“The Histories (Book I)” (Chap. 79)

1 About the same time the mercenaries who garrisoned Sardinia, emulous of the exploits of Mathos and Spendius, attacked the Carthaginians in the island.

2 They began by shutting up in the citadel and putting to death Bostar, the commander of the foreign contingent, and his compatriots.

3 Next, when the Carthaginians sent Hanno over in command of a fresh force, this force deserted him.

4 and joined the mutineers, who thereupon took him prisoner and at once crucified him. After this, devising the most exquisite torments, they tortured and murdered all the Carthaginians in the island, and when they had got all the towns into their power.

5 continued to hold forcible possession of Sardinia, until they quarrelled with the natives, and were driven out by them to Italy.

6 Thus was Sardinia lost to the Carthaginians, an island of great extent, most thickly populated and most fertile.

7 Most authors have described it at length, and I do not think it necessary to repeat statements which no one disputes.

8 Mathos and Spendius, as well as the Gaul Autaritus, were apprehensive of the effect of Hamilcar's leniency to the prisoners, fearing that the Libyans and the greater part of the mercenaries might thus be won over and hasten to avail themselves of the proffered immunity. They therefore set themselves to devise some infamous crime which would make the hatred of the troops for Carthage more savage.

9 They decided to call a general meeting and at this they introduced a letter-bearer supposed to have been sent by their confederates in Sardinia.

10 The letter advised them to keep careful guard over Gesco and all the others whom they had, as above narrated, treacherously arrested at Tunis, since some persons in the camp were negotiating with the Carthaginians about their release.

11 Spendius, seizing on this pretext, begged them in the first place to have no reliance on the Carthaginian general's reported clemency to the prisoners.

12 "It is not," he said, " with the intention of sparing their lives that he has taken this course regarding his captives, but by releasing them he designs to get us into his power, so that he may take vengeance not on some, but on all of us who trust him."

13 Moreover, he warned them to take care lest by giving up Gesco and the others they incur the contempt of their enemies and seriously damage their own situation by allowing to escape them so able a man and so good a general, who was sure to become their most formidable enemy.

14 He had not finished his speech when in came another post supposed to be from Tunis with a message similar to that from Sardinia.