Meanwhile, to the dismay of Carthage, Utica, which was strongly fortified and almost as rich and powerful as the capital, surrendered to Rome.
With Utica in their hands, the Romans had a convenient port at which to land their forces, and they at once declared war. The two Consuls for the year 149 B.C. were sent to Sicily with a large force, and ordered to sail from Lilybæum to Africa, nor were they to think that their work was ended until Carthage was destroyed.
When the Carthaginians received the declaration of war, they decided to send another embassy to Rome, with an offer to surrender.
If the offer was accepted, Carthage could be treated as a town conquered in war. But this right was often put aside when a town surrendered of its own free will. It was in the hope that Rome would prove merciful that Carthage now offered to submit.
The Roman Senate accepted the surrender of Carthage, demanding that the city should send three hundred hostages to Sicily within thirty days. Then these ominous words were added: ‘Carthage must also obey the further commands of the Consuls.’ When they had obeyed these ‘further commands,’ Rome promised that the Carthaginians should be granted liberty, and that their possessions should not be taken away.
It was with a sinking heart that Carthage complied with the first condition. Three hundred hostages were sent to Sicily within thirty days. Many of them were but children, whose mothers were in despair at being separated from them.
When the ships which were to carry the hostages away were ready to sail, the miserable parents gathered at the water’s edge. In their agony, scarce knowing what they did, some of the mothers ran into the sea and held on to the ropes which tied the ships to the harbour. Others, as the ropes were loosened and the ships began to move off, swam after the vessels, weeping and uttering pitiful cries that their children might be restored to them. But the ships sailed relentlessly on their course.
In spite of the arrival of the hostages, the Consuls sailed from Lilybæum and landed at Utica.
Here ambassadors from Carthage came to learn the meaning of the words that had sounded ominous in their ears. What were the further commands to which they must bow?
‘The Carthaginians must disarm,’ was the sentence that fell like lead on the hearts of the ambassadors.