ome particular
persons, he added, that had the Carthaginians listened to his counsels and
those of Hanno, they would have been able to grant the Romans the peace
for which they now were obliged to sue. "But,"(808) continued he, "wisdom
and prosperity are very rarely found together. The Romans are invincible,
because they never suffer themselves to be blinded by good fortune. And it
would be surprising should they act otherwise. Success dazzles those only
to whom it is new and unusual; whereas the Romans are so much accustomed
to conquer, that they are almost insensible to the charms of victory; and
it may be said to their glory, that they have extended their empire, in
some measure, more by the humanity they have shown to the conquered, than
by the conquest itself." The other ambassadors spoke with a more plaintive
tone of voice, and represented the calamitous state to which Carthage was
going to be reduced, and the grandeur and power from which it was fallen.

The senate and people being equally inclined to peace, sent full power to
Scipio to conclude it; left the conditions to that general, and permitted
him to march back his army, after the treaty should be concluded.

The ambassadors desired leave to enter the city, to redeem some of their
prisoners, and they found about two hundred whom they desired to ransom.
But the senate sent them to Scipio, with orders that they should be
restored without any pecuniary consideration, in case a peace should be
concluded.

The Carthaginians, on the return of their ambassadors, concluded a peace
with Scipio, on the terms he himself had prescribed. They then delivered
up to him more than five hundred ships, all which he burnt in sight of
Carthage; a lamentable spectacle to the inhabitants of that ill-fated
city! He struck off the heads of the allies of the Latin name, and hanged
all the Roman citizens who were surrendered up to him, as deserters.

When the time for the payment of the first tribute imposed by the treaty
was expired, as the funds of the government were exhausted by this long
and expensive war; the difficulty of levying so great a sum, threw the
senate into deep affliction, and many could not refrain even from tears.
Hannibal on this occasion is said to have laughed; and when he was
reproached by Asdrubal Hoedus, for thus insulting his country in the
affliction which he had brought upon it, "Were it possible," says
Hannibal, "for my heart to be seen, and that as cl