ld,
and forcing him to lay down his arms.

But notwithstanding these prudent remonstrances, the senate appointed
three commissioners to go and make their complaints to Carthage, and to
demand that Hannibal should be delivered up to them. On their arrival in
that city, though other motives were speciously pretended, yet Hannibal
was perfectly sensible that himself only was aimed at. The evening being
come, he conveyed himself on board a ship, which he had secretly provided
for that purpose; on which occasion he bewailed his country's fate more
than his own. _Saepius patriae quam suorum_(_817_)_ eventus miseratus._ This
was the eighth year after the conclusion of the peace. The first place he
landed at was Tyre, where he was received as in his second country, and
had all the honours paid him which were due to his exalted merit. (M134)
After staying some days here, he set out for Antioch, which the king had
lately left, and from thence waited upon him at Ephesus. The arrival of so
renowned a general gave great pleasure to the king; and did not a little
contribute to determine him to engage in war against Rome; for hitherto he
had appeared wavering and uncertain on that head. In this city, a
philosopher, who was looked upon as the greatest orator of Asia, had the
imprudence to make a long harangue before Hannibal, on the duties of a
general, and the rules of the art-military.(818) The speech charmed the
whole audience. But Hannibal being asked his opinion of it, "I have seen,"
says he, "many old dotards in my life, but this exceeds them all."(819)

The Carthaginians, justly fearing that Hannibal's escape would certainly
draw upon them the arms of the Romans, sent them advice that Hannibal was
withdrawn to Antiochus.(820) The Romans were very much disturbed at this
news; and the king might have turned it extremely to his advantage, had he
known how to make a proper use of it.

The first advice that Hannibal gave him at this time, and which he
frequently repeated afterwards, was, to make Italy the seat of the
war.(821) He required an hundred ships, eleven or twelve thousand land
forces, and offered to take upon himself the command of the fleet; to
cross into Africa, in order to engage the Carthaginians in the war; and
afterwards to make a descent upon Italy, during which the king himself
should remain in Greece with his army, holding himself constantly in
readiness to cross over into Italy, whenever it should be thought
con