A few, and nearly every one of the highest merit, concurred with Hanno; but,
as usually happens, the more numerous party prevailed over the better. Hannibal,
having been sent into Spain, from his very first arrival drew the eyes of the
whole army upon him. The veteran soldiers imagined that Hamilcar, in his youth,
was restored to them; they remarked the same vigour in his looks and animation
in his eye the same features and expression of countenance; and then, in a short
time, he took care that his father should be of the least powerful consideration
in conciliating their esteem. There never was a genius more fitted for the two
most opposite duties of obeying and commanding; so that you could not easily
decide whether he were dearer to the general or the army: and neither did Hasdrubal
prefer giving the command to any other, when any thing was to be done with courage
and activity; nor did the soldiers feel more confidence and boldness under any
other leader. His fearlessness in encountering dangers, and his prudence when
in the midst of them, were extreme. His body could not be exhausted, nor his
mind subdued, by any toil. He could alike endure either heat or cold. The quantity
of his food and drink was determined by the wants of nature, and not by pleasure.
The seasons of his sleeping and waking were distinguished neither by day nor
night. The time that remained after the transaction of business was given to
repose; but that repose was neither invited by a soft bed nor by quiet. Many
have seen him wrapped in a military cloak, lying on the ground amid the watches
and outposts of the soldiers. His dress was not at all superior to that of his
equals: his arms and his horses were conspicuous. He was at once by far the
first of the cavalry and infantry; and, foremost to advance to the charge, was
last to leave the engagement. Excessive vices counterbalanced these high virtues
of the hero; inhuman cruelty, more than Punic perfidy, no truth, no reverence
for things sacred, no fear of the gods, no respect for oaths, no sense of religion.
With a character thus made up of virtue and vices, he served for three years
under the command of Hasdrubal, without neglecting any thing which ought to
be done or seen by one who was to become a great general.
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