Diodorus Siculus

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Page 781 free from the War sent the Hostages not without great Lamentation. Afterwards they came to Utica; and the Carthaginians again sent Ambassadors to ask what further commands the Romans would lay upon 'em; when the Consuls told them they must deliver up their Arms and Engines without fraud, they at first (because of the War against Asdrubal) took it heavily, however they brought in 200000 Arms of all sorts, and 2000 Engines. Afterwards the Romans sent again to the Carthaginians Commands, to send some Persons of their Senate to whom they would declare their further Commands, and accordingly they sent Thirty of the Noblest. Manilius the Senior Consul told 'em that it was the Senates Pleasure they should leave the City they Inhabited, and build another Eighty Furlongs distant from the Sea: But the Ambassadors crying out for Mercy & Compassion, all of them cast themselves to the Ground, uttering many lamentable Complaints with Tears, upon which great confusion was rais'd in the Assembly: And when the Carthaginians were a little recover'd out of their Consternation, one only, Named Blannus delivering himself in the natural Language of the Auditory, Debated the matter with great Heat and Earnestness, attended with an undaunted Presence of Mind, which mov'd the Auditors to Pity and Commiseration.

28. The Romans being unmovable in their Decrees, as to the Razing of Carthage, the Senate commanded them forthwith to depart to Carthage, and to declare to the Citizens what things were Decreed; but some of the Ambassadors refusing to return to their Country, fled each of them where ever they could; the rest chusing rather to return, went home, having thus finish'd a doleful Embassy. When the People came thronging together to meet 'em, they gave 'em never a Word, but beating their heads, and stretching out their hands, and invocating their Gods, they went on to the Court, and inform'd the Senate what things were commanded.

29. The Arradians supposing they had got an opportunity to destroy those of Marathum, sent privately to Ammonius Viceroy of the Kingdom, and with a Bribe of 300 Talents, prevail'd with him to deliver up Marathum, whereupon Ammonius sent Isadore to the Marathonians, who by his speech was to pretend some other matters, but in truth went to seize upon the City, and to deliver it up to the Arradians. The Marathonians being ignorant that they were design'd for Destruction, yet observing how that the Arradians were higher in the Kings Favour than themselves, refus'd the Kings Soldiers Entrance into their City, and resolved to make their Addresses as Supplicants to the Arradians. They forthwith therefore sent Ten of the most Eminent of their eldest Citizens, as Ambassadors to Arradus, who brought with them a humble Address and Supplication, and the oldest Images of their Gods, which they had in their City, hoping that upon the account of their kindred, and mov'd with Reverence to their Gods, the Arradians would be appeas'd, and their anger diverted. As soon as they landed according to the Commands given, they addressed themselves as Supplicants to the People: But the Arradians Blood being up, they slighted the usual and common Laws of Supplicants, and cast off all Reverence of their kindreds Images, and their Gods, and therefore broke the Images, and trampled them most shamefully under their Feet, and attempted to Stone the Ambassadors; but some of the Senators interposing themselves between 'em and the rage of the People (scarce restrain'd from stoning them, notwithstanding the Reverence they ow'd the Senators) commanded 'em to be convey'd to Prison.—

The Numantines and Termisians sent Ambassadors to the Romans, to treat of a Peace, which was granted to them upon these Conditions, that they should deliver up each their Cities to the Romans, 300 Hostages, 900 Soldiers Coates, 300 Hides, 800 War-Horses, and all their Armes, and they should be Friends and Allies to the Romans. There being a day appointed for the performance of these Conditions by the Cities, all was done according to the Articles, but when at last it came to the delivering up of their Arms, there a rose a certain Generous Regret and Lamentation, and a couragious Resolution in the Populacy to regain their Liberties. Therefore they were angry one at another they should ever consent, that they should like Women strip themselves of their Arms. Wherefore repenting of those things that were decreed, the Fathers accus'd their Sons, Children their Parents, and Women their Husbands, and so coming to themselves again, resolving not to deliver up their Arms, they renew'd the War against the Romans.

31. Tryphon, of a private Man being made King, hasted all he could to establish the Government in himself, by a decree of the Senate: Wherefore preparing a golden Medal of Victory weighing 10000 Crowns, he sent Ambassadors to Rome, to present it to the People, not doubting but that he should obtain from them the Compellation of King, considering the Present which he sent was not only very rich in it self, but such whose Name carried along with it the happy Prognostication of Victory. But he found the Senate


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