Hannibal's Oath
When, after his final defeat by the Romans, Hannibal
had at last quitted his country and was staying
at the court of Antiochus, the warlike attitude
of the Aetolian league induced the Romans to send ambassadors to Antiochus, that they might be informed of the king's
intentions. noteThese ambassadors found that Antiochus was inclined to the Aetolian alliance, and was eager for war with
Rome; they accordingly paid great court to
Hannibal with a view of bringing him into
suspicion with the king. And in this they entirely succeeded.
As time went on the king became ever more and more suspicious of Hannibal, until at length an opportunity occurred
for an explanation of the alienation that had been thus secretly
growing up between them. note Hannibal then defended himself
at great length, but without success, until at last he made the
following statement: "When my father was
about to go on his Iberian expedition I was
nine years old: and as he was offering the sacrifice to Zeus I
stood near the altar. The sacrifice successfully performed,
my father poured the libation and went through the
usual ritual. He then bade all the other worshippers stand a
little back, and calling me to him asked me affectionately
whether I wished to go with him on his expedition. Upon
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my eagerly assenting, and begging with boyish enthusiasm to
be allowed to go, he took me by the right hand and led me up
to the altar, and bade me lay my hand upon the victim and
swear that I would never be friends with Rome. So long,
then, Antiochus, as your policy is one of hostility to Rome,
you may feel quite secure of having in me a most thoroughgoing supporter. But if ever you make terms or friendship
with her, then you need not wait for any slander to make you
distrust me and be on your guard against me; for there is
nothing in my power that I would not do against her."
