splayed the great advantages he had
gained over the Romans. And, to give a more lively idea of the greatness
of the victory, by speaking in some measure to the eye, he poured out, in
the middle of the senate, a bushel(775) of gold rings, which had been
taken from the fingers of such of the Roman nobility as had fallen in the
battle of Cannae. He concluded with demanding money, provisions, and fresh
troops. All the spectators were struck with an extraordinary joy; upon
which Imilcon, a great stickler for Hannibal, fancying he had now a fair
opportunity to insult Hanno, the chief of the contrary faction, asked him,
whether he was still dissatisfied with the war they were carrying on
against the Romans, and was for having Hannibal delivered up to them?
Hanno, without discovering the least emotion, replied, that he was still
of the same mind; and that the victories of which they so much boasted
(supposing them real) could not give him joy, but only in proportion as
they should be made subservient to an advantageous peace: he then
undertook to prove, that the mighty exploits, on which they insisted so
much, were wholly chimerical and imaginary. "I have cut to pieces," says
he (continuing Mago's speech,) "the Roman armies: send me some
troops.--What more could you ask had you been conquered? I have twice
seized upon the enemy's camp, full (no doubt) of provisions of every
kind.--Send me provisions and money.--Could you have talked otherwise had
you lost your camp?" He then asked Mago, whether any of the Latin nations
had come over to Hannibal, and whether the Romans had made him any
proposals of peace? To this Mago answering in the negative: "I then
perceive," replied Hanno, "that we are no farther advanced, than when
Hannibal first landed in Italy." The inference he drew from hence was,
that neither men nor money ought to be sent. But Hannibal's faction
prevailing at that time, no regard was paid to Hanno's remonstrances,
which were considered merely as the effect of prejudice and jealousy; and,
accordingly, orders were given for levying, without delay, the supplies of
men and money which Hannibal required. Mago set out immediately for Spain,
to raise twenty-four thousand foot, and four thousand horse in that
country; but these levies were afterwards stopped, and sent to another
quarter; so eager was the contrary faction to oppose the designs of a
general whom they utterly abhorred. While in Rome, a consul,(776) who had
fled,