ask it. Nor will this be among the least of your glories, that Hannibal, victorious over so many Roman Generals, submitted at last to you. 2 I could wish, that our fathers and we had confined our ambition within the limits which nature seems to have prescribed to it; the shores of Africa, and the shores of Italy. The gods did not give us that mind. On both sides we have been so eager after foreign possessions, as to put our own to the hazard of war. Rome and Carthage have had, each in her turn, the enemy at her gates. 3. But since errors past may be more easily blamed than corrected, let it now be the work of you and me, to put an end, if possible, to the obstinate contention. For my own part, my years, and the experience I have had of the instability of fortune, incline me to leave nothing to her determination which reason can decide. But much I fear, Scipio, that your youth, your want of the like experience, your uninterrupted success, may render you averse from the thoughts of peace. 4. He whom fortune has never failed, rarely reflects upon her inconstancy. Yet without recurring to former examples, my own may perhaps suffice to teach you moderation. I am the same Hannibal, who, after my victory at Cannæ, became master of the greatest part of your country, and deliberated with myself what fate I should decree to Italy and Rome. 5. And now see the change! Here, in Africa, I am come to treat with a Roman, for my own preservation and my country's. Such are the sports of fortune. Is she then to be trusted because she smiles? An advantageous peace is preferable to the hope of victory. The one is in your own power, the other at the pleasure of the gods. Should you prove victorious, it would add little to your own glory or the glory of your country; if vanquished, you lose, in one hour, all the honor and reputation you have been so many years acquiring. 6. But what is my aim in all this? That you should content yourself with our cession of Spain, Sicily, Sardinia, and all Islands between Italy and Africa. A peace on these conditions will, in my opinion, not only secure the future tranquillity of Carthage, but be sufficiently glorious for you and for the Roman name. And do not tell me, that some of our citizens dealt fraudulently with you in the late treaty.-It is I, Hannibal, that now ask a peace:-I ask it, because I think it expedient for my country; and thinking it expedient, I will inviolably maintain it. 1. I KNEW very well, Hannibal, that it was the hope of your return, which en boldened the Carthaginians to break the truce with us, and lay aside all thoughts of peace, when it was just upon the point of being concluded; and your present proposal is a proof of it. You retrench from their concessions, every thing but what we are and have been long possessed of. 2. But as it is your care, that your fellow citizens should have the obligation to you, of being eased from a great part of their burden, so it ought to be mine, that they draw no advantage from their perfidiousness. Nobody is more sensible than I am of the weakness of man, and the power of fortune, and that whatever we enterprise, is subject to a thousand chances. 3. If before the Romans passed into Africa, you had, of your own accord, quitted Italy, and made the offers you now make, I believe they would not have been rejected.. But, as you have been forced out of Italy, and we are masters here of the open country, the situation of things is much altered. 4. And what is chiefly to be considered, the Carthaginians, by the late treaty, which we entered into at their request, were, over and above what you offer, to have restored to us our prisoners without ransom, delivered up their ships of war, paid us five thousand talents, and to have given hostages for the performance of all. 5 The senate accepted these conditions, but Carthage failed on her part: Carthage deceived us. What then is to be done? Are the Carthaginians to be released from the most important articles of the treaty, as a reward for their breach of faith? No, certainly. 6. If to the conditions before agreed upon, you had added some new articles, to our advantage, there would have been matter of reference to the Roman people; but when, instead of adding, you retrench, there is no room for deliberation. The Carthaginians, therefore, must submit to us at discretion, or must vanquish us in battle. * Publius Cornelius Scipio, an illustrious Roman and brave_general.— While Hannibal was in the northern part of Italy, the Roman Senate sent Scipio into Africa to carry war to the gates of Carthage. He defeated the Carthaginians under Hannibal at the battle of Zama, and obtained the honorable surname of Africanus. He was afterwards treated with ingratitude and baseness by the Romans, and fled from the public clamors, and died in retirement B. Č. 180. LESSON CXLVIII. Cassius instigating Brutus to join the Conspiracy against TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CESAR. Cesar. 1. HONOR is the subject of my story— I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but for my single self, I had as lief not be, as live to be In awe of such a thing as myself. I was born free as Cesar;† so were you: 2. For once upon a raw and gusty day, And bade him follow; so indeed he did. 3. But ere we could arrive the point propos'd, Cesar cry'd, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink." * Caius Cassius, a celebrated Roman, who was attached to the interests of Pompey, and when Cesar obtained the victory in the plains of Pharsalia, Cassius owed his life to the mercy of the conqueror. He was an artful and ambitious man, and was at the head of the conspiracy against Cesar. At the battle of Philippi, fearful of falling into the hands of his enemies, he caused one of his slaves to slay him with the very sword with which he had given wounds to Cesar, B. C. 42. + Caius Julius Cesar, an illustrious Roman general and historian, was born B. C. 98. He was famous for his learning, his ambition, his valor, and his tragical death. By his valor and eloquence he acquired the highest reputation in the field and in the senate; and enjoyed every magisterial and military honor that the republic could bestow. In 59 B. C. the government of the Roman Commonwealth was divided between Cesar, Crassus, and Pompey. Jealousies soon arose, which terminated in a civil war. Cesar subdued Pompey, and became master of the Commonwealth. His ambition became boundless-he grasped at sovereign power. But he was beloved by the Roman people, and they thougl.t no honor, except that of king, too great to be conferred on him. In the midst of his ambitious projects, a conspiracy was formed against him, headed by Cassius and Brutus, and he was assas sinated in the senate-house, B. C. 43, in the 56th year of his age. It is said that he conquered 300 nations, took 800 cities, and defeated 3,000,000 of people, 1,000,000 of which fell in battle. Tiber, a river of Italy, on whose banks the city of Rome was built. I, as Æneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body 4. He had a fever when he was in Spain, And when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake; 'tis true; this god did shake; And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Aye, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans 5. Ye gods, it doth amaze me, Brutus and Cesar!-What should be in that Cesar? 6. Now in the name of all the gods at once, *Eneas, a Trojan prince, son of Anchises and Venus. LESSON CXLIX. Brutus** Speech on the Death of Cesar.-TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CESAR. 1. ROMANS, Countrymen, and Lovers,-Hear me, for my cause; and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me, for mine honor; and have respect for mine honor, that you may believe. Censure me, in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that may the better judge. you 2. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cesar, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Cesar was no less than his, If then, that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cesar, this is my answer; not that I loved Cesar less, but that I love Rome more. 3. Had you rather Cesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cesar were dead, to live all freemen? As Cesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. 4. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition. Who's here so base, that he would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. 5. Who's here so rude, that he would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who's here so vile, that he will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply. 6. None? Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Cesar, than you should do to Brutus. And as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I reserve the same dagger for myself, whenever it shall please my country to need my death. Marcus Brutus, a brave, virtuous, and honorable Roman-but a blind politician. He was the dupe of Cassius' flattery and art, and was instigated by him, to join the conspiracy against Cesar, that his virtues and popularity might sanction the atrocious deed. Cesar was Brutus' best and most intimate friend. After the assassination of Cesar, Brutus fled with the other conspirators, collected an army, was defeated at the decisive battle of Philippi, fell upon his sword, and died B. C. 42. 25* |