Livy Book 21

Though I mentioned it before in this part of my work, which in the beginning of the total summary of my profession which for the most part I was writing, especially about every memorable war by which route and how they carried it about, that Hannibal led the Carthaginians carried out a war with the Roman people. For it is certain that no cities nor nations have thrown against one another arms with only his great supply or strength; And by no means were they unknown to the arts of war but were experts from the first Punic confrontation, and to that point the fortunes by Mars of the conquerors were the ones closest to peril. Yet their hate against the other was unlike the rivalry of any kind, the Romans were indignant as the conquered had taken up arms against the conquerors, The Carthaginians (Poeni) were upset with the imperious pride by which the conquerors conducted themselves about. Yet Hannibal was nine years old when he boyishly flattered his father Hamlicar to lead him to Spain, and when sacrifices were given during the end of the war in Africa, Hannibal was led to the alter and made to swear an oath with his hand touching the sacrifice that when able to, to destroy the people of Rome. The loss of Sardinia and Sicily wearied his spirit: But now the cession of Sicily had been made excessively in speed and Sardinia had been affected by the deceit of the Romans in Africa, even this was imposed as I mentioned above was intercepted.