rebels, who had enclosed him in a valley, and repulsed them with great slaughter, taking 4000 prisoners. The young Numidian distinguished himself greatly in this conflict. Hamilcar took into his troops as many of the prisoners as were desirous of being enlisted, and gave the rest liberty to go wherever they pleased, on condition that they should not again wage war against the Carthaginians; otherwise, that every one, if taken, should be put to death; an act which proved the wisdom of that general.

Spendius, fearing that this affected lenity of Hamilcar might occasion a defection among his troops, thought that the only expedient left him to prevent it, would be to strike some signal blow, which would deprive them of all hopes of a reconciliation. Accordingly, after having read some fictitious letters, by which advice was given him of rescuing Gisgo and his companions from prison, he brought them to the barbarous resolution of putting them to death. Accordingly, this unfortunate general, and 700 prisoners who were confined with him, were brought to the front of the camp, and there sacrificed in the most cruel manner that revenge could devise. The Carthaginians sent a herald to demand their remains, in order to inter them, but they were refused; and the herald was further told, that whoever came again upon such an errand should meet with Gisgo's fate. The rebels, indeed, came to the resolution of treating all such Carthaginians as should fall into their hands in the same barbarous manner; and they decreed further, that if any of their allies were taken, they should, after their hands were cut off, be sent back to Carthage; which cruel resolution was carried into effect on all the prisoners afterwards taken.

The Carthaginians were just beginning to recover themselves, when they were plunged again into fresh dangers. A division arose among their generals; the provisions which were coming to them by sea, and of which they were in extreme need, were cast away in a storm; and Utica and Hippacra, the only cities which had hitherto maintained their allegiance inviolate, revolted.

Animated by these circumstances, the rebels laid siege to Carthage, but they were obliged immediately to raise it. They continued the war, however, and having drawn together into one body their own troops and those of the allies, making upwards of 50,000 men, they watched the motions of Hamilcar's army, but kept their own on the hills; carefully avoiding coming down into the plains, as they feared

the enemy's cavalry and elephants. Hamilcar never exposed himself to any of their attacks, but, taking advantage of their oversights, often dispossessed them of their posts, and at length surprised them, and shut them up in a post, so situated, that it was impossible for them to escape. Not daring to venture a battle, they fortified their camp, and surrounded it with ditches and entrenchments. But an enemy among themselves, and which was much more formidable, had reduced them to the greatest extremity. This was hunger, which was so raging, that they at last devoured one another; Divine Providence, says Polybius, thus revenging upon themselves the cruelty they had exercised on others.

The rebels had now no resources left, and they knew too well the punishments which would be inflicted on them should they fall into the hands of the enemy. After such cruelties as they had committed, they at first did not dream of peace, or of proposing an accommodation. In the mean time, the famine increased daily. They had first eaten their prisoners, then their slaves, and now their fellow-soldiers only were left. Their chiefs, no longer able to resist the complaints of the multitude, who threatened to put them to death if they did not surrender, went themselves to Hamilcar, after having obtained a safe conduct from him. The conditions of the treaty were, that the Carthaginians should select any ten of the rebels, and treat them as they pleased, and that the rest should be dismissed with only one suit of clothes each. When the treaty was signed, the chiefs themselves were arrested and detained by the Carthaginians, which showed their peculiar characteristic, namely, a lack of truth and sincerity. The rebels hearing this, and knowing nothing of the convention, suspected that they were betrayed, and immediately took up arms; but Hamilcar, having surrounded them, brought forward his elephants, and either trod them under foot, or slew them with the sword, to the number of more than 40,000.

The immediate result of this victory was, the reduction of almost all the cities of Africa, which returned to their allegiance. Hamilcar, without loss of time, marched against Tunis, which had been, since the commencement of the war, the asylum of the rebels. He invested it on one side, whilst Hannibal, who was joined in the command with him, besieged it on the other. Then advancing near the walls, and ordering crosses to be erected, he hung Spendius on one and his companions on the others, where they all expired. Matho, the other chief, who commanded in Tunis, saw plainly

by this what he might expect, and for that reason was very attentive to his defence. Perceiving that Hannibal, confident of success, was negligent in all his motions, he attacked him, killed many of his men, took several prisoners, amongst whom was Hannibal himself, and plundered his camp. Then taking Spendius from the cross, he put Hannibal in his place, after having made him suffer inexpressible torments. He also sacrificed round the body of Spendius thirty citizens of the first quality in Carthage, as so many victims of his vengeance, as though there had been a mutual emulation between the contending parties, which of them should surpass the other in acts of cruelty. But such is ever the effect of paganism; Christianity alone can teach mankind true humanity.

Hamilcar, being then at a distance, it was long before the news of his colleague's misfortune reached him, and the road lying between the two camps being impassable, it was impossible for him to advance to his assistance. At Carthage, the disaster caused great consternation; and it was thought advisable to make one bold effort. Accordingly, all the youth capable of bearing arms were pressed into the service. Hanno was sent to join Hamilcar, and thirty senators were deputed to conjure those generals in the name of the republic to forget past quarrels, and sacrifice their resentment to their country's welfare. This request was complied with; they embraced, and were reconciled.

The Carthaginians were successful in all their undertakings from this time; and Matho, who in every attempt after this came off with disadvantage, at length was obliged to hazard a battle, an act which the Carthaginians desired. The leaders on both sides animated their troops, as though they were going to fight a battle which would for ever decide their fate. An engagement ensued, and victory declared itself in favour of Carthage. The rebels were almost all slain, and those who escaped the sword were taken prisoners. Matho was taken alive and carried to Carthage, where with the rest of the prisoners he was executed. All Africa returned immediately to its allegiance, except the two cities Utica and Hippacra, which had lately revolted, and they were soon forced to surrender at discretion.

Such was the conclusion of the war (B. c. 238,) against the mercenaries, after having continued three years and four months. "It furnished," says Polybius, "an ever memorable lesson to the natives, not to employ in their service a

greater number of mercenaries than citizens, nor to rely for the defence of their state on a body of men who are united to it neither by interest nor affection." A more important lesson than this is, however, conveyed to nations in this history. It teaches them, not to hire the sword to destroy, lest, by a righteous retribution, it be afterwards ordained that it should destroy themselves. The Psalmist said, "Verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth," Psa. lviii. 11. And David's Lord declared, that "all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword," Matt. xxvi. 52.

THE AFFAIRS OF THE CARTHAGINIANS IN SARDINIA.

The Carthaginians suffered other disasters from the revolt of the mercenaries. Transactions occurred in Sardinia at the same time which were in a great measure dependent on, and resulting from the war in Africa. They exhibit, also, the same violent methods to promote rebellion, and the same excess of cruelty; as though the winds of heaven had carried the spirit of discord and fury from the one country to the other.

When the news arrived there of what Matho and Spendius were doing in Africa, the mercenaries in that island revolted. They began their rebellion by the murder of Bostar, their general, and of the Carthaginians under him. A successor was sent, but all the forces which he carried with him went over to the rebels, and hung their general on a cross. Throughout the whole island, the Carthaginians were now put to the sword, after having been made to endure much cruel suffering. The rebels then besieged all the cities, one after another, and obtained possession of the whole country. Discord, however, arising between the natives and the mercenaries, the latter were driven out of the island, and took refuge in Italy. Thus the Carthaginians lost Sardinia, which, on account of its extent and fertility, was of great importance to them.

Ever since the treaty, the Romans had behaved towards the Carthaginians with great justice and moderation. A slight breach had been made on account of some Roman merchants who were seized by the Carthaginians for having supplied their enemies with provisions; but these merchants being restored on the first complaint of wrong, the Romans, who prided themselves upon their justice and generosity, were reconciled to the Carthaginians. They served them,

indeed, to the utmost of their power; they forbade their merchants to furnish any other nation with provisions; and even refused to listen to the proposals made by the rebels in Sardinia, who invited them to take possession of the island.

But this conduct degenerated by degrees, and Cesar's testimony to their honesty and plain dealing could not, with propriety, be applied here. Although," said he, "in all the Punic wars, the Carthaginians, both in peace and during truces, had committed a number of detestable actions, the Romans could never-how inviting soever the opportunity might be-be prevailed upon to retaliate such usage, being more attentive to their own glory than to the revenge they might have justly taken on such perfidious enemies." The mercenaries, who, as we have seen, retired into Italy, brought the Romans to the resolution of sailing into Sardinia to take possession of the island. The Carthaginians were deeply afflicted at this news, pretending that they had a better title to Sardinia than the Romans: and they therefore prepared to take revenge on those who had excited the people of that island to take up arms against them. The Romans pretended that these preparations were made, not against Sardinia, but Rome; and they therefore declared war against the Carthaginians. But the latter, exhausted in every respect, were in no condition to sustain war, and they were forced to yield to their powerful rival. By a treaty, to which necessity compelled them to agree, they gave up Sardinia to the Romans, and obliged themselves to a new payment of 1200 talents. This injustice of the Romans, however, was the cause of the second Punic war, as related in the next portion of our narrative.

THE SECOND PUNIC WAR.

The second Punic war which commenced 218 years B. C., is one of the most memorable recorded in the page of history; if we consider the boldness of the enterprises; the skill displayed in their execution; the obstinate efforts of two rival nations, and the ready resources they found in their greatest misfortunes; the variety of uncommon events; and the in structive lessons that occur in its narrative, concerning war, policy, government, and, above all, the human heart. Never had two more powerful, or at least more warlike states, been opposed to each other; and scarcely ever had these attained to a more exalted pitch of power and glory; Rome and Car