secution which was carrying on against him at Rome, and ended his days in a kind of obscurity. The Character and Eulogium of HANNIBAL. This would be the proper place for representing the excellent qualities of Hannibal, who reflected so much glory on Carthage. But as I have attempted to draw his character elsewhere, and to give a just idea of him, by making a comparison between him and Scipio, I think myself dispensed from giving his eulogium at large in this place. Persons who devote themselves to the profession of arms, cannot spend too much time in the study of this great man, who is looked upon, by the best judges, as the most complete general, in almost every respect, that ever the world produced. During the whole seventeen years that the war lasted, two errors only are objected to him: First, his not marching, immediately after the battle of Cannæ, his victorious army to Rome, in order to besiege that city: Secondly, his suffering their courage to be softened and enervated, during their winter-quarters in Capua: errors, which only shew that great men are not so in all things; summi enim sunt, homines tamen; and which, perhaps, may be partly excused. But then, for these two errors, what a multitude of shining qualities appears in Hannibal! How extensive were his views and designs, even in his most tender years! What greatness of soul! What intrepidity! What presence of mind must he have possessed, to be able, even in the fire and heat of action, to turn every thing to advantage! With what surprising address must he have managed the minds of men, that, amidst so great a variety of nations which composed his army, who often were in want both * VOL. II. Of the Method of Studying and Teaching the Belles Lettres. + Quintil. of money and provisions, his camp was not once disturbed with any insurrection, either against himself or any of his generals! With what equity, what moderation must he have behaved towards his new allies, to have prevailed so far as to attach them inviolably to his service, though he was reduced to the necessity of making them sustain almost the whole burden of the war, by quartering his army upon them, and levying contributions in their several countries! In short, how fruitful must he have been in expedients, to be able to carry on, for so many years, a war in a remote country, in spite of the violent opposition made by a powerful faction at home, which refused him supplies of every kind, and thwarted him on all occasions! It may be affirmed, that Hannibal, during the whole series of this war, seemed the only prop of the state, and the soul of every part of the empire of the Carthaginians, who could never believe themselves conquered, till Hannibal confessed that he himself was so. But our acquaintance with Hannibal will be very imperfect, if we consider him only at the head of armies. The particulars we learn from history, concerning the secret intelligence he held with Philip of Macedon; the wise counsels he gave to Antiochus, king of Syria; the double reformation he introduced in Carthage, with regard to the management of the public revenues and the administration of justice, prove, that he was a great statesman in every respect. So superior and universal was his genius, that it took in all parts of government; and so great were his natural abilities, that he was capable of acquitting himself in all the various functions of it with glory. Hannibal shone as conspicuously in the cabinet as in the field; equally able to fill the civil as the military employments. In a word, he united in his own person the different talents and merits of all professions, the sword, the gown, and the finances. He had some learning; and though he was so much employed in military labours, and engaged in so many wars, he, however, found some leisure to devote to literature. Several smart repartees of Hannibal, which have been transmitted to us, shew that he had a great fund of natural wit; and this he improved by the most polite education that could be bestowed at that time, and in such a republic as Carthage. He spoke Greek tolerably well, and even wrote some books in that language. His preceptor was a Lacedæmonian, named Sosilus, who, with Philenius, another Lacedæmonian, accompanied him in all his expeditions. Both these undertook to write the history of this renowned warrior. With regard to his religion and moral conduct, he was not altogether so profligate and wicked as he is represented by Livy: "cruel even to inhu"manity, more perfidious than a Carthaginian; "regardless of truth, of probity, of the sacred ties "of oaths; fearless of the gods, and utterly void of "religion." Inhumana crudelitas, perfida plusquam Punica; nihil veri, nihil sancti, nullus deúm metus, nullum jusjurandum, nulla religio. According to Polybius, he rejected a barbarous proposal that was made him before he entered Italy, which was, to eat human flesh, at a time when his army was in absolute want of provisions. Some years after, so far from treating with barbarity, as he was advised to do, the dead body of Sempronius Gracchus, which Mago had sent him; he caused his funeral obsequies to be solemnized in presence of the whole army. We have seen him, on many occasions, evince the highest reverence for the gods; and "Justin, who copied Tro r Lib. xxi. n. 4. * Atque hic tantus vir, temporis tribuit litteris, &c. s Excerpt. è Polyb. p. 33. tantisque bellis districtus, nonnihil Corn. Nep. in vitâ Annib. cap. 13. gus Pompeius, an author worthy of credit, observes, that he always shewed uncommon moderation and continence with regard to the great number of women taken by him during the course of so long a war; insomuch that no one would have imagined he had been born in Africa, where incontinence is the predominant vice of the country. Pudicitiamque eum tantam inter tot captivas habuisse, ut in Africa natum quivis negaret. His disregard of wealth, at a time when he had so many opportunities to enrich himself by the plunder of the cities he stormed and the nations he subdued, shews that he knew the true and genuine use which a general ought to make of riches, viz. to gain the affection of his soldiers, and to attach his allies to his interest, by diffusing his beneficence on proper occasions, and not being sparing in his rewards. a quality very essential, and at the same time as uncommon, in a commander. The only use Hannibal made of money was to purchase success; firmly persuaded that a man who is at the head of affairs is sufficiently recompensed by the glory derived from victory. * He always led a very regular, austere life; and even in times of peace, and in the midst of Carthage, when he was invested with the first dignity of the city, we are told that he never used to recline himself on a bed at meals, as was the custom in those ages, and that he drank but little very wine. So regular and uniform a life may serve as an illustrious example to our commanders, who often include, among the privileges of war and the duty of officers, the keeping of splendid tables, and living luxuriously. * Cibi potionisque, desiderio naturali, non voluptate, modus finitus. Liv. 1. xxi. n. 4. Constat Annibalem, nec tum cùm Romano tonantem bello Italia contremuit, nec cùm reversus Carthaginem summum imperium tenuit, aut cubantem cœnasse, aut plus quàm sextario vini indulsisse. Justin. 1. xxxii. c. 4. I do not, however, pretend altogether to exculpate Hannibal from all the errors with which he is charged. Though he possessed an assemblage of the most exalted qualities, it cannot be denied but that he had some little tincture of the vices of his country; and that it would be difficult to excuse some actions and circumstances of his life. Polybius observes, that Hannibal was accused of avarice in Carthage, and of cruelty in Rome. He adds, on the same occasion, that people were very much divided in opinion concerning him; and it would be no wonder, as he had made himself so many enemies in both cities, that they should have drawn him in disadvantageous colours. But Polybius is of opinion, that though it should be taken for granted, that all the defects with which he is charged are true; yet that they were not so much owing to his nature and disposition, as to the difficulties with which he was surrounded, in the course of so long and laborious a war; and to the complacency he was obliged to shew to the general officers, whose assistance he absolutely wanted, for the execution of his various enterprises; and whom he was not always able to restrain, any more than he could the soldiers who fought under them. |