Tom Holland

And when they arrive there, they're appalled to discover that this Roman task force has already left.

and is in sicily so just across the sea from carthage and they also find cato on absolutely top form so he gives a kind of zinger of a speech what people can't be trusted to keep their treaties the carthaginians what people are inveterate warmongers notorious for their cruelty the carthaginians what people left italy a smoldering wasteland the carthaginians so still that harping on all the destruction that hannibal had brought to italy and when the carthaginian envoys

You know, they beg to know, how can we make amends?

I mean, what can we do?

They receive this very menacingly Delphic response by satisfying the Roman people.

But the Senate does not specify how this satisfaction can be obtained.

Well, they arrive at the Roman camp and as they approach, there's this kind of great deafening blast of trumpets.

And then they enter the camp and they are led past the massed ranks of the legions who are all drawn up and who are totally silent.

I mean, it must have been terrifying.

Ahead of them are the two consuls sat down on a podium and the Carthaginian envoys are brought before the consuls.

And they start stammering, trying to make their excuses, but all these excuses are dismissed.

And then one of the consuls, Lucius Marcius Censorinus, he informs the envoys.

that there will be no more negotiations until Carthage has handed over all the weapons in the city, all the armor, all the war machines.

And so the envoys go back to Carthage and shortly afterwards, great wagon loads of weapons and armor come rumbling up to the Roman camp and also in their train, over 2000 catapults.

So these are all handed over to the Romans and then the envoys come back and they stand in front of the consuls again.

And now at last the terms are delivered and I will quote them.

Bear bravely the remaining commands of the Roman Senate, the envoys are told.

You must evacuate your city and surrender it to us.

You will be allowed to settle where you please within the limits of your own territory, provided that it is at least 10 miles from the sea.

As for us, we are resolved to level Carthage to the ground.