command in Spain; when suddenly Publius Cornelius, son of that Publius who had fallen in Spain, then" about twenty-four years of age, declaringda himself a candidate,dd took his station on an eminence whence he could be seen. The eyes of the whole assembly were directed towards him, and by acclamations and tokens of favord they augured a happy and prosperous command.

XII. HANNIBAL'S EXILE.

I. HANNIBAL was the only man who perceived1 that he was aimed at by the Romans; and that peace was only allowed the Carthaginians on the understanding that a remorseless war should be maintained2 against himself alone. He therefore resolved to submit to the crisis and to his fate; and, having prepared every thing for flight, he first publicly appeared3 in the forum on that day in order to avert suspicion, but, as soon as darkness fell, departed in his out-ofdoorsdd dress, with two attendants ignorant of his design. Horses being in readiness" at the spot where they had been ordered, he passed through Byzacium by night, and arrived on the following day on the seacoast, between Adolla and Thapsus, at a castle of his own. There a vessel prepared and manned with rowers received him. Thus did Hannibal leave Africa, pitying the fate of his country oftener than his own.

2. The same day he crossed into the isle of Cercina. Finding there several5 Phoenician merchantshipsda in harbor, with their freights, and a concourse of people having flocked together to welcome him as 3 obversari (s).

1

fallo, with negative. ▲ Lesson 22, 2.

2

manere (i).

5 Lesson 9, 2. a.

6 merx (i).

he disembarked from the vessel, he ordered that all who inquired should be informed that he had been sent as ambassador to Tyre. Apprehensive, however, that one of their ships, sailing by night for Thapsus or Adrumetum, might announce that he had been seen at Cercina, he commanded a sacrifice to be prepared, and the captains of the vessels and the merchants to be invited; also giving orders' that the sails, together with the yard-arms, should be brought together from the ships, that they might enjoy the shade - for it happened to be midsummer - while supping on the shore.

3. So far as circumstances' and time permitted, the banquet was duly prepared10 and celebrated on that day," and the feast was protracted with a profusion of wine to a late hour of night. Hannibal, as soon as he found an opportunity of escaping the notice of those who were in the harbor, unmoored his vessel. The rest, having at length arisen from their deep slumber, on the following day, full of the fumes of wine, spent several hours in carrying back and setting in order the tackle of their ships.

4. At Carthage, too, there was a concourse of the people, accustomed to frequent the house of Hannibal, at the vestibule of his mansion. As soon as it was generally known12 that he was not to be found,13 a crowd of citizens," in quest of the chief man in the state, flocked' to the forum. Some spread a report that he had taken to flight, as14 was really" the case; others that he had been assassinated by the treachery of the Romans; and you might observe 9 forte.

7 Lesson 22, 3. a.

8 With fio (cc).

10 With noun in adverbial phrase (compare p). 13 comparere (cc).

12 vulgari,

11 Lesson 15, a. 14 id quod.

various countenances, as is natural" in a state agitated15 by the intrigues of partisans supporting different factions.

15 discors, making it more personal: lit. "of men supporting (favere) different (alius alius) parties and agitated," &c. (compare i).

XIII. THE TALE OF ATALANTA. - Bacon.

X

ATALANTA, who was exceeding fleet,' contended* with Hippomenes in the course, on condition that, if Hippomenes won, he should espousedd her, or forfeit his life if he lost. The match was very unequal, for" Atalanta had conquered numbers to their destruction. Hippomenes therefore had recourses to stratagem. He procured three golden apples, and purposely carried them with him. They started. Atalanta outstripped him soon; then Hippomenes bowled one of his" apples before her, across the course, in order1 not only to make her stoop, but to draw her out of the path. She, prompted by female curiosity,2 and the beauty of the golden fruit," starts from the course to take up the apple. Hippomenes, in the mean time, holds on his way, and steps before her; but she, by her natural" swiftness, soon fetches up her lost ground, and leaves him again behind. Hippomenes, however, by rightly timings his second and third throws," at length won the race, not by his swiftness, but" by his cunning.*

1 eo consilio ut.

XIV.

ASSASSINATION OF CESAR.- Plutarch.

1. WHEN1 Cæsar entered, the Senate rose to do

tt

him honor,dd and some of the party2 of Brutus stood

around his chair at the back, and others presented themselves before him, as if their purpose" was to support the prayers of Tillius Cimber on behalf of his exiled brother; and they all joined in entreaty, following Cæsar as far as his seat. When he had taken his seat, and was rejecting their entreaties, and as they urged him still more strongly, began to show displeasure towards them individually, Tillius, taking hold of his toga with both hands, pulled it downward from the neck, which was the signal for the attack." Casca was the first to strike° him on the neck with his sword, a blow neither mortal nor severe; for, as was natural at the beginning" of so bold a deed, he was confused, and Cæsar turning round seized the blade and held it fast.

2. And it happened who was struckm cried "You villain Casca, what are you doing?" and he who had given the blow cried' out to his brother' in Greek, "Brother, help!" Such being the beginning, those who were not privy to the conspiracy were prevented by consternation and horror at what was going on either from flying1 or going to aid, and they did not even venture to utter a word. And now each of the conspirators bared his sword; and Cæsar being hemmed in all round, in whatsoever direction he turned meeting blows and swords aimed against his eyes and face, driven about like a wild beast, was caught in the hands of his enemies; for it was arranged that all of them should take a part in and taste of the deed' of blood.i

that at the same momenta he out in the Roman language,

3. Accordingly also Brutus gave him one blow in the groin. It is said by some authorities, that he 4 Lesson 31, 2. d.

3 Lesson 22, 3.

defended himself against the rest, moving' about his body hither and thither, and calling out, till he saw that Brutus had drawn his sword; when he pulled his toga over his face and offered no further resistance, having been driven either by chance or the conspirators to the base on which the statue of Pompey stood. And the base was drenched with blood, as if Pompey was directing the vengeance upon his enemy, who was stretched beneath his feet, and writhingje under many wounds; for he is said to have receivedy three and twenty wounds." Many of the conspirators were wounded by one another, while they were aiming so many blows against one body.

5 tum vero.

XV. DEATH OF MARCUS ANTONIUS.

m

1. THE orator, Marcus Antonius, found a faithful friend in these dangerous times, but still he did not escape. This friend, though a poor man and of the lower class, received in his house one of the most illustrious" of the Romans, and wishing to entertain him as well as he could, sent a slave to one of the neighboring wine-shops to get some wine. As the slave was more curious than usual in tasting it, and told the man to give him some better wine, the merchant asked what could be the reason" that he did not buy the new wine, as usual, and the ordinary wine," but wanted some of good quality and high price. The slave replied in his simplicity," as he was speaking to an old acquaintance, that his master was entertaining Marcus Antonius, who was concealed at his house. The wine-dealer," a faithless and unprincipled wretch,"

ff