The history of the world

§. V. How the affaires of Carthage went betweene the African Rebellion, and the second Punicke Warre. [unspec 40]

THe iniurious dealing of the Romans, expressing their desire to picke a quarrell; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to instruct the Carthaginians in a necessarie lesson. That either they must make themselues the stronger, or else resolue to be obedient vnto those that were more mighty. In a Citie long ac∣customed to rule, the brauer determination easilie tooke place: and the best meanes were thought vpon, for the increase of puissance and Empire. The strength, and the iealousie of the Romans, forbade all attempts vpon the Mediter∣ran [unspec 50] seas; but the riches of Spaine, that lay vpon the Ocean, were vnknowne to Rome: wherefore that Prouince might serue, both to exercise the Carthaginians in warre, and to repaire their decaied forces, with all needfull supplies. Of this Spanish Expedition, the charge and soueraigne trust was committed vnto Amilcar: vpon

whom his Countrie did wholly repose it selfe; in hope to recouer strength by his meanes, that had saued it from ruine.

Hanno, with some other enuious men, that were of his faction, took little pleasure in the generall loue and honour, which daily increased towards Amilcar and his friends. Yet could they not denie him to bee the most worthy of command in all the Citie: onely they commended peace and quietnesse; aduising men to beware of prouoking the Romans, in whose amitie they said, that the felicitie of Carthage did consist. By such discourses, harsh to the eares of good Citizens, who had feeling of the wrong done to their Common weale; they got none other reputation, than of singularitie: which the ignorant sort suspected to be wisedome. [unspec 10]

But the glory of Amilcar was continually vpheld and enlarged, by many notable seruices that he did, to the singular benefit of his Countrie. He passed the Streights of Hercules, (now called the Streights of Gibraltar) and landed on the westerne coast of Spaine; in which Countrie, during nine yeeres that he liued there, hee subiected vnto the State of Carthage the better part of all those Prouinces. But finally, in a battaile that he fought with a Nation in Portugale, called the Vettones, (defending himselfe a long time with an admirable resolution) hee was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and slaine: carrying with him to the graue the same great honour and fame, by which in many signall victories, he had acquired the name of a second Mars.

After the death of Amilcar; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his sonne in law was made Generall of the [unspec 20] Carthaginian forces in Spaine. This was a good man of warre; but farre better in practice and cunning, than in deedes of armes. By his notable dexteritie in matter of negotiation, he greatly enlarged the Dominion of Carthage: adding so many sub∣iects and confederates thereunto, that the Romans began to grow iealous againe of this hastie increase. He built a goodly Citie, vpon a commodious Hauen, in the Kingdome of Granado, opposite to that of Oran in Africa, and gaue it the name of New Carthage, which to this day it neerely retaineth, being called now * 1.1 Cartha∣gena. With this successe of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Spaine, the Romans were not a lit∣tle troubled; but begin to cause their owne negligence. For whereas they had for∣merly taken so much paines to beate them out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Ile of Sicil, as suspecting their [unspec 30] neighbourhood there; they had now, by cumbring themselues in a warre of farre 〈◊〉〈◊〉 importance, (whereof I shall speake anon) giuen them leysure, without inter∣ruption, to recouer vpon their owne Continent, a Dominion by farre exceeding, both in the bodies of men and in reuenue, that which the Romans had taken from them. But how to helpe this, at the present they knew not; for they daily ex∣pected to be inuaded by the Gaules, their ancient enemies, and neerest neighbours to the West. But hee needeth little helpe of force, that knoweth himselfe to be fea∣red: it is enough if hee request; since his request shall haue the vertue of a com∣mand.

Yet were the Romans vtterly destitute of all good colour; that might helpe them [unspec 40] to intermeddle in Spaine. The Spaniards were then vnacquainted with Rome, where∣of (in probabilitie) they scarce had heard the name: so that there were no Mamer∣tines, nor other such Rebels, to call in Roman succours. But in the enterprise of Sar∣dinia, the Romans had learned an impudent pretence, that might also serue their turne in Spaine. For though it were apparent, that the Spanish affaires had no relation to the peace between these two Cities; and though it were nothing likely, that As∣drubal had any purpose, to extend his victories vnto the gates of Rome, or to any of the Roman frontiers: yet (as if some such matter had beene suspected) they sent vn∣to him, requiring that hee should forbeare to proceed any further, than to the Ri∣uer of Iberus. In addressing their messengers, rather to Asdrubal, than to the Citie [unspec 50] of Carthage; they seeme to haue hoped, that howsoeuer the generalitie of the Car∣thaginians had sweetly swallowed many bitter pilles, to auoide all occasion of warre with Rome: yet the brauerie of one man might proue more fastidious, and, resen∣ting the iniurie, returne such answere, as would intangle his whole Countrie in the

quarrell, that they so much desired; and might embrace at leisure, when once they had found apparent cause. But Asdruball finely deluded their expectation. He pre∣tended no manner of dislike at all: and whereas they would haue this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 co∣uenant inserted into the articles of peace; he tooke vpon him to doe it, of his owne power, with such appearance of conformitie to their will, that they went their wayes contented, and sought no further.

If it had beene so, that the State of Carthage, thereunto pressed by the Romans, for feare of present warre, had ratified this new composition made by Asdrubal, yet should it not haue stood bound in honour, to obserue the same carefully, vnlesse an oath had also beene extorted, to make all sure. But since all passed quietly, vn∣der [unspec 10] the bare authoritie of Asdrubal; this Capitulation was none other in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, than a second breach of peace; whereof the Romans might be accused more iustly, than they could accuse the Carthaginians of periurie, (as they after did) for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to stand to it.

By this Treatie with Asdrubal, the Romans wanne some reputation in Spaine. For when it was once conceiued by the Spaniards, that the Citie which would needes be mistresse ouer them, stood in feare her selfe, of receiuing blowes from a stouter Dame; there were soone found some, that by offering themselues to the protecti∣on of Rome, became (as they thought) fellow-seruants with Carthage. But the Car∣thaginians will shortly teach them another lesson. The Saguntines, a people on the [unspec 20] South side of Iberus, entred into confederacie with the Romans, and were gladly ac∣cepted. Surely it was lawfull vnto the Romans, to admit the Saguntines, or any o∣ther people (neither subiect, nor open enemie in warre to the Carthaginians) into their societie: and vnlawfull it was vnto the Carthaginians, to vse violence towards any that should thus once become confederate with Rome. Neuerthelesse, if we consider the late agreement made with Asdrubal; we shall finde that the Romans could haue none other honest colour of requiring it, than an implicit couenant of making the Riuer Iberus a bound, ouer which they themselues would not passe, in any Discouerie or Conquest by them intended to be made vpon Spaine: in which regard, they might haue some honest pretence to require the like of the Carthagini∣ans; [unspec 30] though Rome as yet had no foote, on the one side of Iberus, whereas Carthage, on the other side of that Riuer, held almost all the Countrie. Howsoeuer it were; this indignitie was not so easily digested, as former iniuries had beene. For it was a matter of ill consequence, that the Nations which had heard of no greater power than the Carthaginian, should behold Saguntum resting securely among them, vpon confidence of helpe from a more mightie Citie. Wherefore either in this respect; or for that the sense is most feeling of the latest iniuries; or rather for that now the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were of power to do themselues right: warre against Saguntum was generally thought vpon, let the Romans take it how they list. In such termes were the Carthaginians, when Asdrubal died, after he had commanded in Spaine eight [unspec 40] yeeres: (being slaine by a slaue, whose master he had put to death) and the Great Hannibal, sonne of the Great Amilcar, was chosen Generall in his stead. [unspec 50]

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Spaniards haue since built a Citie of the same name in the West Indies: which being peopled by them in the yeere 1532. was sackt by the English in the yeere 1585