, hortator aderat. Quæ quum admota, catapultis ballistisque per omnia tabulata dispositis, muros defensoribus nudasset; tum Hannibal, occasionem ratus, quingentos ferme Afros cum dolabris ad subruendum ab imo murum mittit: nec erat difficile opus, quod cæmenta non calce durata erant, sed interlita luto,

4 Nullâ vi resisti videretur posse.] "That it seemed impossible that resistance could be offered by any force."

5 Saguntini ut―ita.] "Though the Saguntines had been enjoying a respite from hostilities, neither giving nor receiving molestation for several days, yet they never desisted, either by day or night, from the work of renewing the walls, where," &c.

6 Satis scire.] "Easily (or well) determine."

7 Turris mobilis.] "A rolling tower." These engines frequently combined all the others known at the time; containing among the rest, a battering-ram in the lower story, and were counteracted, with an unwearied ingenuity, by pit-falls, wool-packs, nooses, and fire-lances. They continued in general use until the adoption of gunpowder, and even for some time after the first rude applications of that invention. They are said to have been used by Edward III. of England, in the invasion of Scotland, and by the Parliamentary troops at the siege of Corfe castle.

The difference between catapulta and balista is seldom accurately stated, and in the supposed identity of the names, was for some time and by several commentators supposed to exist only in the relative size and power of the engines. The former, however, being a modification of the sling, threw stones; while

the latter, on the principle of the bow, discharged large arrows, and was the prototype of the mediæval arbalest, or cross-bow, which was brought to such remarkable perfection by the French and Genoese. The recoil of twisted ropes, aided by steel springs, was the propelling power in both engines. Another instrument of the same sort was the onager, which differed from the others in acting vertically, so that the missile (generally a stone) described a curve like that of a shell.

The various modifications of those engines, known in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, bore the names of scorpion, mangonel, trebuchet, petrary, robinet, mategriffon, bricolle, beugle, espringale, matafunda, ribandequin, engine-a-verge, and war-wolf. A catapulta was used at the defence of Gibraltar, by General Melville, for the purpose of throwing stones over the edge of the rock upon a spot inside the range of shot and shells. The aries acted by repeated vibrations, the effect of which resembled that of the measured step of a regiment on a suspension bridge, or, of the repetition of its own musical note upon a glass vessel. It has been supposed that the fable of the wooden horse at Troy is to be allegorically understood as an allusion to this ancient artillery, the invention of which is attributed to the Phoenicians.

8 Camenta non calce, &c.] "The masonry had not been cemented with

U. C. 536. structuræ antiquæ genere. Itaque latius, quam cædereA. C. 218. tur, ruebat: perque patentia ruinis' agmina armatorum in urbem vadebant. Locum quoque editum capiunt: collatisque eo catapultis ballistisque, ut castellum in ipsa urbe velut arcem imminentem haberent, muro circumdant: et Saguntini murum1 interiorem ab nondum capta urbis parte ducunt. Utrimque summa vi et muniunt, et pugnant: sed, interiora tuendo, minorem in dies urbem Saguntini faciunt. Simul crescit inopia omnium longa obsidione, et minuitur exspectatio externæ opis; quum tam procul Romani, unica spes, circa omnia hostium essent3. Paullisper tamen affectos animos recreavit repentina profectio Hannibalis in Oretanos Carpetanosque: qui duo populi', delectus acerbitate consternati, retentis conquisitoribus, metum defectionis quum præbuissent, oppressi celeritate Hannibalis, omiserunt mota arma. Nec Sagunti oppugnatio segnior erat, Maharbale, Himilconis filio, (eum præfecerat Hannibal) ita impigre rem agente, ut ducem abesse nec cives, nec hostes sentirent. Is et proelia aliquot secunda fecit, et tribus arietibus aliquantum muri discussit; strataque omnia recentibus ruinis advenienti Hannibali ostendit. Itaque ad ipsam arcem extemplo ductus exercitus, atroxque prolium cum multorum utrimque cæde initum, et pars arcis capta est.

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Tentata deinde per duos est exigua pacis spes, Alconem

lime, but merely fixed together with
clay. The ruin was, therefore, more
extensive than the actual breach."

9 Per patentia ruinis.] "Through
the apertures of the ruins.”

Et Saguntini murum, &c.]
"While the Saguntines erected an
inner wall before the portion of the
city not yet taken." This operation
is technically called "retrenching."

Muniunt.] "Built." Munire
is applied to engineering works in
general, roads, quarries, &c.
ch. xxxvii.

See

3 Circa omnia hostium essent.] "And when all around them was in possession of the enemy."

4 Qui duo populi.] "But, although these two tribes, alarmed by the severity of the conscription, had excited apprehensions of revolt by seizing the recruiting parties, they were put down by," &c. From this allusion it may be inferred, that the condition of the provincial subjects of Carthage, as regarded mili

tary service, was very different from that of the Roman provincials, who were employed merely as mercenaries. The position of the Italian allies was peculiar. Their troops were paid by Rome, and provisioned by their own cities only in cases of emergency; while the amount of their contingents was definite and fixed.

5 Nec connects the succeeding sentence with the last of the preceding chapter; i. e. notwithstanding Hannibal's absence, the siege was forwarded with the same activity as before. The comparative segnior may also have reference to celeritate: i. e. the activity of the besiegers was not less than that of Hannibal in suppressing the insurrection.

6 Discussit.] Drakenborch's text has decussit, which is the phrase more generally used by Livy, in similar passages.

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Strataque omnia recentibus ruinis.] "A general scene of fresh ruins.”

Saguntinum, et Alorcum Hispanum. Alcon, insciis Sa- U. C. 536. guntinis, precibus aliquid moturum ratus, quum ad Hanni- A. C. 218. balem noctu transisset, postquam nihil lacrimæ movebant, conditionesque tristes, ut ab irato victore, ferebantur, transfuga ex oratore factus, apud hostem mansit; moriturum affirmans, qui sub conditionibus his de pace ageret. Postulabatur autem, redderent res Turdetanis; traditoque omni auro atque argento, egressi urbe cum singulis vestimentis. ibi habitarent, ubi Poenus jussisset. Has pacis leges abnuente Alcone accepturos Saguntinos, Alorcus, vinci, animos, ubi alia vincantur, affirmans, se pacis ejus interpretem fore pollicetur. Erat autem tum miles Hannibalis; ceterum publice Saguntinis amicus atque hospes. Tradito palam telo custodibus hostium, transgressus munimenta, ad prætorem Saguntinum (et ipse ita jubebat) est deductus. Quo quum extemplo concursus omnis generis hominum esset factus, summota cetera multitudine, senatus Alorco datus est: cujus talis oratio fuit.Si civis vester Alcon, 'sicut ad pacem petendam ad Hannibalem venit, ita pacis 'conditiones ab Hannibale ad vos retulisset, supervacaneum 'hoc mihi fuisset1 iter, quo nec orator Hannibalis, nec transfuga ad vos venissem. Quum ille, aut vestra, aut sua culpa, manserit apud hostem, (si metum simulavit, sua; I vestra, si periculum est apud vos vera referentibus) ego, 'ne ignoraretis, esse aliquas et salutis et pacis vobis condi'tiones, pro vetusto hospitio, quod mihi vobiscum est, ad 6 vos veni. Vestra autem causa3 me, nec ullius alterius, 'loqui, quæ loquor apud vos, vel ea fides sit, quod, neque 'dum vestris viribus restitistis, neque dum auxilia ab Ro'manis sperastis, pacis unquam apud vos mentionem feci. 'Postquam nec ab Romanis vobis ulla spes est, nec vestra ‘jam aut arma vos, aut mœnia satis defendunt, pacem affero 'ad vos magis necessariam, quam æquam: cujus ita aliqua

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8 Alcon, insciis Saguntinis, precibus, &c.] "Alcon, as he had, without the knowledge of the Saguntines, repaired to Hannibal by night, in expectation of producing some effect by entreaties; when his appeal proved ineffectual, and harsh conditions were dictated, (as by an exasperated conqueror,) becoming a deserter instead of a mediator, remained with the enemy, declaring that it would be death to any who spoke of peace upon such terms."

9 Vinci, animos, &c.] This must be understood as a general maxim: sc. "that the spirit is apt to be

broken, when all else is con-
quered."

1 Supervacaneum hoc mihi fuisset,
&c.] This visit would have been
unnecessary, as I would not have
come upon it either as Hannibal's
representative, or," &c. i. e. for I
need not have come, &c. It will be
observed, that venissem is part of
the subjunctive clause dependent on
si.

2 Pro vetusto hospitio.]
"In the
spirit of that long friendship," &c.

3 Vestrá autem causa, &c.] "And
that it is for your own sake, and for
no other, &c.; be this the proof."

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U. C. 536. spes est, si eam quemadmodum ut victor fert Hannibal, A. C. 218. sic vos ut victi audiatis: si non id, quod amittitur, in damno, (quum omnia victoris sint) sed, quicquid relinquitur, pro munere habituri estis. Urbem vobis, quam 'ex magna jam parte dirutam, captam fere totam habet, 'adimit, agros relinquit, locum assignaturus, in quo novum oppidum ædificetis: aurum argentumque omne, publicum 'privatumque, ad se jubet deferri: conjugum vestraque corpora ac liberorum vestrorum servat inviolata, si inermes cum binis vestimentis velitis ab Sagunto exire. Hæc 'victor hostis imperat. Hæc, quanquam sint gravia atque 'acerba, fortuna vestra vobis suadet. Equidem haud despero, quum omnium potestas ei facta sit, aliquid ex his rebus remissurum. Sed vel hæc patienda censeo potius, 'quam trucidari corpora vestra, rapi trahique ante ora ' vestra conjuges ac liberos belli jure sinatis.'

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Ad hæc audienda quum, circumfusa paullatim multitudine, permixtum senatui esset populi concilium; repente primores, secessione facta', priusquam responsum daretur, argentum aurumque omne, ex publico privatoque in forum collatum, in ignem ad id raptim factum conjicientes, eodem plerique semet ipsi præcipitaverunt. Quum ex eo pavor

4 Cujus ita-si.] "Only in case that, as Hannibal offers it as a conqueror, you accept it as conquered; that you are prepared to regard not what is forfeited as a loss, (because all belongs to a conqueror,) but what is saved as a boon."

5 Cum binis vestimentis.] i. e. according to Doering, one set of garments each, in addition to those worn at the time.

6 Hæc, quanquam sint gravia, &c.] "These terms, oppressive and galling as they may be, your circumstances urge upon you."

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7 Secessione facta.] "Making a retreat (withdrawing) before answer could be given."

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8 Semet ipsi præcipitaverunt.] There are many instances on record of this obstinacy of despair. The fall of the Assyrian empire, the capture of Numantia, of Capua, of Anapa, of the Numidian city Capsa, mentioned by Sallust, were all attended by similar tragedies. In more recent times also the same spirit has evinced itself. In the late Greek war of independence, the garrison of the island of Psyra, after

having withstood the whole Turkish army, until defence became hopeless, blew up themselves and their assailants together, (A. D. 1824.) Even in our late war with China, it is recorded that a Tartar commander of a garrison performed a similar feat of heroic despair. Of the many instances in history of this obstinate self-devotion, the most remarkable perhaps is one of which the scene was in England. In the year 1189, a considerable number of Jews, residing in York, became victims of the furious bigotry awakened at that time throughout Europe by the Crusaders. On Palm Sunday in that year, perceiving that their lives were in danger, they took refuge in the castle, where a multitude of the citizens immediately assembled to besiege them. Having in vain offered to purchase their lives with money, and animated by the speech of a Rabbi, they put their wives and children to death, and threw their bodies out among the crowd; and then, setting fire to the castle, perished in the flames.

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