Spendius represented that it would be best not to persist.

The Barbarians went and posted themselves further off, all being quite resolved to lay siege to Carthage.
The rumour of the war, however, had passed beyond the confines of the Punic empire; and from the pillars of Hercules to beyond Cyrene shepherds mused on it as they kept their flocks, and caravans talked about it in the light of the stars.

This great Carthage, mistress of the seas, splendid as the sun, and terrible as a god, actually found men who were daring enough to attack her! Her fall even had been asserted several times; and all had believed it for all wished it: the subject populations, the tributary villages, the allied provinces, the independent hordes, those who execrated her for her tyranny or were jealous of her power, or coveted her wealth.

The bravest had very speedily joined the Mercenaries.

The defeat at the Macaras had checked all the rest.