Then the soldiers claimed, as a proof
of friendship, the punishment of those who had estranged them from the
Republic.
Their meaning, it was pretended, was not understood, and they explained
themselves more clearly by saying that they must have Hanno's head.
Several times a day, they left their camp, and walked along the foot of
the walls, shouting a demand that the Suffet's head should be thrown to
them, and holding out their robes to receive it.
The Great Council would perhaps have given way but for a last exaction,
more outrageous than the rest; they demanded maidens, chosen from
illustrious families, in marriage for their chiefs. It was an idea
which had emanated from Spendius, and which many thought most simple and
practicable. But the assumption of their desire to mix with Punic blood
made the people indignant; and they were bluntly told that they were to
receive no more. Then they exclaimed that they had been deceived,
and that if their pay did not arrive within three days, they would
themselves go and take it in Carthage.
The bad faith of the Mercenaries was not so complete as their enemies
thought. Hamilcar had made them extravagant promises, vague, it is true,
but at the same time solemn and reiterated. They might have believed
that when they disembarked at Carthage the town would be abandoned to
them, and that they should have treasures divided among them; and
when they saw that scarcely their wages would be paid, the disillusion
touched their pride no less than their greed.
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