rry on, for so many years, a war in a remote country, in spite
of the violent opposition made by a powerful faction at home, which
refused him supplies of every kind, and thwarted him on all occasions; it
may be affirmed, that Hannibal, during the whole series of this war,
seemed the only prop of the state, and the soul of every part of the
empire of the Carthaginians, who could never believe themselves conquered,
till Hannibal confessed that he himself was so.

But our acquaintance with Hannibal will be very imperfect, if we consider
him only at the head of armies. The particulars we learn from history,
concerning the secret intelligence he held with Philip of Macedon; the
wise counsels he gave to Antiochus, king of Syria; the double reformation
he introduced in Carthage, with regard to the management of the public
revenues and the administration of justice, prove, that he was a great
statesman in every respect. So superior and universal was his genius, that
it took in all parts of government; and so great were his natural
abilities, that he was capable of acquitting himself in all the various
functions of it with glory. Hannibal shone as conspicuously in the cabinet
as in the field; equally able to fill the civil as the military
employments. In a word, he united in his own person the different talents
and merits of all professions, the sword, the gown, and the finances.

He had some learning, and though he was so much employed in military
labours, and engaged in so many wars, he, however, found some leisure to
devote to literature.(840) Several smart repartees of Hannibal, which have
been transmitted to us, show that he had a great fund of natural wit; and
this he improved by the most polite education that could be bestowed at
that time, and in such a republic as Carthage. He spoke Greek tolerably
well, and even wrote some books in that language. His preceptor was a
Lacedaemonian, named Sosilus, who, with Philenius, another Lacedaemonian,
accompanied him in all his expeditions. Both these undertook to write the
history of this renowned warrior.

With regard to his religion and moral conduct, he was not altogether so
profligate and wicked as he is represented by Livy:(841) "cruel even to
inhumanity, more perfidious than a Carthaginian; regardless of truth, of
probity, of the sacred ties of oaths; fearless of the gods, and utterly
void of religion." _Inhumana crudelitas, perfida plusquam Punica; nihil
veri, nihil sanct