ht. We are plunged into a most costly and most
useless war, and are, as I conceive, no nearer the end of it now than
ever, notwithstanding all these boasted successes. The emptiness of
them is clearly shown by the inconsistency of Hannibal's pretensions
as to what he has done, with the demands that he makes in respect to
what he wishes us to do. He says he has conquered all his enemies, and
yet he wants us to send him more soldiers. He has reduced all
Italy--the most fertile country in the world--to subjection, and
reigns over it at Capua, and yet he calls upon us for corn. And then,
to crown all, he sends us bushels of gold rings as a specimen of the
riches he has obtained by plunder, and accompanies the offering with a
demand for new supplies of money. In my opinion, his success is all
illusive and hollow. There seems to be nothing substantial in his
situation except his necessities, and the heavy burdens upon the state
which these necessities impose."

Notwithstanding Hanno's sarcasms, the Carthaginians resolved to
sustain Hannibal, and to send him the supplies that he needed. They
were, however, long in reaching him. Various difficulties and delays
occurred. The Romans, though they could not dispossess Hannibal from
his position in Italy, raised armies in different countries, and waged
extended wars with the Carthaginians and their allies, in various
parts of the world, both by sea and land.

The result was, that Hannibal remained fifteen or sixteen years in
Italy, engaged, during all this time, in a lingering struggle with the
Roman power, without ever being able to accomplish any decisive
measures. During this period he was sometimes successful and
victorious, and sometimes he was very hard pressed by his enemies. It
is said that his army was very much enervated and enfeebled by the
comforts and luxuries they enjoyed at Capua. Capua was a very rich and
beautiful city, and the inhabitants of it had opened their gates to
Hannibal of their own accord, preferring, as they said, his alliance
to that of the Romans. The officers--as the officers of an army almost
always do, when they find themselves established in a rich and
powerful city, after the fatigues of a long and honorable
campaign--gave themselves up to festivities and rejoicing, to games,
shows, and entertainments of every kind, which they soon learned
infinitely to prefer to the toil and danger of marches and battles.

Whatever may have been the cause, the