ell from
the plate behind. A coat of mail, made of a triple tissue of chains of
gold, covered his body. Above this he wore a shirt of the finest white
linen, covered to the waist by a jerkin of leather overlaid with gold
plates. A large mantle of purple embroidered with gold hung from his
shoulders. He wore sandals and leggings of red morocco leather.

But it was only on special occasions that Hannibal was thus
magnificently clad. On the march he dressed generally in a simple blouse
like that worn by his soldiers. His arms were borne behind him by an
esquire. These consisted of his shield, of Galatian manufacture. Its
material was bronze, its shape circular. In the centre was a conical,
sharply pointed boss. The face of the shield was ornamented with
subjects taken from the history of Carthage in relief. The offensive
arms were a sword, a lance, and a bow with arrows. But it was not to the
splendour of his appearance that Hannibal owed the enthusiasm by which
he was regarded by his troops. His strength and skill were far superior
to those of any man in his army. His food was as simple as that of his
soldiers, he was capable of going for days without eating, and it was
seldom that he broke his fast until the day's work was over. When he ate
it would be sitting on horseback, or as he walked about seeing to the
needs of the soldiers.

At night he slept among them, lying on a lion skin without covering. He
was indifferent to heat and cold, and in the heaviest tempest of wind
and rain would ride bareheaded among his troops, apparently unconscious
of the tempest against which he was struggling. So far as was known
he was without a vice. He seldom touched wine. His morals were
irreproachable. He never gave way to anger. His patience under trials
and difficulties of all sorts was illimitable.

In the midst of the greatest trials and dangers he preserved his
cheerfulness, and had ever an encouraging word for his soldiers. Various
as were the nationalities of the troops who followed him, constrained
as most of them had been to enter the service of Carthage, so great was
their love and admiration for their commander that they were ready
to suffer all hardships, to dare all dangers for his sake. It was his
personal influence, and that alone, which welded this army, composed of
men of various nationalities and tribes, into one whole, and enabled it
to perform the greatest military exploits in the world's history, and
for years to