Xanthippus Leaves Carthage
To return to our narrative. Having obtained this
complete success the Carthaginians indulged
in every sign of exultation. Thanksgivings
were poured out to God, and joyful congratulations interchanged among themselves. But Xanthippus, by
whose means such a happy change had been brought about
and such an impulse been given to the fortunes of
Carthage,
did not remain there long, but took ship for home again. In
this he showed his wisdom and discernment. For it is the
nature of extraordinary and conspicuous achievements to exasperate jealousies and envenom slander; against which a native
may perhaps stand with the support of kinsfolk and friends,
but a foreigner when exposed to one or the other of them is
inevitably overpowered before long and put in danger. There
is however another account sometimes given of the departure
of Xanthippus, which I will endeavour at a more suitable
opportunity to set forth.
Xanthippus quits Carthage. |
Upon this unlooked-for catastrophe in the Libyan campaign, the Roman government at once set to
The Romans prepare a fleet to relieve their beaten army. |
work to fit out a fleet to take off the men who
were still surviving there; while the Carthaginians followed up their success by sitting
down before Aspis, and besieging it, being anxious to get the
survivors of the battle into their hands. But failing to capture the place, owing to the gallantry and determined courage
of these men, they eventually raised the siege. When they
heard that the Romans were preparing their fleet, and were
intending to sail once more against
Libya, they set about
shipbuilding also, partly repairing old vessels and partly constructing new. Before very long they had manned and
launched two hundred ships, and were on the watch for the
coming of their enemies.
B. C. 255. Coss. Ser. Fulvius Paetinus Nobilior, M. Aemilius Paullus. |
By the beginning of
the summer the Romans had launched three
hundred and fifty vessels. They put them
under the command of the Consuls Marcus
Aemilius and Servius Fulvius, and despatched
them. This fleet coasted along
Sicily; made for
Libya;
and having fallen in with the Carthaginian squadron off Hermaeum, at once charged and easily turned them to flight;
captured a hundred and fourteen with their crews, and having taken on board their men who had maintained themselves in
Libya, started from Aspis on their return voyage
to
Sicily.
