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The blow which the Romans had received in Africa did not discourage them. They made greater preparations than before, to recover their loss; and put to sea the following campaign, three hundred and sixty vessels. The Carthaginians sailed out to meet them with two hundred, but were beat in an engage ment fought on the coasts of Sicily, and one hundred and fourteen of their ships were taken by the Romans. These sailed into Africa to take in the few soldiers who had escaped the pursuit of the enemy, after the defeat of Regulus, and who had, defended themselves vigorously in Clupea," where they had been unsuccess fully besieged.

Here we are again astonished that the Romans, after so considerable a victory, and with so large a fleet, should sail into Africa, only to bring from thence a small garrison; whereas they might have attempted the conquest of it, since Regulus, with much fewer forces, had almost completed it.

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• The Romans were overtaken by a storm in their return, which almost destroyed their whole fleet." The like misfortune befel them also the following year. However, they consoled themselves for this double loss, by a victory which they gained over Asdrubal, from whom they took near one hundred and forty elephants. This news being brought to Rome, it filled the whole city with joy, not only because the strength of the enemy's army was considerably dimin ished by the loss of their elephants, but chiefly because this victory had inspired the land forces with fresh courage; which, from the defeat of Regulus, had not

Polyb. 1. viii. p. 37.

• Polyb. I. viii. p. 38-40:

■ Or Clypea.

Polyb. 1. i. p. 41, 42.

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dared to venture upon an engagement; so great was the terror with which those formidable animals had filled the minds of all the soldiers. It was therefore judged proper to make a greater effort than ever, in order to finish, if possible, a war which had continued fourteen years. The two consuls set sail with a fleet of two hundred ships, and arriving in Sicily, formed the bold design of besieging Lilybeum. This was the strongest town which the Carthaginians possessed in that island; and the loss of it would be attended with that of every part of it, and open to the Romans a free passage into Africa.

The reader will suppose that the utmost ardour was shown both in the assault and defence of the place. Imilcon was governor there, with ten thousand regular forces, exclusive of the inhabitants; and Hannibal, the son of Hamilcar, soon brought him as many more from Carthage; he having, with the most intrepid courage, forced his way through the enemy's fleet, and arrived happily in the port. The Romans had not lost any time. Having brought forward their engines, they beat down several towers with their battering rams; and gaining ground daily, they made such progress, as gave the besieged, who now were closely pressed, some fears. The governor saw plainly that there was no other way left to save the city but by firing the engines of the besiegers. Having therefore prepared his forces for this enterprise, he sent them out at daybreak with torches in their hands, tow, and all kinds of combustible matter; and at the same time attacked all the engines. The Romans strove with unparalleled

9 Polyb. l. i. p. 44-50.

bravery to repel them, and the engagement was very bloody. Every man, assailant as well as defendant, stood to his post, and chose to die rather than quit it. At last, after a long resistance, and dreadful slaughter, the besieged sounded a retreat, and left the Romans in possession of their works. This scene being over, Hannibal, embarking in the night, and concealing his departure from the enemy, sailed for the Drepanum, where Adherbal commanded for the Carthaginians. Drepanum was advantageously situated; having a commodious port, and lying about one hundred and twenty furlongs from Lilybeum; and was of so much consequence to the Carthaginians, that they had been always very desirous of preserving it.

The Romans, animated by their late success, renewed the attack with greater vigor than ever; the besieged not daring to venture a second time to burn those machines, because of the ill success they had met in their first attempt. But a furious wind rising suddenly, some mercenary soldiers represented to the governor, ⚫ that now was the favourable opportunity for them to fire the engines of the besiegers, especially as the wind blew full against them; and they offered themselves for the enterprise. The offer was accepted, and accordingly they were furnished with every thing necessary. In a moment the fire catched all the engines; and the Romans could not possibly extinguish it, because the flames being instantly spread every where, the wind carried the sparks and smoke full in their eyes, so that they could not see where to apply relief; whereas their enemies saw clearly where to aim their strokes, and throw their fire. This accident made the Romans lose

all hopes of being ever able to carry the place by force. They therefore turned the siege into a blockade; raised a line of contravallation round the town; and dispersing their army in every part of the neighbourhood, resolved to effect by time, what they found themselves absolutely unable to perform any other way.

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When the transactions of the siege of Lilybeum, and the loss of part of the forces, were known at Rome, the citizens, so far from desponding at this ill news, seemed to be fired with new vigor. Every man strove to be foremost in the muster roll; so that in a very little time an army of ten thousand men was raised, who crossing the strait, marched by land to join the be siegers.

'At the same time, P. Claudius Pulcher, the consul, formed a design of attacking Adherbal in Drepanum. He thought himself sure of surprising him; because, after the loss lately sustained by the Romans at Lily. beum, the enemy could not imagine that they would venture out again at sea. Flushed with these hopes, he sailed out with his fleet in the night, the better to conceal his design. But he had to do with an active general, whose vigilance he could not elude, and who did not even give him time to draw up his ships in line of battle, but fell vigorously upon him whilst his fleet was in disorder and confusion. The Carthaginians gained a complete victory. Of the Roman fleet, only thirty vessels got off, which being in company with the consul, fled with him, and got away in the best manner they could, along the coast. All the rest, amounting to fourscore and thirteen, with the men on board

Polyb. l. i. p. 50.

• A. M. 3756. A. Rom. 500. Polyb. l. i. p. 51.

them, were taken by the Carthaginians, a few soldiers excepted, who had escaped from the shipwreck of their vessels. This victory displayed as much the prudence and valour of Adherbal, as it reflected shame and igno miny on the Roman consul.

Junius, his colleague, was neither more prudent nor more fortunate than himself but lost almost his whole fleet by his ill conduct. Endeavouring to atone for his misfortune, by some considerable action, he held a secret intelligence with the inhabitants of Eryx," and by that means got the city surrendered to him. On the summit of the mountain stood the temple of Venus Erycina, which was certainly the most beautiful as well as the richest of all the Sicilian temples. The city stood a little below the summit of this mountain, and the road that led to it was very long, and of difficult access. Junius posted one part of his troops upon the top, and the remainder at the foot of the mountain, imagining that he had nothing to fear; but Hamilcar, surnamed Barcha, father of the famous Hannibal, found means to get into the city, which lay between the two camps of the enemy, and there fortified himself. From this advantageous post, he harrassed the Romans incessantly for two years. One can scarce conceive how it was possible for the Carthaginians to defend themselves, when thus attacked from both the summit and foot of the mountain, and unable to get provisions, but from a little port, which was the only one open to them. By such enterprises as these, the abilities and prudent courage of a general are as well, or perhaps better discovered, than by the winning of a battle.

Polyb. 1. i. p. 54--59.

• A city and mountain of Sicily,

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