t the time we are now speaking of. At Carthage, the common people had
seized upon the sovereign authority with regard to public affairs, and the
advice of their ancient men or magistrates was no longer listened to; all
affairs were transacted by intrigue and cabal. To take no notice of the
artifices which the faction adverse to Hannibal employed, during the whole
time of his command, to perplex him; the single instance of burning the
Roman vessels during a truce, a perfidious action to which the common
people compelled the senate to lend their name and assistance, is a proof
of Polybius's assertion. On the contrary, at this very time, the Romans
paid the highest regard to their senate, that is, to a body composed of
the greatest sages; and their old men were listened to and revered as
oracles. It is well known that the Roman people were exceedingly jealous
of their authority, and especially in whatever related to the election of
magistrates. A century of young men, who by lot were to give the first
vote, which generally directed all the rest, had nominated two
consuls.(810) On the bare remonstrance of Fabius,(811) who represented to
the people, that in a tempest, like that with which Rome was then
struggling, the ablest pilots ought to be chosen to steer the vessel of
the state, the century returned to their suffrages, and nominated other
consuls. Polybius infers, that a people, thus guided by the prudence of
old men, could not fail of prevailing over a state which was governed
wholly by the giddy multitude. And indeed, the Romans, under the guidance
of the wise counsels of their senate, gained at last the superiority with
regard to the war considered in general, though they were defeated in
several particular engagements; and established their power and grandeur
on the ruin of their rivals.

_The interval between the Second and Third Punic War._--This interval,
though considerable enough with regard to its duration, since it took up
above fifty years, is very little remarkable as to the events which relate
to Carthage. They may be reduced to two heads; of which the one relates to
the person of Hannibal, and the other to some particular differences
between the Carthaginians and Masinissa king of the Numidians. We shall
treat both separately, but at no great length.

SECT. I. CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF HANNIBAL.--When the second Punic
war was ended, by the treaty of peace concluded with Scipio, Hannibal, as
he himsel