distant sea, seeks him out in the remote deserts of Africa, and in
a moment deprives him of all his power.

Years passed away, and Hannibal, though compelled outwardly to submit
to his fate, was restless and ill at ease. His scheming spirit,
spurred on now by the double stimulus of resentment and ambition, was
always busy, vainly endeavoring to discover some plan by which he
might again renew the struggle with his ancient foe.

It will be recollected that Carthage was originally a commercial
colony from Tyre, a city on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean
Sea. The countries of Syria and Phoenicia were in the vicinity of
Tyre. They were powerful commercial communities, and they had always
retained very friendly relations with the Carthaginian commonwealth.
Ships passed continually to and fro, and always, in case of calamities
or disasters threatening one of these regions, the inhabitants
naturally looked to the other for refuge and protection, Carthage
looking upon Phoenicia as its mother, and Phoenicia regarding
Carthage as her child. Now there was, at this time, a very powerful
monarch on the throne in Syria and Phoenicia, named Antiochus. His
capital was Damascus. He was wealthy and powerful, and was involved in
some difficulties with the Romans. Their conquests, gradually
extending eastward, had approached the confines of Antiochus's realms,
and the two nations were on the brink of war.

Things being in this state, the enemies of Hannibal at Carthage sent
information to the Roman senate that he was negotiating and plotting
with Antiochus to combine the Syrian and Carthaginian forces against
them, and thus plunge the world into another general war. The Romans
accordingly determined to send an embassage to the Carthaginian
government, and to demand that Hannibal should be deposed from his
office, and given up to them a prisoner, in order that he might be
tried on this charge.

These commissioners came, accordingly, to Carthage, keeping, however,
the object of their mission a profound secret, since they knew very
well that, if Hannibal should suspect it, he would make his escape
before the Carthaginian senate could decide upon the question of
surrendering him. Hannibal was, however, too wary for them. He
contrived to learn their object, and immediately resolved on making
his escape. He knew that his enemies in Carthage were numerous and
powerful, and that the animosity against him was growing stronger and
stron