my's hands, he was put to death with the most
exquisite tortures.(649) Hamilcar's head was sent immediately to
Agathocles, who, advancing to the enemy's camp, threw it into a general
consternation, by displaying to them the head of this general, which
manifested the melancholy situation of their affairs in Sicily.

To these foreign enemies was joined a domestic one, which was more to be
feared, as being more dangerous than the others;(650) this was Bomilcar
their general, who was then in possession of the first post in Carthage.
He had long meditated the establishment of himself as tyrant at Carthage,
and attaining the sovereign authority there; and imagined that the present
troubles offered him the wished-for opportunity. He therefore entered the
city, and being seconded by a small number of citizens, who were the
accomplices of his rebellion, and a body of foreign soldiers, he
proclaimed himself tyrant; and showed himself literally such, by cutting
the throats of all the citizens whom he met with in the streets. A tumult
arising immediately in the city, it was at first thought that the enemy
had taken it by some treachery; but when it was known that Bomilcar caused
all this disturbance, the young men took up arms to repel the tyrant, and
from the tops of the houses discharged whole volleys of darts and stones
upon the heads of his soldiers. When he saw an army marching in order
against him, he retired with his troops to an eminence, with design to
make a vigorous defence, and to sell his life as dear as possible. To
spare the blood of the citizens, a general pardon was proclaimed for all
without exception who would lay down their arms. They surrendered upon
this proclamation, and all enjoyed the benefit of it, Bomilcar their chief
excepted: for the Carthaginians, without regarding their oath, condemned
him to death, and fastened him to a cross, where he suffered the most
exquisite torments. From the cross, as from a rostrum, he harangued the
people; and thought himself justly entitled to reproach them for their
injustice, their ingratitude, and perfidy, which he did by enumerating
many illustrious generals, whose services they had rewarded with an
ignominious death. He expired on the cross whilst uttering these
reproaches.(651)

Agathocles had won over to his interest a powerful king of Cyrene,(652)
named Ophellas, whose ambition he had flattered with the most splendid
hopes, by leading him to understand, that, conten