taking of this city. He was persuaded,
that this would deprive the Romans of all hopes of carrying on the war in
Spain; that this new conquest would secure those he had already made; that
as no enemy would be left behind him, his march would be more secure and
unmolested; that he should find money enough in it for the execution of
his designs; that the plunder of the city would inspire his soldiers with
greater ardour, and make them follow him with greater cheerfulness; that,
lastly, the spoils which he should send to Carthage, would gain him the
favour of the citizens. Animated by these motives, he carried on the siege
with the utmost vigour. He himself set an example to his troops, was
present at all the works, and exposed himself to the greatest dangers.

News was soon carried to Rome that Saguntum was besieged. But the Romans,
instead of flying to its relief, lost their time in fruitless debates, and
in deputations equally fruitless. Hannibal sent word to the Roman
deputies, that he was not at leisure to hear them; they therefore repaired
to Carthage, but met with no better reception, the Barcinian faction
having prevailed over the complaints of the Romans, and all the
remonstrances of Hanno.

During all these voyages and negotiations, the siege was carried on with
great vigour. The Saguntines were now reduced to the last extremity, and
in want of all things. An accommodation was thereupon proposed; but the
conditions on which it was offered appeared so harsh, that the Saguntines
could not prevail upon themselves to accept them. Before they gave their
final answer, the principal senators, bringing their gold and silver, and
that of the public treasury, into the market-place, threw both into a fire
lighted for that purpose, and afterwards rushed headlong into it
themselves. At the same time, a tower, which had been long assaulted by
the battering rams, falling with a dreadful noise, the Carthaginians
entered the city by the breach, soon made themselves masters of it, and
cut to pieces all the inhabitants who were of age to bear arms. But
notwithstanding the fire, the Carthaginians got a very great booty.
Hannibal did not reserve to himself any part of the spoils gained by his
victories, but applied them solely to the carrying on his enterprises.
Accordingly, Polybius remarks, that the taking of Saguntum was of service
to him, as it awakened the ardour of his soldiers, by the sight of the
rich booty which they had ju