attempting his escape, that all
the modes of exit from the palace which he occupied, even the secret
ones which he had expressly contrived to aid his flight, were taken
possession of and guarded. Escape was, therefore, no longer possible,
and Hannibal went to his apartment and sent for the poison. He was now
an old man, nearly seventy years of age, and he was worn down and
exhausted by his protracted anxieties and sufferings. He was glad to
die. He drank the poison, and in a few hours ceased to breathe.

CHAPTER XII.

THE DESTRUCTION OF CARTHAGE.

B.C. 146-145

Destruction.--The third Punic war.--Chronological table of the
Punic wars.--Character of the Punic wars.--Intervals between
them.--Animosities and dissensions.--Numidia.--Numidian
horsemen.--Masinissa.--Parties at Rome and Carthage.--Their
differences.--Masinissa prepares for war.--Hasdrubal.--Carthage
declares war.--Parallel between Hannibal and Hasdrubal.--Battle with
Masinissa.--Defeat of the Carthaginians.--The younger Scipio.--A
spectator of the battle.--Negotiations for peace.--Scipio
made umpire.--Hasdrubal surrenders.--Terms imposed by
Masinissa.--Carthaginian embassy to Rome.--Their mission
fruitless.--Another embassy.--The Romans declare war.--Negotiations
for peace.--The Romans demand hostages.--Cruelty of the hostage
system.--Return of the embassadors.--Consternation in Carthage.--Its
deplorable condition.--Selecting the hostages.--The hour of
parting.--The parting scene.--Grief and despair.--Advance of the
Roman army.--Surrender of Utica.--Demands of the Romans.--The
Carthaginians comply.--The Romans demand all the munitions of
war.--Their great number.--Brutal demands of the Romans.--Carthage
to be destroyed.--Desperation of the people.--Preparations for
defense.--Hasdrubal.--Destruction of the Roman fleet.--Horrors
of the siege.--Heroic valor of the Carthaginians.--Battering
engines.--Attempt to destroy them.--The city stormed.--A desperate
struggle.--The people retreat to the citadel.--The city
fired.--Hasdrubal's wife.--Hasdrubal surrenders.--The citadel
fired.--Resentment and despair of Hasdrubal's wife.--Carthage
destroyed.--Its present condition.--War and commerce.--Antagonistic
principles.--Hannibal's greatness as a military hero.

The consequences of Hannibal's reckless ambition, and of his wholly
unjustifiable aggression on Roman rights to gratify it, did not end
with his own personal ruin. The flame which he had kindled co