TRUE STORIES. BY THE AUTHORESS OF ALWAYS HAPPY.' ABOUT HANNIBAL AND SCIPIO. No. III. HANNIBAL was the son of Hamilcar, a famous Carthaginian general. Like most other great men, he was capable of bearing great fatigue and hardship, heat and cold, good and bad fortune, without shrinking or complaining. His dress was simple, and he never indulged his appetite; he ate, drank, and slept, only so much as to support his body, and give him strength and ability to perform the intentions of his mighty mind. He knew how to obey, as well as to command; yet his defects are said to have been as prominent as his excellences. He was cruel, negligent of his truth and honour, and inattentive to the duties of religion. This is the character given of him by Livy, a Roman historian, who perhaps did not speak impartially of this enemy of Rome. When you have read an account of his actions, you will judge how far Livy may be credited. Hannibal took the city of Saguntum in Spain, and this place, being considered as an ally of the Romans, caused the second Punic war. The two nations therefore began to make preparations for attacking each other. It is recorded, that Hamilcar made his son Hannibal, at nine years old, take a solemn oath at the altar, that he would as soon as possible declare himself the enemy of Rome : he was therefore prompt and anxious in providing men and arms. Open the map, and mark the progress of the Carthaginian general: crossing the sea from Africa to Europe, then marching through Spain, and over the Pyrenean hills to Gaul, along the coast of Gaul, and over the snow-topped Alps to Italy; a land journey of one thousand miles. Observe too that he passed thro' various barbarous nations, with most of of whom he had to fight for a passage; the Gauls amongst the rest attempting to oppose his progress. Hannibal was only twenty-six years old when he began this wonderful enterprise ; and it was against the most powerful people then existing. Several Roman generals of approved talent and valour opposed him; yet you will see how nearly he was on the point of making himself master of Rome itself. At the celebrated battle of Cannæ, B. C. 216, the Carthaginians totally routed a fine Roman army under the command of their consuls. Varro, one of them, gave orders for battle, against the wish of his colleague, Paulus Emilius; but, the encounter once begun, Emilius fought with his utmost skill and bravery, and died covered with wounds. Just before his death he was found sitting on a stone faint and streaming with blood. The soldier who discovered him besought him to mount his horse, and put himself under his protection. No,' said Emilius, 'I thank you heartily, but I will not clog you with my sinking frame go, hasten to Rome; tell the Senate of this day's disaster, and bid them fortify the city, for the enemy are approaching it. I will die with my slaughtered soldiers, that I may neither suffer the indignation of Rome myself, nor be called upon to give testimony against my colleague to prove my own innocence.' With these noble sen 6 timents on his lips, the intrepid consul expired. It has been frequently said, that if Hannibal had marched to Rome directly after the battle of Canna, he would certainly have taken that city; but at this distance of time, it must be very difficult to judge of what could, and what could not, have been done. Even when commenting on the battles that occur in our own times, we ought to speak with great diffidence. It is very easy for persons, sitting in safety and comfort, in a peaceful and protected home, to talk of what they would do. The most admired antagonist of Hannibal was Scipio, surnamed Africanus, from his successful engagements in Africa. When very young he saved the life of his father in a battle; and, after the fatal overthrow at Cannæ, he rallied around him a few spirited youths, and made a vow to fight for his country whilst a drop of blood remained in his veins ; then, fiercely drawing his sword, he exclaimed, Whoever is against Rome this sword is against him!' เ It was Scipio who advised that the Romans should force the Carthaginians to quit Italy by carrying the war into Africa. He himself headed the troops sent against Carthage; and, just as he had predicted, Hannibal was recalled in great haste to protect his native city. Thus, after suffering sixteen years under the dread of an invading foe, who threatened their freedom, the Romans saw themselves ing mastered. delivered from the apprehensions of be- lowing year were sufficiently hard, and their hatred of Hannibal was bitter and constant. Hannibal and Scipio had an interesting interview, in which Hannibal in vain strove to procure honorable terms of peace. The youthful Roman answered hini proudly and disdainfully, and the armies prepared for battle. The decisive contest took place at Zama, a town not far from Carthage, and the troops of that wealthy city were entirely defeated, B.C. 202. The terms of peace granted by the Romans in the fol Hannibal did not lose his life at Zama, but he lived to lament that he had not lost it honorably there; for the Romans hunted him from place to place, till at last the brave and unfortunate fugitive took poison. 'Let us relieve the Romans of their fears,' said he, by closing the existence of a feeble old man.' He died at seventy years of age, at the court of Pru sias, king of Bithynia. A NEW HISTORY OF ENGLAND HENRY THE FIRST. FOR CHILDREN. HENRY was hunting in another part of the New Forest, when William II. died, and instead of feeling sorrow for his brother, he rode off to Winchester in a great hurry to get the royal treasure, and in three days after he was crowned king of England. He had no right to the throne; it belonged to his elder brother Robert. He tried to please the people by promising to be very kind to them; just like many other chief rulers, who in order to get into power, either as kings or presidents, promise to love the dear people, to redress all their grievances, retrench the expenses of government, and reform all manner of abuses. But Henry, after he had reigned a little while, treated his subjects very unkindly. When he was a little boy he was very industrious at his lessons, and after he became a man he was so fond of reading, that he was called Beauclerc, which is the French for good scholar; but I do not wish my dear children to be wise altogether in the things of this world if they are not wise unto salvation. I am ashamed to tell you of his cruel by the mast, and was picked up the next morning by some fishermen ; for the accident happened quite close to the shore. For a long time every one was afraid to tell the king; at last they sent a little boy into the room to tell him. Henry fainted away and fell to the ground. His courtiers came in and lifted him up, but as long as he lived he was never seen to smile again. ty to his brother Robert. He put him into prison and burnt out his eyes with red-hot copper cups. It is true, Robert had been very disobedient to his father, and in the Bible it is said, 'the eye that mocketh at his father, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out;' but that was no excuse for Henry. Robert was once very kind to him, when Henry was in a castle and Robert and William were fighting E against him, Henry would have died of O yes! he was very unhappy; he had thirst had not Robert sent him some wine. been so wicked that he knew no one There was only one person in the could love him, and he was always afraid world that Henry cared for, and that was that his servants would murder him. He William his son, and he took him to often changed his bed that no one might Normandy to make the French promise know where he slept. Guards were set that the young prince should be king af- to watch all night at the door of his chamter his death. When he returned home, ber; he always kept a sword under his the prince did not sail in the vessel with pillow, and was afraid to indulge in sound the king, but followed after in another, sleep even then. The Scripture says, with his sister and one hundred and for- 'He that is cruel troubleth his own flesh,' ty young noblemen. They spent the and I am sure we might say so of poor whole day in feasting, dancing and drink- Henry. Who would not pity such a being wine, for they were lovers of plea- "ing, even if there were no other world? sure more than lovers of God,' and at night they ran the ship on a rock, and in a few minutes she was filled with water. The captain hurried the prince into a boat, and he might have been saved, but his sister screamed and entreated him to come back for her, and the moment the boat reached the side of the vessel such numbers leaped in that it sunk to the bottom. The captain clung to the broken pieces of the vessel for a while, but when he heard that the prince was dead he drowned himself. The only person who was saved was a butcher, who held fast 6 He died in France, of a fever brought on by eating too much of a dish of lampreys one evening when he returned from hunting. HENRY THE FIRST, CALLED BEAUCLERC. Character-Wise in the wisdom of this world, but he had not the wisdom which is from above; he was unfeeling, deceitful and ungrateful. Right to the throne-Usurper; he was brother to William second, but Robert → should have reigned before him. Death-In France, 1135, of a fever, by eating too much of a fish supper. Possessions-England and Normandy. Line-Norman. Children-William, who was drowned, and Maud or Matilda, mother of Henry second. He had besides, ten other children called illegitimate, two of whom were drowned with William. Remarkable events-Use of fire and candles after eight o'clock at night restored to the English. A plague in London. The Thames dry for three days. The order of the Knights Templars founded. London mostly destroyed by fire. In this reign, wheat sufficient to subsist an hundred men one day, sold for a shilling, and a sheep could be had for four pence. LITERARY CURIOSITY. The lovers of the pure as well as the classic, will be amused by the following precious bit of Dog Latin, and the ingenious translation. The Latin is an ‹ Address to the Sea,' and the English an' Address to Mary.'—N Y.Amer. TONIS AD RESTO MARE. O Mare, æva si forme, Forme ure tonitru, Iambecum as amandum, O let Hymen promptu, Mihi his vetas an ne se, As humano erebi ; O let mecum marito te, Or Eta, Beta, Pi. Alas! plano more meretrix, Mi ardo vel uno ; Inferiam ure arte is base; Tolerat me urebo. To laudu vimen thus ; Illuc Ionicus. TONY'S ADDRESS TO MARY. O Mary, heave a sigh for me, I am become as a man dumb, As you may know hereby ; Alas! play no more merry tricks, Ah me! ve are a silly set, To laud you vimen thus ; I hate you as a random sex, A very vafer here I sigh, My eye resolves in dew, To tie us, O let Hymen come Accept a Tony true. ? ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN AUG. NO.-p. 241. Parchment deed.-p.246. Hat. |