ns in New Carthage, spinning her gay-colored wools, and she
scarcely thinks of me, because never for a moment did the charms of the
barbarian virgin move me. I love only you. Hannibal can fall tremulous
with passion only into arms like yours, hardened by use of the lance.
But be worthy of him! Think not as do other women; seek not new lovers;
unite yourself to me, so that both together we can think of possessing
and of hating, of making the world ours!"

As if exalted by his own words, the African, with glowing eyes,
approached Asbyte, caressing her arms, while he breathed in her face his
ambitious plans.

"I must be lord of the world! I want Carthage, only Carthage, to exist
upon the earth, because Carthage is my native land! Had I been born a
Roman, Rome should be mistress! With my name I mean to obliterate the
memory of Alexander the Macedonian, to be greater than he, to conquer
wider territories, and I dream of undertakings less easy than dominating
the Asiatics, weakened by the softening tendency of the sun and of
riches. Rome is sturdy, she is stronger than our republic of merchants
corroded by avarice and pleasure; her hands are calloused by the plow
handle and the lance--then against Rome am I headed! Alexander! How weak
is his glory! It is easy to march to the conquest of the world when one
is the son of Philip, who leaves as inheritance an army seasoned by a
hundred victories, when one has an obedient kingdom at one's back, and
even in childhood has the good fortune to receive instruction from
Aristotle. The difficult thing is to be Hannibal, abandoned by my
country, with no other resources than those I can find for myself;
having to face at the same time the fury of the enemy and the treachery
and intrigue of my fellow countrymen, reared far from my father, among
astute merchants who, keeping me as hostage, sought to avoid future
danger by diverting my warlike instincts; with no other culture than a
little Greek which Sosilon the Spartan taught me; but despite all this,
Hannibal wars with fate, and he is conquering. If Alexander is admired
for his conquests in the land of the rising sun, some day the world will
be startled at seeing me, after having crushed men, dominating Nature
herself by crossing the loftiest glaciers and changing the positions of
mountains to continue on my way. Look at me well, Asbyte, and you will
be convinced that it is as useless to try to arouse human sentiments in
my heart as to so