acrifice their resentments to their country's welfare. This was
immediately complied with; they mutually embraced, and were reconciled
sincerely to one another.

From this time, the Carthaginians were successful in all things; and
Matho, who in every attempt after this came off with disadvantage, at last
thought himself obliged to hazard a battle; and this was just what the
Carthaginians wanted. The leaders on both sides animated their troops, as
going to fight a battle which would for ever decide their fate. An
engagement ensued. Victory was not long in suspense; for the rebels every
where giving ground, the Africans were almost all slain, and the rest
surrendered. Matho was taken alive and carried to Carthage. All Africa
returned immediately to its allegiance, except the two perfidious cities
which had lately revolted; however, they were soon forced to surrender at
discretion.

And now the victorious army returned to Carthage, and was there received
with shouts of joy, and the congratulations of the whole city. Matho and
his soldiers, after having adorned the public triumph, were led to
execution; and finished, by a painful and ignominious death, a life that
had been polluted with the blackest treasons and unparalleled barbarities.
Such was the conclusion of the war against the mercenaries, after having
lasted three years and four months. It furnished, says Polybius, an
ever-memorable lesson to all nations, not to employ in their armies a
greater number of mercenaries than citizens; nor to rely, for the defence
of their state, on a body of men who are not attached to it either by
interest or affection.

I have hitherto purposely deferred taking notice of such transactions in
Sardinia, as passed at the time I have been speaking of, and which were,
in some measure, dependent on, and resulting from, the war waged in Africa
against the mercenaries. They exhibit the same violent methods to promote
rebellion; the same excesses of cruelty; as if the wind had carried the
same spirit of discord and fury from Africa into Sardinia.

When the news was brought there of what Spendius and Matho were doing in
Africa, the mercenaries in that island also shook off the yoke, in
imitation of these incendiaries. They began by the murder of Bostar their
general, and of all the Carthaginians under him. A successor was sent; but
all the forces which he carried with him went over to the rebels; hung the
general on a cross; and, throughout