As the Roman orator well said of Carthage: "She was a figure of brass with feet of clay"-- a noble and imposing object to the eye, but whom a vigourous push would level in the dust.

Rome, on the contrary, young and vigourous, was a people of warriors.

Every one of her citizens who was capable of bearing arms was a soldier.

The manly virtues were held in the highest esteem, and the sordid love of wealth had not as yet enfeebled her strength or sapped her powers.

Her citizens were men, indeed, ready to make any sacrifice for their country; and such being the case, her final victory over Carthage was a matter of certainty.
The news which afforded Malchus such delight was not viewed with the same unmixed satisfaction by the members of his family.