Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/432

4]U HISTORY OF GREECE. Haviu g satiated his troops with this rich plunder Hannibal now quitted the scene of bloodshed and desolation, and marched across the island to Himera on its northern coast. Though Selinus, as the enemy of Egesta, had received the first shock of his arms, yet it was against Himera that the grand purpose of his soul was directed. Here it was that Hamilkar had lost both his army and his life, entailing inexpiable disgrace upon the whole life of hia son Giskon : here it was that his grandson intended to exact full ven- geance and requital from the grandchildren of those who then occu- pied the fated spot. Not only was the Carthaginian army elate with the past success, but a number of frer,h Sikels and Sikans, eager to share in plunder as well as to gratify the antipathies of their races against the Grecian intruders, Hocked to join it ; thus making up the losses sustained in the recent assault. Having reached Himera, and disposed his army in appropriate positions around, Hannibal proceeded to instant attack, as at Selinus ; pushing up his battering machines and towers against the vulnerable portions of the walls, and trying at the same time to uodermine them. The Himeraeans defended themselves with desperate bravery ; and on this occasion the defence was not unassisted ; for four thousand allies, chiefly Syracusans, and headed by the Syracusan Diokles, had come to the city as a reinforcement. For a whole day they repelled with slaughter repeated assaults. No impression being made upon the city, the besieged became so confident in their own valor, that they resolved not to copy the Selinuntines in confining themselves to defence, but to sally out at daybix^ak the next morn- ing and attack the besiegers in the field. Ten thousand gallant men, Himeraeans, Syracusans, and other Grecian allies, accord- ingly marched out with the dawn ; while the battlements were lined with old men and women as anxious spectators of their exploits. The Carthaginians near the walls, who, preparing to renew the assault, looked for nothing less than for a sally, were taken by sur- prise. In spite of their great superiority of number, and in spite of great personal bravery, they fell into confusion, and were inca- pable of long resisting the gallant and orderly charge of the Greeks. At length they gave way and fled towards the neighboring hill, where Hannibal himself with his body of reserve was posted to cover the operations of assault. The Greeks pursued them fiercely and slaughtered great numbers (six thousand according to Timseus,