Ilamilcar, by the happy conclusion of the Libyan war, had restored tranquillity to his country ; but he found that she would be still unable to cope with her haughty rival. He determined, therefore, to undertake the en tire conquest of Spain, in the hope that it would supply to the Carthaginians both a school of military discipline and a magazine of warlike stores, whenever they should renew the contest with Rome. Hamilcar did not attempt to disguise his hatred to the Roman name; he publicly avowed the motives of his expedition, and took with him Hannibal his son, and Hasdrubal his son-in-law, having inspired them both with an implacable aversion against those, whom he considered as the destroyers of his coun try's grandeur. (Polyb. lib. iii. p. 167.) Nine years he fought in Spain, subjecting either by force or by persua sion, the greatest part of the country to the Carthagi nian power, and at last fell gloriously in the field of bat tle at the head of his troops. (Polyb. lib. ii. p.90. Lit). lib. xxi. c. 2.) The army elected Hasdrubal to succeed hint, which appointment was confirmed by the senate of Carthage. Ile conducted himself with great prudence; and, to secure the acquisitions of his predecessor, built a city, which was afterwards called New Carthage. (B. C. 227.) The Romans viewed the progress of the Cartha ginian arms in Spain with considerable jealousy. For the present, however, they contented themselves with concluding a treaty, the articles of which were, 1st, That the Carthaginians should not pass the Iberus. 2d, That the Saguntuni, with the neighbouring Greek colonies whici, had implored the protection of Rome, should en joy their ancient rights and privileges. Hasdrubal still pushed on his conquest.,, though he wa, oalmous not to pass these limits. 1 faring managed the Carthaginian affairs in Spain for right years, he was at last assassinated by a Gaul, whore mast( r he had put to death. I lasdru hal three years before had written to Carthage, to that I lannibal, then twenty-two years of age, might Iv. sent out to him. This was opposed by I lanno, who re presented that it would give undue weight to the party. The objection was over-ruled, and the young soldier was suffered to depart. lie quickly drew upon himself the attention of the whole army, who were eag• to hail the opening virtues of the son of I lamilcar. Even Livy himself seems, in speaking of Hannibal, to lay :side his animosities as a Roman, and to dwell with delight or the various qualities of this extraordinary man. " Nr ver," says lie, " was there a disposition better qualified even for the most opposite things, whether for obedience or for command. Boldly athenturous in undertaking[ dangers, he displayed eminent skill and of mind when engaged in them. No labours could exhaust his body or depress his spirits. lie was capable alike of enduring heat and cold, and in his food consulted only the demands of nature, not the suggestions of appetite . No stated hours were allotted by Mini for sleep or study, either by night or day. It was only the time d by business that lie gave up to repose, courting it neither In' silence nor the softness of his bed. On the contrary, he was often seen lying on the ground, an iJst the senti nels and guards. I he was distinguished from his equal by no superiority of dress, but his arms and his hot ,es were always conspicuous. In the performance of mili tary duties, whether of cavalry or infantry, he was ever foremost : the first in entering tie combat, he was the last to quit the field. Eminent as were these virtues, they were equalled by the enormity of his vices. His cruelty was disgraceful to human nature ; his treachery without example, even at Carthage ; he utterly contemn ed all truth and sanctity, all fear of the gods, all rever ence for oaths, all the obligations of religion." To the latter part of this character the subsequent conduct of Hannibal is in direct contradiction. 'Much must be al lowed to the prejudices of Lit ; yet he cannot be ac quitted of a malicious intention to blacken, by vague and general censures, the character of the man who unques tionably proved himself the greatest general that ha, existed in any age.
Such was the man, who now, by the unanimous voice of the army, was called to conduct the affab s of the Carthaginians in Spain Ile was in his twenty-sixth year, full of confidence and hope. From the first moment of his appointment, he conducted himself as though Ital) had been the province allotted to him. Alter several successful enterprises against the natives of Spain, which served both to secure his previous conquests and to aug ment his resources ; then having, with singular address, furnished himself with all things necessary for the im portant enterprize, without affording to the Romans a pretext for declaring war, he on a sudden laid siege to Saguntum ; and thus, by the infraction of Hasdrubars treaty, struck the first blow in this eventful war. (B. C. 219.) The train for this tremendous explosion had been laid long before. Polybius mentions three causes, which more immediately led to the second Punic war: the fraudulent and tyrannical conduct of the Romans with respect to Sardinia ; the jealousy which was enter tamed of witnessing the progress of the Carthaginian arms in Spain ; and lastly, that bitter hatred to the Roman name and nation, which Hamilcar had bequeathed to his son Hannibal, and which was in both the predominant feeling influencing the whole conduct of their lives.
Hannibal opened the siege of Saguntum with an army consisting of 120,000 foot, and 20,000 horse. The de fence is one of the most memorable in history. The li mits of this work do not allow us to enter into the minute details which Livy and Polybius supply. We must be content with stating, that, after a contest of eight months continuance, almost unparalleled for its fierceness and obstinacy, the city was razed, and its inhabitants, with out distinction of age or sex, put to the sword, or sold for slaves. The Saguntines had early in the siege dis patched ambassadors to Rome, and deputies were in consequence sent to expostulate against this infraction of the treaty ; but Hannibal refused to give them audience. They proceeded, therefore, immediately to Carthage ; but found the senate and people little disposed to censure the conduct of their favourite general. After the cap ture of Saguntum, a formal embassy was sent from Rome, to require a disavowal of the conduct of Hannibal, and satisfaction for the injuries he had inflicted on the Sa guntines. Hanno and his friends exerted themselves vigorously to counteract the views of the Barcine party; but in vain. The Roman embassy were not able to ef fect their purpose of frightening the senate into sub mission. Upon which, Quintus Fabius, the senior of the ambassadors, held up a fold in the bosom of his robe, and said, " We bring both peace and war ; choose ye." He was answered, " We choose that which you like best." " Then be it war," said he, throwing open his robe ; and from that both parties prepared themselves for the contest. (Livy, lib. xxi. c. 18. Polyb. lib. iii. p. 187.) Hannibal had probably long devised the invasion of Italy, and had convinced himself of the practicability of the attempt. War being now declared, he made his disposi tions for the safety of Spain and of Africa, and collected his troops for that great undertaking, the conduct of which had procured for him a reputation superior to all other military commanders. He had well weighed the difficulties of the enterprise, the various dangers of the march, and the uncertainty of procuring supplies : To these were opposed, the advantages which would accrue from carrying the war into the heart of the enemy's country ; the assistance he might expect, if he could once reach Italy in force, from those states which were actually in rebellion against the Roman authority, or bore to it only a feigned and uncertain allegiance. Let us not, therefore, magnify the courage of this celebrated warrior at the expense of his judgment, nor suffer the unwarrantable rashness of inexperience to shelter itself behind the great name of Hannibal.