m was immediately restored to its
lawful possessors. The Mamertines, who were considerably weakened, as well
by the ruin of their confederate city, as by the losses which they had
sustained from the Syracusans, who had lately placed Hiero at their head,
thought it time to provide for their own safety. But divisions arising
among them, one part surrendered the citadel to the Carthaginians, whilst
the other called in the Romans to their assistance, and resolved to put
them in possession of their city.

The affair was debated in the Roman senate, where, being considered in all
its lights, it appeared to have some difficulties.(661) On one hand, it
was thought base, and altogether unworthy of the Roman virtue, for them to
undertake openly the defence of traitors, whose perfidy was exactly the
same with that of the Rhegians, whom the Romans had recently punished with
so exemplary a severity. On the other hand, it was of the utmost
consequence to stop the progress of the Carthaginians, who, not satisfied
with their conquests in Africa and Spain, had also made themselves masters
of almost all the islands of the Sardinian and Hetrurian seas; and would
certainly get all Sicily into their hands, if they should be suffered to
possess themselves of Messina. From thence into Italy, the passage was
very short; and it was in some manner to invite an enemy to come over, to
leave the entrance open. These reasons, though so strong, could not
prevail with the senate to declare in favour of the Mamertines; and
accordingly, motives of honour and justice prevailed in this instance over
those of interest and policy. (M107) But the people were not so
scrupulous; for, in an assembly held on this subject, it was resolved that
the Mamertines should be assisted.(662) The consul Appius Claudius
immediately set forward with his army, and boldly crossed the strait,
after he had, by an ingenious stratagem, eluded the vigilance of the
Carthaginian general. The Carthaginians, partly by art and partly by
force, were driven out of the citadel; and the city was surrendered
immediately to the consul. The Carthaginians hanged their general, for
having given up the citadel in so cowardly a manner, and prepared to
besiege the town with all their forces. Hiero joined them with his own.
But the consul, having defeated them separately, raised the siege, and
laid waste at pleasure the neighbouring country, the enemy not daring to
face him. This was the first expedi