ly widened by the discussion. "Very well," said the Roman
commissioners, at last, "we offer you peace or war, which do you
choose?" "Whichever you please," replied the Carthaginians; "decide
for yourselves." "War, then," said the Romans, "since it must be so."
The conference was broken up, and the embassadors returned to Rome.

They returned, however, by the way of Spain. Their object in doing
this was to negotiate with the various kingdoms and tribes in Spain
and in France, through which Hannibal would have to march in invading
Italy, and endeavor to induce them to take sides with the Romans. They
were too late, however, for Hannibal had contrived to extend and
establish his influence in all that region too strongly to be shaken;
so that, on one pretext or another, the Roman proposals were all
rejected. There was one powerful tribe, for example, called the
Volscians. The embassadors, in the presence of the great council of
the Volscians, made known to them the probability of war, and invited
them to ally themselves with the Romans. The Volscians rejected the
proposition with a sort of scorn. "We see," said they, "from the fate
of Saguntum, what is to be expected to result from an alliance with
the Romans. After leaving that city defenseless and alone in its
struggle against such terrible danger, it is in vain to ask other
nations to trust to your protection. If you wish for new allies, it
will be best for you to go where the story of Saguntum is not known."
This answer of the Volscians was applauded by the other nations of
Spain, as far as it was known, and the Roman embassadors, despairing
of success in that country, went on into Gaul, which is the name by
which the country now called France is known in ancient history.

On reaching a certain place which was a central point of influence and
power in Gaul, the Roman commissioners convened a great martial
council there. The spectacle presented by this assembly was very
imposing, for the warlike counselors came to the meeting armed
completely and in the most formidable manner, as if they were coming
to a battle instead of a consultation and debate. The venerable
embassadors laid the subject before them. They descanted largely on
the power and greatness of the Romans, and on the certainty that they
should conquer in the approaching contest, and they invited the Gauls
to espouse their cause, and to rise in arms and intercept Hannibal's
passage through their country, if he