Estimate of Hannibal
Of all that befell the Romans and Carthaginians, good
or bad, the cause was one man and one mind,—Hannibal.
For it is notorious that he managed the Italian campaigns in
person, and the Spanish by the agency of the elder of his
brothers, Hasdrubal, and subsequently by that of Mago, the
leaders who killed the two Roman generals in
Spain about the
same time. Again, he conducted the Sicilian campaign at
first through Hippocrates and afterwards through Myttonus
1
the Libyan. So also in
Greece and Illyria: and, by brandishing before their faces the dangers arising from these latter
places, he was enabled to distract the attention of the Romans,
thanks to his understanding with Philip. So great and wonderful is the influence of a Man, and a mind duly fitted by
original constitution for any undertaking within the reach of
human powers.
But since the position of affairs has brought us to an
inquiry into the genius of Hannibal, the occasion seems to
me to demand that I should explain in regard to him the
peculiarities of his character which have been especially the
subject of controversy. Some regard him as having been
extraordinarily cruel, some exceedingly grasping of money.
But to speak the truth of him, or of any person engaged in
public affairs, is not easy. Some maintain that men's real
natures are brought out by their circumstances, and that they
are detected when in office, or as some say when
in misfortunes, though they have up to that time
completely maintained their secrecy.
I, on the
contrary, do not regard this as a sound dictum. For I think
that men in these circumstances are compelled, not only
occasionally but frequently, either by the suggestions of friends
or the complexity of affairs, to speak and act contrary to their
real principles.
