acusans, who had been besieged for
some time by the Carthaginians, had sent pressingly for succour to
Pyrrhus. This prince had a particular reason to espouse their interests,
having married Lanassa, daughter of Agathocles, by whom he had a son named
Alexander. He at last sailed from Tarentum, passed the Strait, and arrived
in Sicily. His conquests at first were so rapid, that he left the
Carthaginians, in the whole island, only the single town of Lilybaeum. He
laid siege to it, but meeting with a vigorous resistance, was obliged to
raise the siege; not to mention that the urgent necessity of his affairs
called him back to Italy, where his presence was absolutely necessary. Nor
was it less so in Sicily, which, on his departure, returned to the
obedience of its former masters. Thus he lost this island with the same
rapidity that he had won it. As he was embarking, he turned his eyes back
to Sicily, and exclaimed to those about him,(658) "What a fine field of
battle(659) do we leave the Carthaginians and Romans!" His prediction was
soon verified.

After his departure, the chief magistracy of Syracuse was conferred on
Hiero, who afterwards obtained the name and dignity of king, by the united
suffrages of the citizens; so greatly had his government pleased. He was
appointed to carry on the war against the Carthaginians, and obtained
several advantages over them. But now a common interest reunited them
against a new enemy, who began to appear in Sicily, and justly alarmed
both: these were the Romans, who, having crushed all the enemies which had
hitherto exercised their arms in Italy itself, were now powerful enough to
carry them out of it; and to lay the foundation of that vast power there
to which they afterwards attained, and of which it was probable they had
even then formed the design. Sicily lay too commodious for them, not to
form a resolution of establishing themselves in it. They therefore eagerly
snatched this opportunity for crossing into it, which caused the rupture
between them and the Carthaginians, and gave rise to the first Punic war.
This I shall treat of more at large, by relating the causes of that war.

Chapter II. The History of Carthage from the first Punic War to its
destruction.

The plan which I have laid down does not allow me to enter into an exact
detail of the wars between Rome and Carthage; since that pertains rather
to the Roman history, which I do not intend to touch upon, except
transi