If Carthage at this crisis of her fate proves worthy of the occasion, if she by a great effort again wins the sovereignty of the sea, and sends over armies to support us in our struggle, we may in the end triumph.

If not, glorious as may be our success for a time, we are in the end doomed to failure, and our failure will assuredly involve the final destruction of Carthage.
"Rome will not be slow to profit by the lesson which Hannibal is teaching her.

His genius perceives that only by striking at Rome in Italy could a vital blow be given to her.

The Romans in turn will perceive that only by an invasion of Africa can Carthage be humbled.
Her task will then be far easier than ours is now, for not only is Rome fresh, strong, and vigourous, but she has had the wisdom to bind the Latin peoples around her closely to her by bestowing upon them the rights of citizenship, by making them feel that her cause is theirs.
"Upon the other hand, Carthage has throughout her history been paving the way for her fall.

She fights, but it is with foreign mercenaries.
She stamps under foot the people she has conquered, and while her tax collectors grind them to the earth, and she forces them to send their sons to fight her battles, she gives them no share in her privileges, no voice in her councils.
"I had hoped, Malchus, that at such a moment as this faction would have been silent at Carthage, and a feeling of patriotism would once again have asserted itself.