"It is incumbent upon us, the rulers and aristocracy of this great
city, my son, to show ourselves superior to the common herd. They
must recognize that we are not only richer and of better blood,
but that we are stronger, wiser, and more courageous than they.
So, only, can we expect them to obey us, and to make the sacrifices
which war entails upon them. It is not enough that we are of pure
Phoenician blood, that we come of the most enterprising race the
world has ever seen, while they are but a mixed breed of many people
who have either submitted to our rule or have been enslaved by
us.

"This was well enough in the early days of the colony when it was
Phoenician arms alone that won our battles and subdued our rivals.
In our days we are few and the populace are many. Our armies are
composed not of Phoenicians, but of the races conquered by us. Libya
and Numidia, Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain, all in turn conquered
by us, now furnish us with troops.

"Carthage is a mighty city, but it is no longer a city of Phoenicians.
We form but a small proportion of the population. It is true
that all power rests in our hands, that from our ranks the senate
is chosen, the army officered, and the laws administered, but the
expenses of the state are vast. The conquered people fret under
the heavy tributes which they have to pay, and the vile populace
murmur at the taxes.

"In Italy, Rome looms greater and more powerful year by year. Her
people are hardy and trained to arms, and some day the struggle
between us and her will have to be fought out to the death. Therefore,