The announcement of this success at
Rome was received with extreme delight; not so much at the blow inflicted
on the enemy by the loss of their elephants, as at the confidence
inspired in their own troops by a victory over these animals. With
their confidence thus restored, the Roman government recurred
to their original plan of sending out the Consuls upon this service
with a fleet and naval forces; for they were eager, by all means
in their power, to put a period to the war. Accordingly, in
the fourteenth year of the war, the supplies necessary for
the despatch of the expedition were got ready, and the Consuls set sail for
Sicily with two hundred ships.
B. C. 250. C. Caecilius Regulus II., L. Manlius Vulso II. |
They dropped anchor at
Lilybaeum; and the
army having met them there, they began to
besiege it by sea and land. Their view was
that if they could obtain possession of this
town they would have no difficulty in transferring the seat
of war to
Libya. The Carthaginian leaders were of the same
opinion, and entirely agreed with the Roman view of the value
of the place. They accordingly subordinated everything else
to this; devoted themselves to the relief of the place at all
hazards; and resolved to retain this town at any sacrifice: for
now that the Romans were masters of all the rest of
Sicily,
except
Drepana, it was the only foothold they had left in the
island.
To understand my story a knowledge of the topography of
the district is necessary. I will therefore endeavour in a few
words to convey a comprehension to my readers of its
geographical position and its peculiar advantages.
