Book 36
8
Hamilcar PhameasPhameas was afterwards persuaded by Massanissa to join the Romans. Livy, Ep. 50. was the general of the Hamilcar Phameas, the commander of the Punic cavalry. Appian, Pun. 100. Carthaginians, a man in the very prime of life and of great physical strength. What is of the utmost importance too for service in the field, he was an excellent and bold horseman. . . .
8
When he saw the advanced guard, Phameas, though not at all deficient in courage, avoided coming to close quarters with Scipio: and on one occasion when he had come near his reserves, he got behind the cover of the brow of a hill and halted there a considerable time. . . .
8
The Roman maniples fled to the top of a hill; and when all had given their opinions, Scipio said, When men are consulting what measures to take at first, their object should be to avoid disaster rather than to inflict it.The incident referred to is narrated in Appian. Punica, 103. Scipio relieved this body of men, who were beleaguered on the top of a hill, by a rapid and bold movement of his cavalry. . . .
8
It ought not to excite surprise that I amPolybius’s personal knowledge of Scipio. more minute than usual in my account of Scipio and that I give in detail everything which he said. . . .
