t the terms; but representing that it was not in their
power to deliver up the cities, without first obtaining an order from
their republic, they obtained so long a truce, as gave them time
sufficient for sending to Carthage. They took advantage of this interval,
to raise and discipline new troops, over which Mago, son of him who had
been lately killed, was appointed general. He was very young, but of great
abilities and reputation. As soon as he arrived in Sicily, at the
expiration of the truce, he gave Dionysius battle; in which Leptines,(628)
one of the generals of the latter, was killed, and upwards of fourteen
thousand Syracusans left dead in the field. By this victory the
Carthaginians obtained an honourable peace, which left them in the
possession of all they had in Sicily, with even the addition of some
strong-holds; besides a thousand talents,(629) which were paid to them
towards defraying the expenses of the war.

About this time a law was enacted at Carthage, by which its inhabitants
were forbid to learn to write or speak the Greek language;(630) in order
to deprive them of the means of corresponding with the enemy, either by
word of mouth, or in writing. This was occasioned by the treachery of a
Carthaginian, who had written in Greek to Dionysius, to give him advice of
the departure of the army from Carthage.

Carthage had, soon after, another calamity to struggle with.(631) The
plague spread in the city, and made terrible havoc. Panic terrors, and
violent fits of frenzy, seized on a sudden the unhappy sufferers; who
sallying, sword in hand, out of their houses, as if the enemy had taken
the city, killed or wounded all who came in their way. The Africans and
Sardinians would very willingly have taken this opportunity to shake off a
yoke which was so hateful to them; but both were subjected, and reduced to
their allegiance. Dionysius formed at this time an enterprise, in Sicily,
with the same views, which was equally unsuccessful. He died(632) some
time after, and was succeeded by his son of the same name.

We have already taken notice of the first treaty which the Carthaginians
concluded with the Romans. There was another, which, according to Orosius,
was concluded in the 402d year of the foundation of Rome, and consequently
about the time we are now speaking of. This second treaty was very near
the same with the first, except that the inhabitants of Tyre and Utica
were expressly comprehended in it, and joi