“It is incumbent upon us, the rulers and aristocracy of this great city, my son, to show ourselves superior to the common herd.  They must recognize that we are not only richer and of better blood, but that we are stronger, wiser, and more courageous than they.  So, only, can we expect them to obey us, and to make the sacrifices which war entails upon them.  It is not enough that we are of pure Phoenician blood, that we come of the most enterprising race the world has ever seen, while they are but a mixed breed of many people who have either submitted to our rule or have been enslaved by us.

“This was well enough in the early days of the colony when it was Phoenician arms alone that won our battles and subdued our rivals.  In our days we are few and the populace are many.  Our armies are composed not of Phoenicians, but of the races conquered by us.  Libya and Numidia, Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain, all in turn conquered by us, now furnish us with troops.

“Carthage is a mighty city, but it is no longer a city of Phoenicians.  We form but a small proportion of the population.  It is true that all power rests in our hands, that from our ranks the senate is chosen, the army officered, and the laws administered, but the expenses of the state are vast.  The conquered people fret under the heavy tributes which they have to pay, and the vile populace murmur at the taxes.

“In Italy, Rome looms greater and more powerful year by year.  Her people are hardy and trained to arms, and some day the struggle between us and her will have to be fought out to the death.  Therefore, my son, it behooves us to use every effort to make ourselves worthy of our position.  Set before yourself the example of your cousin Hannibal, who, young as he is, is already viewed as the greatest man in Carthage.  Grudge no hardship or suffering to harden your frame and strengthen your arms.

“Some day you too may lead armies in the field, and, believe me, they will follow you all the better and more cheerfully if they know that in strength and endurance, as well as in position, their commander is the foremost man in his army.”

Malchus had been an apt pupil, and had done justice to the pains which his father had bestowed upon him and to the training he had undergone.  He could wield the arms of a man, could swim the coldest river, endure hardship and want of food, traverse long distances at the top of his speed, could throw a javelin with unerring aim, and send an arrow to the mark as truly as the best of the Libyan archers.

“The sun is going down fast, father,” the lad said, “the shadows are lengthening and the heat is declining.”

“We have only your word for the decline of the heat, Malchus,” one of the younger men laughed; “I feel hotter than ever.  This is the fifteenth time that you have been to the door of the tent during the last half hour.  Your restlessness is enough to give one the fever.”