, and it has been discussed a great deal by military men in every
age since his day. Right or wrong, Hannibal decided to establish his
own capital at Capua, and to leave Rome, for the present, undisturbed.

He, however, sent immediately to Carthage for re-enforcements. The
messenger whom he sent was one of his generals named Mago. Mago made
the best of his way to Carthage with his tidings of victory and his
bushel of rings, collected, as has been already said, from the field
of Cannae. The city of Carthage was greatly excited by the news which
he brought. The friends and patrons of Hannibal were elated with
enthusiasm and pride, and they taunted and reproached his enemies with
the opposition to him they had manifested when he was originally
appointed to the command of the army of Spain.

Mago met the Carthaginian senate, and in a very spirited and eloquent
speech he told them how many glorious battles Hannibal had fought, and
how many victories he had won. He had contended with the greatest
generals that the Romans could bring against him, and had conquered
them all. He had slain, he said, in all, over two hundred thousand
men. All Italy was now subject to his power; Capua was his capital,
and Rome had fallen. He concluded by saying that Hannibal was in need
of considerable additional supplies of men, and money, and provisions,
which he did not doubt the Carthaginians would send without any
unnecessary delay. He then produced before the senate the great bag of
rings which he had brought, and poured them upon the pavement of the
senate-house as a trophy of the victories which he had been
announcing.

This would, perhaps, have all been very well for Hannibal if his
friends had been contented to have left the case where Mago left it;
but some of them could not resist the temptation of taunting his
enemies, and especially Hanno, who, as will be recollected, originally
opposed his being sent to Spain. They turned to him, and asked him
triumphantly what he thought now of his factious opposition to so
brave a warrior. Hanno rose. The senate looked toward him and were
profoundly silent, wondering what he would have to reply. Hanno, with
an air of perfect ease and composure, spoke somewhat as follows:

"I should have said nothing, but should have allowed the senate to
take what action they pleased on Mago's proposition if I had not been
particularly addressed. As it is, I will say that I think now just as
I always have thoug