[Illustration:  The army of Regulus destroying the serpent.]

20.  A battle ensued, in which Carthage was once more defeated, and 17,000 of its best troops were cut off.  This fresh victory contributed to throw them into the utmost despair; for more than eighty of their towns submitted to the Romans. 21.  In this distress, the Carthagin’ians, destitute of generals at home, were obliged to send to Lacedae’mon, offering the command of their armies to Xantip’pus, a general of great experience, who undertook to conduct them.

22.  This general began by giving the magistrates proper instructions for levying their men; he assured them that their armies were hitherto overthrown, not by the strength of the enemy, but by the ignorance of their own commanders; he, therefore, required a ready obedience to his orders, and assured them of an easy victory. 23.  The whole city seemed once more revived from despondence by the exhortations of a single stranger, and soon from hope grew into confidence. 24.  This was the spirit the Grecian general wished to excite in them; so that when he saw them thus ripe for the engagement, he joyfully took the field. 25.  The Lacedaemo’nian made the most skilful disposition of his forces; he placed his cavalry in the wings; he disposed the elephants at proper intervals, behind the line of the heavy-armed infantry, and bringing up the light-armed troops before, he ordered them to retire through the line of infantry, after they had discharged their weapons. 26.  At length both armies engaged; after a long and obstinate resistance the Romans were overthrown with dreadful slaughter, the greatest part of their army destroyed, and Reg’ulus himself taken prisoner. 27.  Several other distresses of the Romans followed soon after.  They lost their fleet in a storm, and Agrigen’tum, their principal town in Sicily, was taken by Karth’alo, the Carthagin’ian general.  They built a new fleet, which shared the fate of the former; for the mariners, as yet unacquainted with the Mediterranean shores, drove upon quicksands, and soon after the greater part perished in a storm.[2]

Questions for Examination.

1.  What did the Romans now desire?

2.  What state afforded them an opportunity for this purpose?

3.  Were their wishes gratified, and how?

4.  What measures did the Mamertines adopt?

5.  Did the Romans afford them the assistance they requested?

6.  Where was Carthage situated, and when was it built?

7.  Was it a powerful state?

8.  Had the Romans or the Carthaginians the means most likely to insure success?

9.  Were Rome and Carthage on an equal footing in other respects?

10.  Did the Romans attempt to overcome this obstacle?

11.  What assisted their endeavours?

12.  Who was their first naval commander, and what was his success?

13.  What were the means adopted to conquer Sicily?