bal leave Africa, pitying the fate of his country oftener than his own. The same day he crossed into the isle Cercina. Having found there several Phoenician merchant ships in harbour, with their freights, and a concourse of people having flocked together to welcome him as he disembarked from the vessel, he ordered that all who enquired should be informed that he had been sent as ambassador to Tyre. Apprehensive, however, that one of their ships sailing by night for Thapsus or Adrumetum, might announce that he had been seen at Cercina, he commanded a sacrifice to be prepared, and the captains of the vessels and the merchants to be invited: also giving orders that the sails, together with the yard-arms, should be brought together from the ships, that they might enjoy the shade for it happened to be midsummer while. supping on the shore. So far as circumstances and time permitted, the banquet was duly prepared and celebrated on that day: and the feast was protracted with a profusion of wine to a late hour of night. Hannibal, as soon as he found an opportunity of escaping the notice of those who were in the harbour, unmoored his vessel. The rest having at length arisen from their deep slumber, on the following day, full of the fumes of wine,7 spent several hours in carrying back and replacing, and setting in order, the tackle of their ships. At Carthage, too, there was a concourse of the people, accustomed to frequent the house of Hannibal, at the vestibule of his mansion. As soon as it was generally known that he was not to be found, a crowd of citizens, in quest of the chief man in the state, flocked to the forum. Some spread a report that he had had recourse 10 to flight-as was really the case others • Merces. 7 Crapula. 8 Armamenta. 9 Comparere. scire. -- that he had been assassinated by the treachery of the Ro mans; and you might observe various countenances, as is natural in a state agitated by the intrigues of partisans supporting different factions. XXXIX. I had read your letters, from which I gather that my friend Cæsar thinks you an excellent lawyer. You have reason to rejoice that you went to a country where you could gain the repute of being a learned man. And if you had gone to Britain, too, assuredly there would have been no man in that island, considerable as it is,' more skilful than yourself. However, I almost envy you, for having been summoned without any solicitation by a man, to whom others, not on account of his pride, but on account of his engagements, cannot aspire. In your letter you told me nothing of your affairs, which are not less interesting to me than my own. I am much afraid that you may feel rather chilly in your winter quarters; so I think you ought to use a stove that will burn well, especially as you were not too well provided with military cloaks; though I hear you have hot enough work there now: on which intelligence? I was extremely apprehensive for you. But enough of jest. How zealously I have written to Cæsar concerning you, you yourself are well aware; how frequently, I know myself. I had, however, at last ceased writing, that I might not seem to distrust the good-will of a man who is most gracious and my particular friend. Nevertheless, in the last letters which I sent," I thought it well to remind him : this I did I wish you would inform me how far I succeeded, and at the same time of your position and all your • Curæ esse. • Inter 2 Subinvideo. 1 Tantus. Caminus luculentus. mittere. • Dare. * Ultro. • Satis calere. 7 Nuntius. plans. For I am anxious to know what you are doing, what you are waiting for, and how long you think your absence10 from me is likely to last. I trust you will assure yourself, that the only consolation which could enable me to endure your being apart from me, would be my conviction that it is a source of profit to you; but if otherwise, nothing can be more foolish than both of us: than me, for not bringing you to Rome; than you, for not flying hither. XL.-Hannibal, escaping with a few horsemen in the midst of the tumult, fled to Adrumetum; having exhausted every resource both before and after the battle, and during the action, before he left the field; and by the confession of even Scipio, and all military critics, having gained the reputation of having drawn up his army upon that day with extraordinary skill. In the vanguard he stationed the elephants, in order that their capricious onset and irresistible strength might prevent the Romans from following their standards and keeping their ranks, wherein they mainly trusted. Next he placed the auxiliary forces in front of the Carthaginian line, in order that these men, the mingled scum of all nations, whom pay, not patriotism, attached [to Carthage], might not find a passage open to flight; at the same time that, by receiving the first impetuous assault of the enemy, they might weary them, and, if they could do no more, might at any rate blunt the enemy's swords by their own wounds. Next, stationed the Carthaginian and African soldiers, where all his hope lay, that they who were equal in all other points might have the advantage9 in this, that they would be 10 Discessus. tive. colluvione. 1 Omnia expertus. Qui, with subjunctive. Hendiadys. 8 Res. 2 Periti militiæ. 3 Infi5 Fortuitus. • Mixti ex 'Be superior,' Latinè. : 11 fresh when contending 10 with men who were tired and wounded the Italians he drew up furthest in the rear, separated by an interval, as he was doubtful whether they were allies or foes. Hannibal retired to Adrumetum, after achieving this last trophy " of military science,12 and, on returning to Carthage, whither he was summoned, thirtysix years after he had left it as a boy, declared in the senate that he had been conquered, not merely in a battle, but in a campaign,13 and that the only hope of safety lay in suing for peace. 10 Might contend fresh,' Latinè. 13 Bellum. 12 Virtus. 11 Opus. EXERCISES. PART II. I. TH ORIGINAL PASSAGE. THERE is something patriarchal still lingering about rural life in Sweden, which renders it a fit theme for song. Almost primæval simplicity reigns over that northern land; almost primæval solitude and stillness. You pass out of the gates of the city, and as if by magic the scene changes to a wild woodland landscape. Around you are forests of fir; over head hang the long fan-like branches, trailing with moss, and heavy with red and blue cones. Under foot is a carpet of yellow leaves: and the air is warm and balmy. On a wooden bridge you cross a little silver stream; and anon come forth into a pleasant and sunny land of farms. Wooden fences divide the adjoining fields. Across the road are gates, which are opened by troops of children. The peasants take off their hats as you pass; you sneeze, and they cry, God bless you! The houses in the villages and smaller towns are all built of hewn timber, and for the most part painted red. The floors of the taverns are strewed with the fragrant tips of fir-boughs. In many villages there are no taverns, and the peasants take turns in receiving travellers.-LONGFELLOW. SAME PASSAGE ADAPTED. That rustic mode of life in Scandia (is) indeed still redolent, in some degree,1 of the golden age of our ancestors, so that it seems most worthy to be celebrated even 'Nescio quid. 2 Quod, with subjunctive. |