no enterprise could possibly be
more advantageous or honourable than this; since the whole wealth of
Carthage would become the prey of the victors, whose courage would be
praised and admired by latest posterity. The soldiers fancied themselves
already masters of Carthage, and received his speech with applauses and
acclamations. One circumstance alone gave them uneasiness, and that was an
eclipse of the sun, which happened just as they were setting sail. In
these ages, even the most civilized nations understood very little the
reason of these extraordinary phenomena of nature; and used to draw from
them (by their soothsayers) superstitious and arbitrary conjectures, which
frequently would either suspend or hasten the more important enterprises.
However, Agathocles revived the drooping courage of his soldiers, by
assuring them that these eclipses always foretold some instant change:
that, therefore, good fortune was taking its leave of Carthage, and coming
over to them.

Finding his soldiers in the good disposition he wished them, he executed,
almost at the same time, a second enterprise, which was even more daring
and hazardous than his first, of carrying them over into Africa; and this
was the burning every ship in his fleet. Many reasons determined him to so
desperate an action. He had not one good harbour in Africa where his ships
could lie in safety. As the Carthaginians were masters of the sea, they
would not have failed to possess themselves immediately of his fleet,
which was incapable of making the least resistance. In case he had left as
many hands as were necessary to defend it, he would have weakened his
army, (which was inconsiderable at the best,) and put it out of his power
to gain any advantage from this unexpected diversion, the success of which
depended entirely on the swiftness and vigour of the execution. Lastly, he
was desirous of putting his soldiers under a necessity of conquering, by
leaving them no other refuge than victory. Much courage was necessary to
adopt such a resolution. He had already prepared all his officers, who
were entirely devoted to his service, and received every impression he
gave them. He then came suddenly into the assembly with a crown upon his
head, dressed in a magnificent habit, and with the air and behaviour of a
man who was going to perform some religious ceremony, and addressing
himself to the assembly: "When we," says he, "left Syracuse, and were
warmly pursued by the en