They, therefore, took the earliest opportunity of breaking the treaty, and besieged Sagun'tum, a city of Spain, which had been in alliance with Rome; and, though desired to desist, prosecuted their operations with vigour.18.Ambassadors were sent, in consequence, from Rome to Carthage, complaining of the infraction of their articles, and required that Han'nibal, the Carthagin'ian general, who had advised this measure, should be delivered up: which being refused, both sides prepared for a second Punic war.
19.

The Carthaginians trusted the management of it to Han'nibal.

20.
This extraordinary man had been made the sworn foe of Rome, almost from his infancy; for, while yet very young, his father brought him before the altar, and obliged him to take an oath, that he would never be in friendship with the Romans, nor desist from opposing their power, until he or they should be no more.21.On his first appearance in the field, he united in his own person the most masterly method of commanding, with the most perfect obedience to his superiors.

Thus he was equally beloved by his generals, and the troops he was appointed to lead.22.He was possessed of the greatest courage in opposing danger, and the greatest presence of mind in retiring from it.

No fatigue was able to subdue his body, nor any misfortune to break his spirit; he was equally patient of heat and cold, and he took sustenance merely to content nature, not to delight his appetite.
He was the best horseman and the swiftest runner, of the time.