at that time, had taken umbrage at the rising power of
the Romans; and already harboured in their breasts the secret seeds of
that jealousy and distrust, that were one day to burst out in long and
cruel wars, and a mutual hatred and animosity, which nothing could
extinguish but the ruin of one of the contending powers.

(M100) Some years after the conclusion of this first treaty, the
Carthaginians made an alliance with Xerxes king of Persia.(610) This
prince, who aimed at nothing less than the total extirpation of the
Greeks, whom he considered as his irreconcilable enemies, thought it would
be impossible for him to succeed in his enterprise without the assistance
of Carthage, whose power was formidable even at that time. The
Carthaginians, who always kept in view the design they entertained of
seizing upon the remainder of Sicily, greedily snatched the favourable
opportunity which now presented itself for their completing the reduction
of it. A treaty was therefore concluded; wherein it was agreed that the
Carthaginians were to invade, with all their forces, those Greeks who were
settled in Sicily and Italy, while Xerxes should march in person against
Greece itself.

The preparations for this war lasted three years. The land army amounted
to no less than three hundred thousand men. The fleet consisted of two
thousand ships of war, and upwards of three thousand small vessels of
burden. Hamilcar, the most experienced captain of his age, sailed from
Carthage with this formidable army. He landed at Palermo;(611) and, after
refreshing his troops, he marched against Hymera, a city not far distant
from Palermo, and laid siege to it. Theron, who commanded in it, seeing
himself very much straitened, sent to Gelon, who had possessed himself of
Syracuse. He flew immediately to his relief, with fifty thousand foot, and
five thousand horse. His arrival infused new courage into the besieged,
who, from that time, made a very vigorous defence.

Gelon was an able warrior, and excelled in stratagems. A courier was
brought to him, who had been despatched from Selinus, a city of Sicily,
with a letter for Hamilcar, to inform him of the day when he might expect
the cavalry which he had demanded of them. Gelon drew out an equal number
of his own troops, and sent them from his camp about the time agreed on.
These being admitted into the enemy's camp, as coming from Selinus, rushed
upon Hamilcar, killed him, and set fire to his ships. In thi