"Towards the end of the Third Century, two great powers were struggling for mastery of the Mediterranean:" "Rome and Carthage." "From the very beginning, the rivalry between the two nations became a dramatic life and death battle for both peoples concerned." "For decades the two hostile powers fought each other without mercy, in a long series of inconclusive battles, until at last it seemed that Carthage would win the final victory." "In fact, in the year 218 B.C., Hannibal invaded the Italian peninsula from the Alps, with a vast army of men and elephants, leaving behind him a trail of death and destruction." "In vain Rome attempted to resist his unrelenting advance." "One by one, Rome's finest armies were destroyed in the battles of Ticinus," "Trebbia, and the Lake of Trasimene" "The road to Rome lay open before Hannibal, and he settled in Italy as if he already owned it." "Making one last desperate effort, Rome assembles another army." "But on the second of August in the year 216 B.C., fifty thousand Roman soldiers were massacred on the plains of Cannae." " Avenge the dead of Cannae!" "Everyone says that Scipio will appeal to the public." "Did you hear that, Cato?" "The Senat will use its authority to silence his ambitious talk." "After his victories in Spain his vision is clouded." "Many of his veteran soldiers are hidden among the crowd." " He intends to go to Africa." " Not if he isn't elected Council of Sicily." " He'll go anyway." " The law is still the law." "Africa is only for those Councils entrusted with governing Sicily." "Cato is right." " Your first time in Rome?" " Yes." " Where do you come from?" " From Arezzo." " From Arezzo, eh?" " Yeah." "I came to hear the speeches." "Well, between us, I'm really looking for something else..." " I tell you they're 500." " Only 500?" " I heard many more." "I have seen with my own eyes more than a thousand." " More volunteers?" " Yes, all volunteers." " From where, from where?" "Come closer, come closer, my very good friends." "Gather around and let me tell you of the wonders of this miraculous ointment." "It will make your aches and pain all disappear." "Do you think it will be good for making Hannibal disappear from Italy?" " Let me pass." " Where do you think you're going?" "I fought in the wars in Spain, so I should be allowed to see it all." "Mezio, I thought you were still in your vinyards." "Counting your grapes, eh?" " Do you think that Scipio is the only Roman general?" " With Scipio you always win." " Sure you do." "And who was it that kept back Hannibal?" "Who?" "We did!" "In Spain we were able to prevent Hasdrubal from helping Hannibal from advancing further." "At the cost of four armies." "Now, with Scipio as Consul, you win!" "Hannibal is not Hasdrubal." "You wanna bet your whole vinyard against my porkhouse that before" "Scipio's turn finishes as Sicilian Council, he will have won and thrown Hannibal out of Italy?" " Oh, bet him!" " Wanna bet?" " Well..." "Senators and Councilors, when I was 17 years old at Ticinus, when, by the gods' will, I saved my father from the Carthaginian cavalry, noone could have forced me to believe it true that 15 years later Hannibal would still be here in Italy." "The splendid military tactics of our former dictator Quintus Fabius Maximus and the heroic resistance of Rome certainly were a help against Hannibal when he was halted temporarily." "But they didn't rid us of him and his armies!" "It is time that Rome should be liberated forever from this terrible danger and I'm convinced more than ever, senators, that to obtain victory and to put an end to the war, there is no other choice than to invade Africa." "Even if Hannibal leaves Italy we will never see an end to the war as long as Carthage, the first and real aggressor, is not definitely and completely destroyed." "His ambitions will be his end." "Cato won't like this!" "Who among you wants to reply to Consul Publius Cornelius Scipio?" "No-one can suggest that I, my honoured colleagues, oppose the plan of our own valorous Consul merely out of envy." "But I say that my experience and my age makes me feel that this idea of a military invasion of Africa is audacious." "Primarily because I don't believe it's possible that Hannibal could be tricked into leaving Italy." "And also because it's madness for the Republic to send off all her soldiers." "It would be absolutely dangerous if they should all leave Rome and" "Hannibal should attack us." "Remember this, that before you make an aggressive act in a foreign land, you have to defend your own homeland first." "The safety and welfare of the Republic can't be entrusted to faith alone, or audacious courage." "Contrary to the expressed opinions of Quintus Publius Maximus, my fellow officers and I feel that it is not only reasonable, but necessary to carry the war into enemy territory rather than to surrender to them." "I will arrange things so that he must fight in his homeland where I'm prepared for the defeat and conquest of Carthage." "And the Mediterranean will be ours!" "Let our troubled Italy rest, finally!" "Let's bring the Roman insignia under the walls of Carthage, instead of having theirs under ours!" "Let Carthage feel the burden of a Roman army in its territory!" "Is it true, Scipio, that you will appeal to the people if we don't accept your plea?" "I will do what I think is best for the health of the Republic." "How many of you Senators are inclined to agree with his method of saving the Republic?" "It was Scipio who led our armies to the conquest of Spain, Cato!" "Yes, at the cost of four armies!" "It is only power that he is aiming for!" "He wants greater power for Rome!" "Abusing the faith of the people!" "There's no respect for the auhority of the Senate!" "Nothing can be argued anymore!" "If that were true, it would be the salvation of Rome!" "Senators, listen:" "Why don't we vote on it?" "No, let's draw lots for the provinces." "Most honored Senators, since the majority has decided to draw lots for the provinces, we'll proceed with the drawing." "On the condition that the Republic isn't obliged to support his army!" "They decided to draw lots!" "But why draw lots?" "Just give the command to Scipio!" "To Publius Cornelius Scipio:" "Sicily!" " Scipio was assigned to Sicily!" " We made it!" "We're going to Africa!" "The Republic will give neither a single soldier nor any money." " How about betting now, my friend?" " Sure, 'cause I'm sure of winning." "Make way for the Consul!" "Scipio, the veterans of your Spanish war are all with you!" " Scipio!" "Victory!" " We of Arezzo will forge your weapons!" "Yes!" "We will give you weapons!" "We of Tarquinia will give you ships!" "We of Volterra, sails!" "We will give you as much grain as you need!" "Victory, Scipio!" "We count on you, Scipio!" "Good luck!" "The all-powerful Hannibal, lord of victories, never refuses to see the Phoenician merchants." "Go." " Let's go." " The Numidean Cavalry is still in the camp." " I'm worn out!" " It's been a year since he paid us last." "O lord of victories, the Romans have so much faith in Scipio that they dared to put up for auction the land in which you made camp." "Hannibal will pay not only the back pay, but the promised bonus as well." "We're tired of waiting, we can't live off promises!" "We want to leave!" "The Carthaginian ships laden with gold will be here soon." "We've had enough!" "Enough!" "What is it?" "Several soldiers are threatening to leave the camp." "Round up the cavalry, quick!" "Wait here." "I have enough gold to pay twice as much of what you are owed." "Those of you who want to leave, put down your weapons and you will be paid." "Don't trust him." "They will be paid with the traitor's coin!" "Get ready to leave the encampment." "So you were saying that Scipio..." "In Sicily, Scipio is already gathering an army to bring war to Africa." "So he wants to play Hannibal in Carthage..." "Please grant that he returns victorious and unharmed." "While I'm away, take good care of Velia." "The Carthaginians are coming!" "The Carthaginians!" "What can we do, mistress?" "Keep moving!" "Hurry up!" "Stop it!" "All resistance is useless." "Here are some strong ones." "You won't even have to feed them." "Look at these muscles!" "Place her among the others." "My lady!" " Velia!" " Arunte!" "Instead of shining your shield you should sharpen your sword: you'll need it more!" "Cato was the choice of the Senate to go with the expedition to Africa as the Inspector General." "The 300 cavalry soldiers you asked for have arrived." "Beautiful horses." "A lot of equipment too." "But they're men trained more for parading than fighting." "You can dismiss them, but they're to leave their horses here, and their equipment." "In Syracuse people are protesting because the citizens of Rome, despite the orders of the Senate, have not yet returned the requisitioned goods." "You may tell the Sicilians that Rome intends to keep her word." "All material which was appropriated will be returned to them at once." "The grain here has run out." "We must start using the reserves from Rome." "Are you sure that tomorrow there will be enough?" "And the veterans of Cannae?" "Not a single one has enlisted." "They'll be used to make the soldiers' weapons." "Come on, you idlers!" "Give some help at the bellows, at least." "No!" "Hasn't it been enough to give us barley instead of wheat for 8 years?" "And making us do the humblest jobs, just because we didn't die at Cannae?" "As if this didn't count!" "And now even the humiliation of forging weapons for others." "Keeping us here, as if we were traitors." "We're not slaves!" "We're soldiers!" "I was in Cannae myself." "My horse had been killed, my spear broken." "A Numidian jumped on me." "I pulled my sword..." "like that!" "On guard, Curzio!" "To the belly!" "To the flank!" "Come on!" "Hit him!" "Nice one!" "One wouldn't say that you've been out of practice for 8 years." "Good!" "Really good!" "It's the volunteers." "They are gathering to take the oath." "And they had to come here, of all places!" "Quick!" "Pick up the weapons." "Let's hurry before the Consul gets here." "It's Scipio and his volunteers!" "Let's go and see them." "C'mon!" " They have arrived?" " Yes, they are many." "A whole cavalry." " I want to see this." " I don't want to eat my heart out." "I will never abandon the standard and will obey the Consul's orders to the end!" "First legion!" "For the Republic!" "The gods that protect Rome inspired me the name for this standard, the only one saved in the Battle of Cannae." "Our standard!" ""The Avenger"." "Those who will carry it will belong to the Honor Guard, which I will call "Primissima Cannense"." "It is only right that it be carried ahead of the others, for so patiently has it waited for revenge." "Following it will come the veterans who fought with me in Spain, those Romans who only have one thing at heart:" "to erase the shame of Cannae, and finally bring to the homeland a just peace and a safer future." "And the youth of our land will carry it." "No!" "We'll carry it!" "Mago has landed with 12000 armed men, 2000 on horseback and 40 elephants." "What about supplies?" "80 ships loaded with provisions are ready to sail." "Now you can't reproach me anymore for not having marched on Rome after Cannae." "Well done!" "You brought me very good news." "Go get a good night's rest." "Tomorrow you'll leave again." "Why aren't you happy?" "Are you afraid that Galdius Serenator and his legions will block the road of Mago?" "I'll have the Romans backed right out to the sea." "I'll cross the mountain so that both armies will be able to take Rome!" "What if Scipio disembarks in Africa and attacks Carthage?" "He can't; he's too busy in Sicily, trying to recruit men." "Scipio is much closer to Carthage than you are to Rome, and Carthage is poorly defended." "Look Hannibal:" "Go there before they summon you." "Until I finally crush the power of Rome, I won't leave Italy!" "It is my destiny and I have to follow it!" "When I was nine my father demanded that I swear hatred to the Romans." "For this hatred I put aside everything." "All for my country." "Don't worry, Maharbal:" "Hasdrubal is able to defend Carthage." "What's that?" "I counted the years." "You know it's 15 years since we came to Italy." "They were the best years of my life." " What is it?" " They were trying to get away." "Let them be." "Today I can be merciful even to the Romans." "We don't want your kind of mercy." "Cursed Romans!" "The more they are conquered, the more arrogant they get." "Give the fool a lashing!" "Your mercy's short-lived, Hannibal." "He's getting what he deserves!" " Follow me." " No!" " Come in, don't be afraid." " I'm not afraid of you, Hannibal." "The Romans only fear their gods." "You're in my hands now." "By the gods, I'll do whatever pleases me." "I know that you won't show any mercy, but you don't scare me." "To be kind and merciful, I have let that young man who wanted to go with you go unpunished." "While in Spain, Scipio granted liberty to a young couple because they were in love." "I don't imitate anyone, especially not Scipio." "It's he who imitates me!" "Scipio's loved by all because he's merciful, but those who know you hate you!" "How bold you are to speak this way to Hannibal." "I say only what you already know." "If you weren't so young, I'd have you punished!" "My nurse told me about you: she said you were an ogre that eats little children." "But now I'm not afraid anymore." "You're courageous." "Your boldness makes me like you." "I'd take you with me to my part of the country, where we devour little babies." "And because you must learn to love." "Mezio!" "What brings you here?" " Why, can't you see?" " I don't understand!" "I'm sick and tired of Rome:" "all they do is debate issues." "I'm not fooled so easily: you really came to get out of that old bed." "Greetings, Cato!" "Scipio was worried by your delay." "We must set sail immediately." "A storm hit us on our way here." "Scipio has made his plans carefully, but he forgot to command the weather as well." "Eternal gods who dwell in the sky, the sea and the earth, we humbly worship you and we pray that everything we are to do now or in the future be for the good of Rome and her people, of our faithful allies" "and friends of the empire." "Look kindly down upon us who set forth to do battle on land and sea." "Grant that we may return safe and victorious to our loved ones, laden with honors and riches." "Help us pay back Carthage for what she has inflicted upon Rome and all Italy." "A ship from Numedia arrived last night." "The Senate has called an emergency session." "The Romans have marched on Carthage and will arrive any day now." "Let's call back Hannibal." "Send a message to summon Hannibal, but right now, Senators, we have to provide for our immediate defense!" "Scipio is moving towards Utica, to besiege the city." "We must stop his advance!" "He's right." "We should send peace envoys if we hope to save the city of Carthage." "Massinissa's army is marching to join the Romans, and so they will also have Syphax." "Syphax is on our side." "I'm afraid the power of the Romans will prove stronger than his love of your daughter, so her marriage was utterly useless." "It would have been better to give her to Massinissa." "Enough with all this scheming..." "Is this what Carthage has come to?" "Let's go to war!" "Let's recall Hannibal!" "Should we listen to these Roman- eaters?" "The enemy is at the gates" " We want to have peace!" " War!" "You fools!" "Scipio certainly didn't march out of Rome merely to discuss peace with us." "And us asking for it is much worse than being defeated in war!" "We must insist on a peace!" "We have to go ahead and attack Scipio!" "Your father has the command of all the forces." "Every ally has gone to his side." "Only your husband has refused." "I ask the gods of Carthage to punish Scipio with a death much worse than that of Regulus." "There's a goddess engraved on the face of this gem, may she preserve our love forever, my darling!" "The emerald also has the power to set blessings and good fortune to us in war." "And since you picked the actual day of Scipio's disembarking for Africa, it's a very good sign." "It seems we're at war." "Do not forget that you are allied to Carthage." "And Scipio wants the destruction of Carthage." "I would like you not to skimp on the bonus that I allow to the soldiers." "Massinissa has arrived." "He has important news." "Let him in." "Money in excess makes armies weak and corrupt." "The money you want to save certainly won't make them rich." "Greeting, Massinissa." "They told me you have news of great importance." "Hasdrubal and his men are camped beside the river." "And Syphax is a couple of days' march from them." "Your information is not up to date." "The two allies have joined forces this morning." "Then we have more men to fight than we expected!" "Only 84.000 men." "Massinissa, don't be so upset about it!" "Now that they are united it will be much simpler." "And what is your plan?" "If my tongue were attempted to reveal it, I'd bite it off." " Say, have you seen Mezio?" " He's over there." "Hey, quit working the land!" "There'll be no time to eat your lettuce, anyway." "Come, I have an important job for you" "Drop that hoe!" "Something interesting is happening tonight." "Must be one of your ladyfriends." "Do it yourself." "Come, this is serious." "Ambassadors from Scipio to see king Syphax." "The ambassador from Scipio is here to see the King." "Scipio, although disappointed that you have abandoned him, understands that the private feelings that tie you to Carthage are much stronger than your friendship to Rome." "In any case, before attacking an old friend and ally, in his noble generosity he's providing you with a chance to demonstrate that you have not forgotten everything about your old friendship." "He's chosen you as mediator between Rome and Carthage" "I'm grateful to Scipio and I would be happy if I could put an end to this constant and senseless war that Rome and Carthage are in." "Scipio understands that my new ties are much stronger than an old friendship with Rome and thus willing to discuss terms." "Does Scipio know that the King of Numedia is an ally of Carthage?" "For this reason he was chosen as mediator." " Is Rome asking for peace?" " No." "She offers it." "Scipio then would be winning a war without a battle." "Scipio can do in Africa just what he did in Spain." "It is necessary, Gaius Laelius, that I report immediately this new proposal of Scipio's, before I make any decision whatsoever." "You wait here until I'm able to tell you the intentions of Hasdrubal." "Sophonisba." "Sophonisba, wouldn't you be happy if peace allowed us to enjoy our own kingdom?" "There can't be peace for us until the Roman legions are destroyed." "Mezio is going to give it away." "By Jove!" "Wait..." "Where is he?" "Hurry up!" "Go wake up the horses with the others!" "What are you doing?" "Have you gone mad?" "They're suspecting." "They must take you for a servant." "Sophonisba." "Save me from the Romans." "Save yourself from Massinissa." "What are you saying?" "A horrible nightmare." "The Romans want to destroy Carthage." "And Massinissa will have your kingdom and your wife." "Never!" "We will fight until the last Roman soldier will be chased off the coasts of Africa." ""We will fight until the last Roman soldier will be chased off the coasts of Africa"." "It seems like this was Carthage's answer." "It will take them a while, then." "It's the first time that my legions face a numerically superior enemy" "But the Gods, protectors of Rome, our ability, my men's bravery, and Fortune, who is always on our side, will give us the victory." "Tomorrow at dawn Gaius Ruberius and his troops will attack Utica to distract the enemy and act as the rear guard." "And then by sunset he will signal us to move out." "At midnight we'll be in sight of the enemy camp." "Make sure that the queen gets to safety." "If Fortune is with me, I'll join you later on." "Stop!" "Scipio wants Syphax brought back to him alive." "Round up the survivors and come with me!" "The Carthaginians are escaping." "Numedians, attack!" "Let him out of those chains." "You know how to be kind even to your enemies." "And it's because of this that I must admit to being even more in the wrong." "Certainly I'd have preferred to have you on my side, Syphax." "Tell me what prompted you to oppose Rome, to endanger your sovereignty, to renounce certain victory." "Was it because of the love of a woman?" "You mustn't ask a madman." "The reason for it is madness." "Ever since Sophonisba entered my life, all good sense and logic went out of it." "There is some consolation in the fact that my most hated enemy, the arrogant Massinissa, fell into the same trap." "There is nobody who can save Sophonisba from her destiny." "Massinissa has entered the city, and he's headed in this direction." "Save yourself, queen, from this terrible fate." "He has loved you too much!" "Massinissa, don't hand me over to the Romans." "You are a great and honored king, your pride won't allow you to see a queen be degraded." "Remember our love, and for the sake of it I implore you" "Promise me you'll kill me yourself and be gentle, only please... don't give me to the Romans!" "I beg you, please grant me this last wish." "It is I who decide her fate." "You seem to forget, Massinissa, that Syphax was defeated by the Romans." "We'll decide what happens to him and his queen and to the Kingdom of Numedia, because it was Rome that conquerred them." "I do not deny her to the Romans, but I want to go with her to Scipio." "The queen will be dealt with like Syphax." "And I ask that she be spared that." "It's not I, Massinissa, who may consent or deny it." "Whatever you do, you'll be the one who answers to Scipio." "What will my fate be?" "Scipio might put Syphax' bride in chains, but not the wife of Massinissa." "King Syphax is in chains." "And his kingdom now belongs to Massinissa." "Two of our armies destroyed!" "Utica has fallen!" "It's the end!" "You yourself, Hasdrubal, will have to seek refuge in Carthage!" "Rome is no longer afraid of Hannibal." "Encouraged by continuous victories, she's supporting Scipio!" "Must we wait until the Romans are here to besiege before we ask for peace?" "True, we want peace!" "If Carthage wants peace, it's not in my power to resist." "Now you're mending your ways!" "We can ask for a truce, but let's not negotiate peace until Hannibal is back." "Hannibal is deaf to our pleas." "He would trade Carthage for a victory in Italy." "Your fear has turned you into cowards." "Without Hannibal's victories in Italy we'd already be slaves to the Romans." "Hannibal is bound to answer our appeal, and he'll help us." "But until then we'll ask Scipio for a truce." "No!" "Not a truce!" "It's peace we want." "We understand what you mean, Hasdrubal, but we don't want to be fooled." "Send ambassadors to Scipio to represent the Senate, they'll negotiate and finally put an end to this war, so that it will be possible to live quietly." "It's time to return to our trading." "Mercenary." "Silence, you defeated general!" "Stop it, all of you!" "Now you're fighting over personal grudges." "Hannibal should be summonded back here immediately." "She's beautiful, isn't she?" "Lucky Massinissa..." "And poor Syphax!" "Massinissa was obstinate." "He asked if Sophonisba could be spared the fate of Syphax." "I didn't think it wise to insist, since he was opposed to our taking her." "I felt when he'd gotten over his infatuation he'd be easier to reason with." "However, that very night he arranged Sophonisba to marry her." "No, don't leave me!" "You have nothing to worry about:" "You are my wife." "And we are in the Numidean camp, even though it's in Roman hands." "I'll go alone to discuss this with Scipio." "Be careful." "Scipio is a Roman, and he puts nothing before Rome." "I've been sent, Massinissa, to tell you that Scipio is expecting you." "Swear, Massinissa, that you won't deliver me alive to the Romans." "If this is any assurance to you, I swear it." "I salute the conqueror of Cyprus." "Rome will reward your bravery and your loyalty as you deserve." "The entire Numedia is now in our possession." "Your feat is worthy of a Triumph: for us Romans, it's the most desirable honor." "Your ancestors' kingdom, enriched with new provinces, is waiting for you and you want to jeopardize all this, for the blandishments of a woman?" "But Sophonisba is..." "I would listen to you, Massinissa if only I didn't know a king in chains, who fell into the same trap ' with the same woman." "She married you not for love, but out of hatred for Rome!" "She wants to make you an enemy of your friends and fight against us." "You can't possibly doubt me!" "You are so sure of yourself." "Massinissa, I want to remember only the great deeds that you accomplished." "I'd rather forget the other things, the ones you leave unspoken, so that you won't have to be ashamed of them." "Tell Massinissa that I received this, his wedding gift, with heartfelt gratitude." "I am willing to die in the manner of a queen in the camp of the enemies of Carthage." "He made an oath to her and kept his word." "She was not delivered to us alive." "Be very careful that Massinissa himself doesn't try something worse." "I want the body of Sophonisba returned to Carthage with all the honors due to her," "and muster up all the troops at once." "In the name of the Senate and the Roman people I declare you King of Numedia, and confer upon you the honor of the Triumph, whom no foreigner before you has been considered worthy of." "Now let the spokesmen of Carthage speak." "Invincible powerful lord, we bow down before you, and implore you to hear our words." "Please be merciful with the unfortunate Carthage." "Only the supporters of Hannibal are guilty, not its ordinary citizens." "Carthage now hopes that your generosity will finally allow her the safety and the peace that she needs." "Order anything you want to those who only wish to obey you." "I came to Africa to bring back to Rome a full victory, and not a plea for peace." "But I don't want to appear ruthless, even though your defeat came by my own hand." "The world must know that the wars that the Roman people undertake are driven by justice, and in the name of justice we must end them." "I will let you know my conditions, and I will give you 3 days to think." "If you accept, a truce will be established, so that you can send your ambassadors to Rome." "The ambassadors of Carthage are in Rome as we speak, discussing the conditions of peace." "But Carthage's true friends, and the people, are appealing to you, lord of victories." "Only you can save them." "You will be given all the gold you need." "Mago's messengers?" "No, Captain, messengers from the Romans." "From the Romans?" "Three soldiers of Mago's army, taken as prisoners." "The Romans send them, so that you can be informed of the outcome of the battle." "Bring them in immediately." "Get out, all of you." "You stay here." " You were with Mago's army?" " We were, sir." "I want to hear everything you saw." "Tell me what you can, was the battle lost?" " We lost." " Tell me!" "At first the battle went in our favor, but then many Roman reenforcements arrived, and in their fury they started turning our own elephants against us." "Our captain, who was carrying the standard, fought the elephants bravely." "We saw him from where we were fighting." "But he was hit by a spear and fell off his horse." "Then everyone was terrified and they began to run away." "Those of us who still wanted to continue the battle were taken prisonner." "And Mago?" "Where's my brother Mago?" "He was taken too." "That's everything I know." "Don't look at me like that!" "You can assure the messengers from Carthage that Hannibal will return." "There's nothing here for me to do now." "Before I leave this land, which for more than 16 years I've held, which now the envy and obstinance of Carthage demand that I abandon in shame," "I want all the names of the battles with which" "I have weakened the power of Rome engraved on a piece of stone, so that the Romans will know that Rome didn't defeat Hannibal, but his destiny betrayed him." "The Romans already know." "All your victories are engraved in their flesh." "The most glorious victory, Hannibal, will be in Africa." "Defending your own country." "My own country.." "A man's country is the one for which he takes chances, for which he fights..." "It's such a joy." "If a man's country is the one where he has placed all of his ambitions, then the land itself is his reason for living." "And if it's the land that can make you suffer, to abandon it is to die..." "Then my beloved country is Italy." "Leave me, Maharbal." "At least thirty of you came to bow down at Scipio's feet!" "And now you ransack our ships, violating the truce that you implored for." "Certainly such impudence has been inspired by the announcement of Hannibal's return." "But if Fortune won't give you the victory you will be defeated." "Which God will you invoke then?" "Which words will you find to move the victor to pity?" "He's insulting the majesty of the Council!" "Let the weapons decide!" "Tell Scipio that Carthage will let weapons settle the matter." "You are left with nothing to hope for!" "Not from gods nor from men." "The Romans are right to be indignant." "Violating the truce after requesting it is against any rights." "General of great victories, we of Carthage welcome you back with immense joy." "We offer ourselves to you, put our faith in you, we entrust you with all the power you need and we are sure that you will not delay getting to the enemy, so that you can challenge or force them into war." "You didn't respond when I asked for assistance in Italy." "You're still the same as ever." "Only because Scipio is on your doorstep are you humble." "You are the cause of your own misfortune, and of mine." "Get out of here!" "And tell the Council that I'll attack whenever it pleases me." " IF it pleases me!" "Listen, I think you better come have a look." " I saw some men hiding around the catapult railings." " Huh?" "I said I saw some men hiding around the catapult railings." "It could be spies." "Spies!" " Go and see, I'll watch that." " No, I don't trust you." "Mezio, take care of that." "Get some rope, follow me." "We'll give them the treatment they deserve." "C'mon out of there and stop struggling." "You won't be needing your legs to go back to Hannibal:" "You'll be flying there!" "Get them over there, both of them." "C'mon." "And give our regards to Hannibal." "What are you doing?" "Halt!" "What is this?" "They're Carthaginian spies!" "We're sending them back to Hannibal." "Any stranger found in this camp is to go directly to the Consul." "You can let them down." "Certainly they've been sent by Hannibal to gather information." "There's no reason why I should stand in the way of their mission." "You're to give them all the information they want and then return them to their leader." "Listen precisely to every detail." "And you may add that tonight we await Massinissa who will bring infantry and more cavalrymen." "Scipio had everyting explained carefully and insisted that we relate to you in detail all the information we had." "That generosity of his is even more dangerous than his assault." "Send someone immediately to Scipio." "Tell him that Hannibal wants to see him." "We've decided to escape later tonight." "Look, more spies!" "Ready." "Defend yourselves." " We're Romans." " Where did you come from?" " We escaped from Hannibal." " How?" "Give us some water." "We've been running all night." "Hannibal is grateful for the generosity you showed towards the Carthaginian soldiers." "He asked that you arrange for a meeting with him, whenever you want and wherever it pleases you." "Tell Hannibal that Scipio will be glad to confer with him." "Since fate has wanted that I, who first made war on the Roman people, and who has defeated them many times, came to ask for peace," "it's comforting that it is you whom I have to ask it to." "It's strange, that after having battled with your father" "I have to ask peace from his son." "We Carthaginians must take a step against our own dignity." "We're in a condition inferior to yours." "It's neccessary for me, experienced in war, to put pride aside and use reason before doing anything rash." "It is difficult sometimes to accept one's fate." "The right of imposing conditions of peace belong to the one who's asked." "Or do you want to let the Carthagenians impose their own penalty?" "Sardinia and Sicily and Spain and all the isles that lie between" "Africa and Italy will belong to Rome while Carthage will limit herself to having possessions in Africa." "You have good reasons for distrusting the Carthaginians, but it is I, Hannibal, who's asking for peace, because I feel it's useful for my homeland." "I promise you to defend it and I'll observe it." "I know, Hannibal." "The Carthaginians asked for a truce and broke it on your return." "And you yourself had confirmed it." "You chose your destiny, Hannibal." "You came from Carthage to make war on Rome." "Even you can't deny that." "I would have been unfair only if you had left Italy of your own free will, if you had offered the peace and I had refused it!" "But I owe you nothing:" "You left Italy on purpose, to return to Africa." "And what you're offering we already have." "If, to the conditions that we imposed, that you know very well, and that the Carthaginians have once agreed to, if we could include a compensation for the fleets that were destroyed and the ambassadors that were insulted, I could consult the Senate." "But if these conditions appear too difficult, since already you have proved unable to live peacefully, then prepare yourselves for war!" "Legionnaires, don't ever forget all of our victories!" "Be worthy of Rome's glorious past." "I ask you all:" "Make her once more the ruler of the world." "Legionnaires, the gods are looking down on us today." "and expect each of us to do his duty." "Who would prefer instead of victory and freedom the shame of falling into the hands of the enemy?" "Noone!" "We have a sacred mission to accomplish!" "Legionnaires, remember, our cry will be:" "Victory!" "Fight to the death!" "Carthaginians, think of the misfortune which will befall you, your women, your children if you are defeated." "But think of the riches and booty that await you if you are victorious!" "Veterans, remember the years of victorious battles against the Romans." "Veterans, remember Tacinus, Trasimene, Cannae!" "Legionnaires, avenge the dead of Cannae!" "To avoid the impact of the elephants, the platoons must be lined up in a column." "Disguising some intervals in the formation we must be ready to open it up and leave the path open for the elephants' charge." "Then, attack from behind." "Elephants, to the attack!" "Legionnaires, victory or death!" "First cavalry, forward!" "Numedians, for Rome, victory or death!" "Cavalry of Rome, victory or death!" "Carthaginians, forward!" "Why are the left and right phalanx of the cavalry retreating?" "They're returning to camp to tell Maharbal to come with his troops to take the Roman cavalry from behind." "Victory!" "To the front." "Forward lancers, close up your ranks." "First legion, attack!" "Who's winning?" "Who's winning?" "Who's winning?" "Roman cavalry!" "Who is winning?" "Who's winning?" "Who's winning?" "The line of the Gauls is giving way." "Maybe we should reenforce it with the veterans?" "No." "But many deserters are seeking refuge among the veterans." "They're causing confusion in the ranks." "Let the veterans close their ranks, keep their spears low and remain in their places." "Now sound the retreat!" " Why does he do it?" " Don't worry, leave everything to Scipio." "He knows what he's doing: he'll sound the retreat to launch a better attack." "Send the order to reorganize the spears." "Overtake Laelius and Massinissa." "They are ordered to come back here at once." "We must attack the enemy from behind." "Sound the assembly." "Velia!" "Aruntee!" "Avenge the dead of Cannae!" "Veterans!" "Victory is ours!" "Forward, second Legion." "Attack!" "The dead of Cannae are avenged!" "Hannibal is defeated!" "Hannibal is defeated!" "The grain is good." "And tomorrow, with the aid of the gods, we'll begin to plant it."