t is their absolute will and pleasure that you depart out of
Carthage, which they have resolved to destroy; and that you remove into
any other part of your dominions which you shall think proper, provided it
be at the distance of eighty stadia(878) from the sea."

The instant the consul had pronounced this fulminating decree, nothing was
heard among the Carthaginians but lamentable shrieks and howlings.(879)
Being now in a manner thunderstruck, they neither knew where they were,
nor what they did; but rolled themselves in the dust, tearing their
clothes, and unable to vent their grief any otherwise, than by broken
sighs and deep groans. Being afterwards a little recovered, they lifted up
their hands with the air of suppliants one moment towards the gods, and
the next towards the Romans, imploring their mercy and justice towards a
people, who would soon be reduced to the extremes of despair. But as both
the gods and men were deaf to their fervent prayers, they soon changed
them into reproaches and imprecations; bidding the Romans call to mind,
that there were such beings as avenging deities, whose severe eyes were
for ever open on guilt and treachery. The Romans themselves could not
refrain from tears at so moving a spectacle, but their resolution was
fixed. The deputies could not even prevail so far, as to get the execution
of this order suspended, till they should have an opportunity of
presenting themselves again before the senate, to attempt, if possible, to
get it revoked. They were forced to set out immediately, and carry the
answer to Carthage.

The people waited for their return with such an impatience and terror, as
words could never express.(880) It was scarce possible for them to break
through the crowd that flocked round them, to hear the answer, which was
but too strongly painted in their faces. When they were come into the
senate, and had declared the barbarous orders of the Romans, a general
shriek informed the people of their fate; and from that instant, nothing
was seen and heard in every part of the city, but howling and despair,
madness and fury.

The reader will here give me leave to interrupt the course of the history
for a moment, to reflect on the conduct of the Romans. It is great pity
that the fragment of Polybius, where an account is given of this
deputation, should end exactly in the most interesting part of this
narrative. I should set a much higher value on one short reflection of so
judici