Page 686 But Excess of Fear leaving no room for due and serious Consideration, Horror and Amazement fill'd the whole Camp, and all of them took to their Heels: And the Africans being presently mix'd among them, (the Night causing the Mistake) every one oppos'd him that he met, as an Enemy, and being all the Night long dispers'd here and there, and wandering up and down in a Panick Fear, there perish'd of them above Four thousand: The rest (with much ado at length coming to understand the Mistake) return'd safe to their Camp. And in this manner both Armies deceiv'd by the Vanity of War, (as the common Proverb is) fell into miserable Disasters. After which Missortune, being now deserted by the Africans, and having not sufficient Forces lest to contend with the Carthaginians, he resolv'd to leave Africa: But he thought it impossible to transport the Soldiers with him, because he both wanted Shipping, and heard that the Carthaginians were Masters at Sea, and lay to intercept his Passage: And he concluded, the Barbarians (whose Forces far exceeded his) would never make Peace with him; but rather cut off every Man of them that first set footing upon Africa, to deterr all others for the future from the like Attempt. He determin'd therefore to slip away privately with a few, and take along with him his younger Son Heraclides; for he fear'd lest his Son Archagathus, being a daring Man, and one that had been too familiar with his Stepmother, would plot something against his Life: But Archagathus smelling out his Design, resolv'd to discover the Matter to those Captains and Officers as should be able to defeat him in his Contivance, and to that purpose strictly observ'd his Motions: For he look'd upon it as a base and unworthy Thing, that he who had undergone a good part of the Toils and Hazards of the War for the sake of his Father and Brother, should be now left alone as a Prey to the Enemy, without all Hopes of Deliverance. He inform'd therefore some of the Captains and most considerable Officers of the intended Departure of Agathocles and his Companions the next night: Whereupon all the Body forthwith made up to him, and not on • y put a stop to his Voyage, but acquainted the common Soldiers how the Plot was laid; who being both griev'd and enrag'd together, laid hold on him and bound him, and so committed him to custody. An Anarchy following hereupon, there was nothing but Tumult and Confusion throughout all the Camp: And when Night came on, a Rumour was spread over the Camp, that the Enemy was just falling in amongst them: Upon which, all were so possess'd with a Panick Fear, that having none to Command them, every one was preparing to get away; at which very time, they that had the Custody of the Prince, (in as great a Consternation as the rest,) thought that some or other call'd them forth; who thereupon came out with Agathocles in his Chains along with them; at which fight, the whole Army were so affected with Pity and Compassion, that they cry'd out, Unloose him, let him go.
Being freed from his Chains, he presently after with a small Attendance stole away, and took Shipping about the beginning of October, in the Night in Winter-time, and away he got. And thus to preserve himself, forsook his Children; whom the Soldiers presently, upon the News of their Father's Flight, knock'd on the Head; and then chose Captains from among themselves, and made Peace with the Carthaginians upon these Conditions, viz.
The greatest part of the Soldiers, who were faithful to what they had agreed, had all as faithfully perform'd to them: But those Cities and Towns that held out in Hopes and Expectations of Relief from Agathocles, were all taken by force of Arms; whose several Governors the Carthaginians crucifi'd, and the rest they bound in Chains, and employ'd them to Till, and Repair by their own Labours, those Parts of the Country that they had before wasted and destroy'd. And thus the Carthaginians, after they had been harrass'd and vext with a Four Years War, recover'd their former Peace and Liberty.
In this Expedition of Agathocles into Africa, any one may observe most remarkable Accidents, and the Divine Providence in the Punishment inflicted upon his Sons. For being routed in Sicily, he lost the greatest part of his Army: A little time after he overcame the Conquerors with a very inconsiderable Body of Men in Africa. In Sicily, being thrown out of all the Cities, he was coop'd up by a close Siege within the Walls of Syracuse: In Africa, he gain'd all the Towns, except Carthage, and closely besieg'd the Carthaginians in that City; by which, Fortune seem'd to make it her Business, to let every one see what Power she had to retrieve those Things that seem'd to be in a desperate Condition. But after that Agathocles, in the height of his Prosperity, had murder'd Opellas, against all the Laws of Friendship and Hospitality; God made it manifestly apparent
The Histories of Herodotus written in 440 BC is considered to be the founding work of history in Western literature. His history included stories and fables but he claimed to have traveled extensively and learned about many countries through direct observation.
The thesis of Stolen Legacy is that the Egyptians created what is wrongly called Greek philosophy. Dr. James argues that the African origin of Greek Philosophy is well known but rarely discussed. Ancient Greek historians such as Herodotus and Diodorus the Sicilian wrote in significant detail about the contributions of Egypt. Egyptian technology and libraries were unmatched and Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato studied there. The contribution of Africa to the intellectual foundation of modern knowledge is tremendous but unacknowledged.
The Library of History by Diodorus the Sicilian is one of the most highly regarded universal histories in antiquities. His work includes the history of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece and Europe. His book is a must read for research of ancient history.
Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.