§21.3.1in Hasdrubalis locum haud dubia res fuit quin * praerogativa militaris, qua * extemplo iuvenis Hannibal in praetorium delatus imperatorque ingenti omnium clamore atque adsensu appellatus erat, favor plebis sequebatur. §21.3.2hunc vixdum puberem Hasdrubal litteris ad se accersierat, actaque res etiam in senatu fuerat.
In succession to Hasdrubal, there was no doubt that the military prerogative—by which the young Hannibal had been immediately carried to the headquarters and declared commander-in-chief amid the immense shout and approval of all—would be followed by the favor of the common people. Hasdrubal had already summoned him by letter when he was scarcely yet a youth, and the matter had also been discussed in the senate.
Barcinis nitentibus, ut adsuesceret militiae Hannibal atque in paternas succederet opes, §21.3.3Hanno alterius factionis princeps “et aequum postulare videtur” inquit “Hasdrubal, §21.3.4et ego tamen non censeo, quod petit, tribuendum. ” cum admiratione tam ancipitis sententiae in se omnis convertisset, “florem aetatis” inquit “Hasdrubal, quem ipse patri Hannibalis fruendum praebuit, iusto iure eum a filio repeti censet; nos tamen minime decet iuventutem nostram pro militari rudimento adsuefacere libidini praetorum. §21.3.5an hoc timemus, ne Hamilcaris filius nimis sero imperia inmodica et regni paterni speciem videat, et, cuius regis genero hereditarii sint relicti exercitus nostri, eius filio parum mature serviamus? §21.3.6ego istum iuvenem domi tenendum sub legibus, sub magistratibus, docendum vivere aequo iure cum ceteris censeo, ne quandoque parvus hic ignis incendium ingens exsuscitet. ”
While the Barcine faction exerted themselves so that Hannibal might become accustomed to military service and succeed to his father's power, Hanno, the leader of the other faction, said, "Hasdrubal seems indeed to make a fair demand, and yet I do not think that what he asks ought to be granted." When he had turned the eyes of all upon himself in admiration of so ambiguous an opinion, he said, "Hasdrubal thinks that the flower of youth, which he himself offered to Hannibal's father to be enjoyed, is by just right to be demanded back from the son; but it by no means becomes us to accustom our youth to the lust of generals as a military apprenticeship. Or do we fear this, that the son of Hamilcar may see too late the immoderate power and the semblance of his father's kingdom, and that we may serve the son of that king too late, to whose son-in-law our armies were left as a hereditary possession? I think that that young man should be kept at home under the laws and under the magistrates, and taught to live on equal terms with the rest, lest this small spark should one day kindle a mighty conflagration."