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previously beaten enemy, and that they should regard it as outrageous to have to fight
people who paid tribute and who should be considered almost as slaves (Hist. 3.64.2-9).
Livy indicates that he wrote his own version of Scipio‟s speech (talem, 21.39.10),
and, in contrast to Polybius‟ harsh editing, the speech is substantial. The content
responds to and elaborates on the same points and in the same sequence as those given
in the earlier speech by Hanno to the Carthaginian senate (Livy, 21.10.2-13; Livy,
21.40-41). Scipio reminds his men about the earlier Roman victory off the Aegates
Islands, about Roman clemency for ransoming the Carthaginians under Hamilcar at
Eryx at 18 denarii each instead of killing them, that Sicily and Sardinia were both prizes
of war and even claims that they spared the city of Carthage (Livy, 21.40.6-13). 122 The
conclusion of the speech, like the concluding remarks in Polybius, reiterate Roman
anger at the ingratitude of those who had been defeated and paid tribute for the last
twenty years; Hannibal was nothing but a tribute payer and slave (Livy, 21.41.6-13).
There are much closer correspondences between the two „Hannibal‟ speeches in each
of Polybius‟ and Livy‟s texts, especially in terms of context. In both cases Hannibal‟s
speech is preceded by a demonstration of gladiatorial combat between a pair of
Hannibal‟s Gallic prisoners with the winner gaining a horse, armoury and, above all,
freedom (Hist. 3.62.1-11; Livy 21.23). Hannibal explains to his men that the purpose of
the contest was to demonstrate how they, like the prisoners, were imprisoned in a
foreign land, and they, too, must conquer or die: vincendum aut moriendum (Livy,
21.43.5; Hist. 3.63.9). Livy extends the speech to present Hannibal appealing to the
different interests of the groups within his army: the Carthaginians are reminded of the
losses of Sicily and Sardinia whereas the Gauls are reminded of the rewards of
conquest, wealth, lands and booty (Livy, 21.43.6-9).
Silius Italicus‟ representation of Hannibal‟s speech prior to the battle at the Ticinus
River is quite different from Livy and Polybius, in both context and in content (Pun.
4.59-66; Pun. 4.67-100). There is no gladiatorial show 123 and the content of Hannibal‟s
speech has a much closer focus on contemporary events than historic victories or
defeats. Hannibal applauds his men for their success at Saguntum, the subjection of
Spain and their significant achievement of crossing the Alps (Pun. 4.59-66). His final
assurance to his men is that his father, Hamilcar, would not scorn any Carthaginians
122 Cf. Cornelius Nepos, Hamilcar, 1.5, Hamilcar negotiated terms so that his men in Eryx would leave
with their weapons and therefore their pride intact; also Diodorus 24.13; Dio-Zonaras 8.17.
123 Spaltenstein, 1986, 268 also notes this difference.
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