the whole island, put all the
Carthaginians to the sword, after having made them suffer inexpressible
torments. They then besieged all the cities one after another, and soon
got possession of the whole country. But feuds arising between them and
the natives, the mercenaries were driven entirely out of the island, and
took refuge in Italy. Thus the Carthaginians lost Sardinia, an island of
great importance to them, on account of its extent, its fertility, and the
great number of its inhabitants.

The Romans, ever since their treaty with the Carthaginians, had behaved
towards them with great justice and moderation. A slight quarrel, on
account of some Roman merchants who were seized at Carthage for having
supplied the enemy with provisions, had embroiled them a little. But these
merchants being restored on the first complaint made to the senate of
Carthage; the Romans, who prided themselves upon their justice and
generosity on all occasions, made the Carthaginians a return of their
former friendship; served them to the utmost of their power; forbade their
merchants to furnish any other nation with provisions; and even refused to
listen to the proposals made by the Sardinian rebels, when invited by them
to take possession of the island.

But these scruples and delicacy wore off by degrees; and Caesar's
advantageous testimony (in Sallust) of their honesty and plain-dealing,
could not with any propriety be applied here:(703) "Although," says he,
"in all the Punic wars, the Carthaginians, both in peace and during
truces, had committed a number of detestable actions, the Romans could
never (how inviting soever the opportunity might be) be prevailed upon to
retaliate such usage; being more attentive to their own glory, than to the
revenge they might have justly taken on such perfidious enemies."

(M116) The mercenaries, who, as was observed, had retired into Italy,
brought the Romans at last to the resolution of sailing over into
Sardinia, to render themselves masters of it. The Carthaginians were
deeply afflicted at the news, upon pretence that they had a more just
title to Sardinia than the Romans; they therefore put themselves in a
posture to take a speedy and just revenge on those who had excited the
people of that island to take up arms against them. But the Romans,
pretending that these preparations were made not against Sardinia but
their state, declared war against the Carthaginians. The latter, quite
exhausted in eve