[A.] Interim Carthaginienses classe apud insulas Aegates a C. Lutatio, consule Romanorum, superati statuerunt belli facere finem, eamque rem arbitrio permiserunt Hamilcaris. Ille, etsi flagrabat bellandi cupiditate, tamen paci serviendum putavit, quod 5 patriam, exhaustam sumptibus, diutius calamitates belli ferre non posse intellegebat, sed ita, ut statim mente agitaret, si paulum modo res essent refectae, bellum renovare Romanosque armis persequi, donicum aut virtute vicissent aut victi manus dedissent. 10
Corn. Nepos, Hamilcar, i.
1 apud insulas Aegates, the Goat Islands, off the W. Coast of Sicily, between Drepana and Lilybaeum (Marsala).
3 statuerunt belli facere finem. This victory led to the close of the First Punic War.
5 paci serviendum = to devote himself to (obtaining) peace.
9 donicum (= donec), lit. ‘at the time of day when ——’
10 virtute vicissent = they (the Romans) should have conquered by (superior) prowess.
Hic dum stagnosi spectat templumque domosque
Literni ductor, varia splendentia cernit