34.60
Scarcely had they started on their mission
when envoys came from Carthage with the intelligence that Antiochus was
undoubtedly preparing for war with the advice and assistance of Hannibal,
and apprehensions were felt as to the outbreak of a war with Carthage at the
same time. As was stated above, Hannibal, a fugitive from his native country,
had reached the court of Antiochus, where he was treated with great
distinction, the only motive for this being that the king had long been
meditating a war with Rome, and no one could be more qualified to discuss
the subject with him than the Carthaginian commander. He had never
wavered in his opinion that the war should be conducted on Italian soil; Italy
would furnish both supplies and men to a foreign foe. But, he argued, if that
country remained undisturbed and Rome were free to employ the strength
and resources of Italy beyond its frontiers, no monarch, no nation could meet
her on equal terms. He wanted 100 decked ships and a force of 10,000
infantry and 1000 cavalry; he would take the fleet to Africa first as he felt
confident of being able to persuade the Carthaginians to enter upon another
war, and if they hung back he would raise up war against Rome in some part
of Italy. The king should cross over into Europe with the rest of his army
and keep his troops somewhere in Greece, not actually sailing for Italy, but
prepared to do so; this would give a sufficient impression of the magnitude
of the war.
