ere the widest prospect was presented, and halted
his army there to let them take a view of the beautiful country which
now lay before them. The Alps are very precipitous on the Italian
side. The descent is very sudden, from the cold and icy summits, to a
broad expanse of the most luxuriant and sunny plains. Upon these
plains, which were spread out in a most enchanting landscape at their
feet, Hannibal and his soldiers now looked down with exultation and
delight. Beautiful lakes, studded with still more beautiful islands,
reflected the beams of the sun. An endless succession of fields, in
sober autumnal colors, with the cottages of the laborers and stacks of
grain scattered here and there upon them, and rivers meandering
through verdant meadows, gave variety and enchantment to the view.

Hannibal made an address to his officers and men, congratulating them
on having arrived, at last, so near to a successful termination of
their toils. "The difficulties of the way," he said, "are at last
surmounted, and these mighty barriers that we have scaled are the
walls, not only of Italy, but of Rome itself. Since we have passed the
Alps, the Romans will have no protection against us remaining. It is
only one battle, when we get down upon the plains, or at most two, and
the great city itself will be entirely at our disposal."

The whole army were much animated and encouraged, both by the
prospect which presented itself to their view, and by the words of
Hannibal. They prepared for the descent, anticipating little
difficulty; but they found, on recommencing their march, that their
troubles were by no means over. The mountains are far steeper on the
Italian side than on the other, and it was extremely difficult to find
paths by which the elephants and the horses, and even the men, could
safely descend. They moved on for some time with great labor and
fatigue, until, at length, Hannibal, looking on before, found that the
head of the column had stopped, and the whole train behind was soon
jammed together, the ranks halting along the way in succession, as
they found their path blocked up by the halting of those before them.

Hannibal sent forward to ascertain the cause of the difficulty, and
found that the van of the army had reached a precipice down which it
was impossible to descend. It was necessary to make a circuit in hopes
of finding some practicable way of getting down. The guides and
pioneers went on, leading the army after th