l's
mortification.--Syria and Phoenicia.--King Antiochus.--Hannibal's
intrigues with Antiochus.--Embassy from Rome.--Flight of
Hannibal.--Island of Cercina.--Stratagem of Hannibal.--He sails for
Syria.--Excitement at Carthage.--Hannibal safe at Ephesus.--Carthaginian
deputies.--The change of fortune.--Hannibal's unconquerable spirit.--His
new plans.--Hannibal sends a secret messenger to Carthage.--The
placards.--Excitement produced by them.--Roman commissioners.--Supposed
interview of Hannibal and Scipio.--Hannibal's opinion of Alexander and
Pyrrhus.--Anecdotes.--Hannibal's efforts prove vain.--Antiochus agrees
to give him up.--Hannibal's treasures.--His plan for securing
them.--Hannibal's unhappy condition.--The potion of poison.--Hannibal
fails in his attempt to escape.--He poisons himself.

Hannibal's life was like an April day. Its brightest glory was in the
morning. The setting of his sun was darkened by clouds and showers.
Although for fifteen years the Roman people could find no general
capable of maintaining the field against him, Scipio conquered him at
last, and all his brilliant conquests ended, as Hanno had predicted,
only in placing his country in a far worse condition than before.

In fact, as long as the Carthaginians confined their energies to
useful industry, and to the pursuits of commerce and peace, they were
prosperous, and they increased in wealth, and influence, and honor
every year. Their ships went every where, and were every where
welcome. All the shores of the Mediterranean were visited by their
merchants, and the comforts and the happiness of many nations and
tribes were promoted by the very means which they took to swell their
own riches and fame. All might have gone on so for centuries longer,
had not military heroes arisen with appetites for a more piquant sort
of glory. Hannibal's father was one of the foremost of these. He began
by conquests in Spain and encroachments on the Roman jurisdiction. He
inculcated the same feelings of ambition and hate in Hannibal's mind
which burned in his own. For many years, the policy which they led
their countrymen to pursue was successful. From being useful and
welcome visitors to all the world, they became the masters and the
curse of a part of it. So long as Hannibal remained superior to any
Roman general that could be brought against him, he went on
conquering. But at last Scipio arose, greater than Hannibal. The tide
was then turned, and all the v