which was very powerful with the military and the populace.  Prosecuting his designs rather by stratagem than force, by entertaining the princes, and by means of the friendship of their leaders, gaining the favour of unknown nations, he aggrandized the Carthaginian power, more than by arms and battles.  Yet peace proved no greater security to himself.  A barbarian, in resentment of his master’s having been put to death by him, publicly murdered him; and, having been seized by the bystanders, he exhibited the same countenance as if he had escaped; nay, even when he was lacerated by tortures, he preserved such an expression of face, that he presented the appearance of one who smiled, his joy getting the better of his pains.  With this Hasdrubal, because he possessed such wonderful skill in gaining over the nations and adding them to his empire, the Roman people had renewed the treaty, [Footnote:  A. U. C. 526, thirteen years after the conclusion of the first Punic war, being the sixth treaty between the Carthaginians and Romans.  The first was a commercial agreement made during the first consulate, in the year that the Tarquins were expelled from Rome; but is not mentioned by Livy.  The second is noted by him, lib. vii. 27, and the third, lib. ix. 43.  The fourth was concluded during the war with Pyrrhus and the Tarentines, Polyb.  V. iii. 25:  and the fifth was the memorable treaty at the close of the first war] on the terms, that the river Iberus should be the boundary of both empires; and that to the Saguntines, who lay between the territories of the two states, their liberty should be preserved.

3.  There was no doubt that in appointing a successor to Hasdrubal, the approbation of the commons would follow the military prerogative, by which the young Hannibal had been immediately carried to the praetorium, and hailed as general, amid the loud shouts and acquiescence of all.  Hasdrubal had sent for him by letter, when scarce yet arrived at manhood; and the matter had even been discussed in the senate, the Barcine faction using all their efforts, that Hannibal might be trained to military service and succeed to his father’s command.  Hanno, the leader of the opposite faction, said, “Hasdrubal seems indeed to ask what is reasonable, but I, nevertheless, do not think his request ought to be granted.”  When he had attracted to himself the attention of all, through surprise at this ambiguous opinion, he proceeded:  “Hasdrubal thinks that the flower of youth which he gave to the enjoyment of Hannibal’s father, may justly be expected by himself in return from the son:  but it would little become us to accustom our youth, in place of a military education, to the lustful ambition of the generals.  Are we afraid that the son of Hamilcar should be too late in seeing the immoderate power and splendour of his father’s sovereignty? or that we shall not soon enough become slaves to the son of him, to whose son-in-law our armies were bequeathed as an hereditary right?  I am of opinion, that this youth should be kept at home, and taught, under the restraint of the laws and the authority of magistrates, to live on an equal footing with the rest of the citizens, lest at some time or other this small fire should kindle a vast conflagration.”