21.1
I consider myself at
liberty to commence what is only a section of my history with a prefatory
remark such as most writers have placed at the very beginning of their
works, namely, that the war I am about to describe is the most memorable of
any that have ever been waged, I mean the war which the Carthaginians,
under Hannibal's leadership, waged with Rome. No states, no nations ever
met in arms greater in strength or richer in resources; these Powers
themselves had never before been in so high a state of efficiency or better
prepared to stand the strain of a long war; they were no strangers to each
other's tactics after their experience in the first Punic War; and so variable
were the fortunes and so doubtful the issue of the war that those who were
ultimately victorious were in the earlier stages brought nearest to ruin. And
yet, great as was their strength, the hatred they felt towards each other was
almost greater. The Romans were furious with indignation because the
vanquished had dared to take the offensive against their conquerors; the
Carthaginians bitterly resented what they regarded as the tyrannical and
rapacious conduct of Rome. The prime author of the war was Hamilcar.
There was a story widely current that when, after bringing the African War
to a close, he was offering sacrifices before transporting his army to Spain,
the boy Hannibal, nine years old, was coaxing his father to take him with
him, and his father led him up to the altar and made him swear with his hand
laid on the victim that as soon as he possibly could he would show himself
the enemy of Rome. The loss of Sicily and Sardinia vexed the proud spirit of
the man, for he felt that the cession of Sicily had been made hastily in a spirit
of despair, and that Sardinia had been filched by the Romans during the
troubles in Africa, who, not content with seizing it, had imposed an
indemnity as well.
