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HOW TO GET STRONG
less orator, noted beyond all speakers of ancient time for his force and "action," came from a body educated by the severe ordeal of his youth, and by his special training for the great work which has left him imperishable fame.
HANNIBAL (247–183 B.C.)
Of the seven great generals held up by Napoleon as masters of the art of war, three belong to antiquity—namely, Alexander, Hannibal, Cæsar. Like Alexander, a famous soldier's son; at nine he swore eternal hatred against Rome,—his father's life-long enemy. And he kept his oath. Bred in a camp; as a lad, making a name for courage and strategic skill; he was soon commander-in-chief. Attacking Rome's allies; pushing across Spain and the Pyrenees with a hundred thousand troops; fighting as he went, till he lost more than half of them; he not only made his way through Gaul; but in fifteen days, amid attacks from hostile tribes, deep snows, and endless difficulties, did what was believed impossible—led his army across the Alps. Plunging straight into the enemy's country;—and that enemy Rome, whom the whole world justly feared; he engaged her troops; defeated army after army; destroyed cities; overran Italy in all directions; captured her towns and cities; gave Rome the most crushing defeat she had ever known; and maintained himself and his army in her own Italy for fifteen years; but was finally recalled to defend his native land; and was there defeated at last by Scipio.
W. O'Connor Morris says: "Hannibal, one of the earliest, was one of the greatest of the masters of war. Napoleon, indeed, is the only genius of ancient or modern times who can be compared to him. Both had the imagination that forms mighty conceptions; both carried out these with wonderful energy and skill; both accomplished marvels in war with very scanty means; both made genius supply the want of force, one of the tests of really great captains. Both had in the highest degree the faculty of command; of ruling armies; of terrifying foes; of organizing and administering war; both excelled in dexterity, in readiness, in fertility of resource; both had extraordinary powers of stratagem; both could extricate themselves from the extreme of peril; and baffle adversaries who thought they had them in their grasp.
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