Page:Light and truth.djvu/196

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194
LIGHT AND TRUTH.

IMILCON.


Imilcon, an African, a general of Carthage. The following year, Imilcon, being appointed one of the rulers of Carthage, returned to Sicily with a greater army than before. He landed at Palermo, took several cities; and recovered Motya by force of arms. His fleet under the command of Mago, sailed along the coast,—above two hundred ships laden with the spoils of the enemy, and five hundred barques, entered in good order the great harbor of Syracuse. The army according to some authors, consisted of 300,000 foot, and 3,000 horse. In addition to this army, new troops were raised, and placed under the command of Mago, whose father had been lately killed. He was very young, but of great abilities and reputation. He soon arrived in Sicily, and gave Dionysius battle. In this battle, Leptinus, brother of Dionysius and upwards of 14,000 Syracusans were left dead upon the field. By this victory, the Carthaginians obtained an honorable peace, which left them in possession of all they had in Sicily, with the addition even of some strongholds; besides a thousand talents to defray the expenses of the war. Yet Mago, on his return to Carthage was impeached, and died soon after of grief.



HANNIBAL.


Hannibal, the Great, an African, a general of Carthage, 218 B. C. Carthage having been at peace 23 years, he led the Carthaginian army and laid siege to Saguntum, a city of Spain, in alliance with the Romans. The Carthaginians, passing through the straits with their fleet, and Hannibal, after taking that place, conceived the bold design of carrying the war into Italy. In the accomplishment of that design, he passed the Pyrenees and finally the Alps, with incredible difficulty, having, when he arrived in Italy, 20,000 foot and 6000 horse. The Romans fell before him. In several pitched battles he utterly routed them, and at Cannæ he made an immense slaughter, 40,000 Romans being left dead on the field. Had he pushed his advantages, and gone immediately to Rome, the fate of the