however, all earnestly joined in attempting
to persuade Regulus that he was under no obligation to return to
Carthage. His promise, they said, was extorted by the circumstances of
the case, and was not binding. Regulus, however, insisted on keeping
his faith with his enemies. He sternly refused to see his family,
and, bidding the senate farewell, he returned to Carthage. The
Carthaginians, exasperated at his having himself interposed to prevent
the success of his mission, tortured him for some time in the most
cruel manner, and finally put him to death. One would think that he
ought to have counseled peace and an exchange of prisoners, and he
ought not to have refused to see his unhappy wife and children; but it
was certainly very noble in him to refuse to break his word.

The war continued for some time after this, until, at length, both
nations became weary of the contest, and peace was made. The following
is the treaty which was signed. It shows that the advantage, on the
whole, in this first Punic war, was on the part of the Romans:

"There shall be peace between Rome and Carthage. The
Carthaginians shall evacuate all Sicily. They shall not make
war upon any allies of the Romans. They shall restore to the
Romans, without ransom, all the prisoners which they have
taken from them, and pay them within ten years three
thousand two hundred talents of silver."

The war had continued twenty-four years.

CHAPTER II.

HANNIBAL AT SAGUNTUM.

B.C. 234-218

Parentage of Hannibal.--Character of Hamilcar.--Religious
ceremonies.--Hannibal's famous oath of enmity to Rome.--Hamilcar
in Spain.--Hasdrubal.--Death of Hamilcar.--Hannibal sent for to
Spain.--Opposition of Hanno.--Hannibal sets out for Spain.--Favorable
impression on the army.--Character of Hannibal.--He is elevated to
the supreme command.--The River Iberus.--Hannibal seeks a war with
the Romans.--Stratagem of Hannibal.--Fording the river.--Great
battle in the River Tagus.--Victory of Hannibal.--Saguntum.--Hannibal
attacks it.--Progress of the siege.--Hannibal wounded.--Hannibal
recovers.--The falarica.--Arrival of the Roman embassadors.--Hannibal's
policy.--Hannibal sends embassadors to Carthage.--The Roman
embassadors.--Parties in the Carthaginian senate.--Speech of
Hanno.--Hanno proposes to give up Hannibal.--Defense of Hannibal's
friends.--Hannibal triumphant.--Saguntum falls.

The name of Hannibal's father was Hamilca