oenicians and
Carthaginians, is still more remarkable. When Cambyses had resolved to
make war upon the latter, the Phoenicians, who formed the chief strength of
his fleet, told him plainly that they could not serve him against their
countrymen; and this declaration obliged that prince to lay aside his
design.(506) The Carthaginians, on their side, were never forgetful of the
country from whence they came, and to which they owed their origin. They
sent regularly every year to Tyre a ship freighted with presents, as a
quit-rent, or acknowledgment paid to their ancient country; and an annual
sacrifice was offered to the tutelar gods of Tyre, by the Carthaginians,
who considered them as their protectors likewise.(507) They never failed
to send thither the first fruits of their revenues, nor the tithe of the
spoils taken from their enemies, as offerings to Hercules, one of the
principal gods of Tyre and Carthage. The Tyrians, to secure from Alexander
(who was then besieging their city) what they valued above all things, I
mean their wives and children, sent them to Carthage, where, though at a
time when the inhabitants of the latter were involved in a furious war,
they were received and entertained with such a kindness and generosity as
might be expected from the most tender and opulent parents. Such
uninterrupted testimonies of a warm and sincere gratitude, do a nation
more honour, than the greatest conquests and the most glorious victories.

SECT. II. THE RELIGION OF THE CARTHAGINIANS.--It appears from several
passages of the history of Carthage, that its generals looked upon it as
an indispensable duty, to begin and end all their enterprises with the
worship of the gods. Hamilcar, father of the great Hannibal, before he
entered Spain in a hostile manner, offered up a sacrifice to the gods; and
his son, treading in his steps, before he left Spain, and marched against
Rome, went as far as Cadiz, in order to pay the vows which he had made to
Hercules, and to offer up new ones, in case that god should be propitious
to him.(508) After the battle of Cannae, when he acquainted the
Carthaginians with the joyful news, he recommended to them, above all
things, the offering up a solemn thanksgiving to the immortal gods, for
the several victories he had obtained.(509) _Pro his tantis totque
victoriis verum esse grates diis immortalibus agi haberique._

Neither did individuals alone pride themselves upon displaying, on every
occasion,