y poison: Hannibal being betrayed by
his host; and Philopoemen being taken prisoner in a battle against the
Messenians, and thrown into a dungeon, was forced to swallow poison. As to
Scipio, he banished himself, to avoid an unjust prosecution which was
carrying on against him at Rome, and ended his days in a kind of
obscurity.

_The Character and Eulogium of Hannibal._--This would be the proper place
for representing the excellent qualities of Hannibal, who reflected so
much glory on Carthage. But as I have attempted to draw his character
elsewhere,(838) and to give a just idea of him, by making a comparison
between him and Scipio, I think myself dispensed from giving his eulogium
at large in this place.

Persons who devote themselves to the profession of arms, cannot spend too
much time in the study of this great man, who is looked upon, by the best
judges, as the most complete general, in almost every respect, that ever
the world produced.

During the whole seventeen years that the war lasted, two errors only are
objected to him: first, his not marching, immediately after the battle of
Cannae, his victorious army to Rome, in order to besiege that city:
secondly, his suffering their courage to be softened and enervated during
their winter-quarters in Capua: errors, which only show that great men are
not so in all things;(839) _summi enim sunt, homine tamen_; and which,
perhaps, may be partly excused.

But then, for these two errors, what a multitude of shining qualities
appear in Hannibal! How extensive were his views and designs, even in his
most tender years! What greatness of soul! What intrepidity! What presence
of mind must he have possessed, to be able, even in the fire and heat of
action, to turn every thing to advantage! With what surprising address
must he have managed the minds of men, that, amidst so great a variety of
nations which composed his army, who often were in want both of money and
provisions, his camp was not once disturbed with any insurrection, either
against himself or any of his generals! With what equity, what moderation
must he have behaved towards his new allies, to have prevailed so far as
to attach them inviolably to his service, though he was reduced to the
necessity of making them sustain almost the whole burthen of the war, by
quartering his army upon them, and levying contributions in their several
countries! In short, how fruitful must he have been in expedients, to be
able to ca