“The Histories (Book I)” (Chap. 84)

1 But Mathos and Spendius were just as much in the position of besieged as of besiegers.

2 Hamilcar had reduced them to such straits for supplies that they were finally forced to raise the siege.

3 A short time afterwards, collecting a picked force of mercenaries and Libyans to the number of about fifty thousand and including Zarzas the Libyan and those under his command, they tried again their former plan of marching in the open parallel to the enemy and keeping a watch on Hamilcar.

4 They avoided level ground, as they were afraid of the elephants and Naravas' horse, but they kept on trying to anticipate the enemy in occupying positions on the hills and narrow passes.

5 In this campaign they were quite equal to the enemy in terms of assault and enterprise, but were often worsted owing to their want of tactical skill.

6 This was, it seems, an opportunity for seeing by the light of actual fact, how much the methods gained by experience and the skill of a general, differ from a soldier's inexperience in the art of war and mere unreasoning routine.

7 For in many partial engagements, Hamilcar, like a good draughtplayer, by cutting off and surrounding large numbers of the enemy, destroyed them without their resisting.

8 While in the more general battles he would sometimes inflict large loss by enticing them into unsuspected ambuscades and sometimes throw them into panic by appearing when they least expected it by day or by night. All those he captured were thrown to the elephants.

9 Finally, taking them by surprise and encamping opposite to them in a position unfavourable for action on their part but favouring his own strong point — generalship — he brought them to such a pass, that not daring to risk a battle and unable to escape, as they were entirely surrounded by a trench and palisade, they were at last driven by famine to eat each other —

10 A fitting retribution at the hands of Providence for their violation of all law human and divine in their treatment of their neighbours.

11 They did not venture to march out and do battle, as they were faced by the certainty of defeat and condign punishment for all captured, and they did not even think of asking for terms, as they had their evil deeds on their conscience.

12 Always expecting the relief from Tunis that their leaders continued to promise them, there was no crime against themselves that they scrupled to commit.