my word. Torture is far better than such a disgrace. True to his promise, he returned to the Carthaginians, who, in their rage and disappointment, put him to death in the most barbarous manner, having first, it is said, cut off his eye lids, and exposed him to the burning rays of the African sun, and then rolled him in a barrel stuck full of iron spikes."

"Dreadful, mamma!" said Anne: "who can like so barbarous a nation?"

"I am sorry to say, my love, the Romans acted but little better. They sent, in return, some Carthaginian prisoners to the widow of Regulus, who, it is said, revenged herself for the ill-treatment of her husband by inflicting upon them the most cruel tortures."

"Worse and worse, mamma: you had reason, indeed, to say that the heathens had many vices amongst their most dazzling virtues, since a woman could be so cruel and revengeful."

'And be unblamed also, my child. Christianity alone teaches us to do good to those who hate us. Forgiveness of injuries was not only a virtue unknown to the ancients, but the person who failed to take revenge upon his enemy, when in his power, was thought mean-spirited and cowardly! After this, the war continued

with greater fury than ever, until the loss of another battle so humbled the Carthaginians, that they agreed to pay an immense sum of money, defray the expenses of the war, leave Sicily and the neighbouring islands, never make war upon the friends of Rome, and give up all the Roman prisoners without ransom. Thus ended the first Punic War, after a continuance of twenty-four years."

CHAPTER IX.

"A PROFOUND peace followed the end of the first Punic War," resumed Mrs. Stratton, the following morning; "and, six years after, the Temple of Janus was closed, for the second time only, since the foundation of the city."

"What could they do without war, mamma ?" asked Anne: "it seemed to occupy all their time and thoughts."

"It did indeed, Anne; but, about this time, they began to take pleasure in poetry. Plays were introduced into Rome, and the Romans began to cultivate the arts of peace. These new pursuits did not prevent them from making preparations for fresh wars, and Illyria and Gaul soon felt their power. The Carthaginians, who had only submitted to make peace, from

being unable to continue the war, broke the treaty between them and the Romans, by besieging Saguntum, a city in Spain, in alliance with Rome. This they were led to do by their general, Hannibal, whose character has been so celebrated in history, that I must dwell upon it. When only ten years of age, his father, Hamilcar, had made him swear, by his Gods, never to make peace with Rome."

"What, swear to hate for ever! Oh, mamma, that religion must have been a dreadful one, that could permit such a promise. I never can like this Hannibal, I am sure: but pray go on."

"Hannibal, my dear girl, had great qualities, but they were sadly mixed with vices. By being perfectly obedient to those superior to himself, he learned how to command those under him. Full of courage when danger approached, yet always on the watch to prevent it, he neither feared heat, cold, nor hunger, and was always ready when his country was in want of him. He dressed and fared like the meanest of his soldiers, and no difficulties could discourage him from the task he undertook. I wish I could stop here, yet justice compels me to add, that he had neither religion, honour, nor humanity. The command being entrusted to

M

him, he resolved to follow the example set by the Romans, and to carry the war into Italy. Crossing the Pyrenean mountains, he conquered those nations which opposed him, passed the rivers Rhone and Dura, and in ten days reached the foot of the Alps. Being the middle of winter, the difficulties he met with in crossing these high snow-topped mountains were extreme; nothing, however, discouraged him. The intense cold, the rocks thrown upon his army by the inhabitants, the steep precipices, the roads to be made by cutting through the rock,-his perseverance surmounted all; and he met, and defeated, Scipio, the Roman general, at Ticinum. On the banks of the river Trebia he was again successful, and, in consequence of the rash and presuming character of Flaminius, that general was conquered by him on the banks of the lake Thrasymene. The battle of Cannae—”

"My dear mamma," said Philip, "before you relate what took place at that celebrated battle, may I say something about Fabius, for I know Anne will like to hear it?"

"Certainly, Philip, if you wish it."

"Then Anne, I must first tell you, that the Romans were so discouraged by such repeated defeats, that they entrusted a wise old Roman