Treason of Abilyx
Here an event occurred which produced a decisive
note
change in their favour. When Hannibal was about to start
for Italy, from the Iberian towns whose loyalty
he suspected he took the sons of their leading
men as hostages, and placed them all in
Saguntum, because of the strength of that town and his confidence in the fidelity of those who were left in charge
of it. Now there was a certain Iberian there named Abilyx,
who enjoyed the highest character and reputation with his
countrymen, and was believed to be especially well disposed and
loyal to the Carthaginians. Seeing how affairs were going, and
believing that the fortune of the Romans was in the ascendant,
he formed in his own mind a scheme, worthy of an Iberian
and barbarian, for giving up the hostages. Convinced that
he might obtain a high place in the favour of Rome, if he
gave a proof of his fidelity at a critical moment, he made up
his mind to turn traitor to Carthage and put the hostages in
the hands of the Romans. He began his machinations by
addressing himself to Bostar, the Carthaginian general who had
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been despatched by Hasdrubal to prevent the Romans from
crossing the river, but, not venturing to do this, had retreated,
and was now encamped in the region of Saguntum next the sea.
To this man, who was of a guileless and gentle character, and
quite disposed to trust him, Abilyx now introduced the subject
of the hostages. He argued that "the Romans having now
crossed the Iber, the Carthaginians could no longer hold Iberia
by terror, but stood now in need of the good feeling of their
subjects: seeing then that the Romans had actually approached
Saguntum and were besieging it, and that the city was in
danger,—if he were to take the hostages and restore them to
their parents and cities, he would not only frustrate the
ambitious scheme of the Romans, who wished above all
things by getting possession of the hostages to have the credit
of doing this; but would also rouse a feeling of goodwill
towards Carthage in all the cities, for having taken thought for
the future and provided for the safety of the hostages. He
would, too, much enhance the favour by personally managing
this business: for if he restored these boys to their homes, he
would provoke the gratitude, not only of their parents, but of
the people at large also, by giving a striking instance of the
magnanimous policy of Carthage towards her allies. He
might even expect large rewards for himself from the families
that recovered their children; for all those, who thus unexpectedly got into their hands the dearest objects of their
affection, would vie with each other in heaping favours on the
author of such a service." By these and similar arguments
he persuaded Bostar to fall in with his proposals.
