Nepos: Life of Hannibal Translation

In my Latin class in my first semester at UVA, I translated Cornelius Nepos’ Life of Hannibal. This text is a biography of the famed Carthaginian general, detailing his life during the Punic Wars. 

I wanted to share with you my translation for Chapter 1 –  

Hannibal Hamilcaris filius Karthaginiensus. Si verum est, quod nemo dubitat, ut populus Romanus omnes gentes virtute superarit, non est infitiandum Hannibalem tanto praestitisse ceteros imperatores prudentia, quanto populos Romanos antecedat fortitudine cunctas nationes.

Nam quotienscumque cum eo congressus est in Italia, semper discessit superior; Quod nisi domi civium suorum invidia debilitatus esset, Romanus videtur superare potuisse. Sed multorum obtrectatio devicit unius virtutem. 

Hic autem, velut hereditate relictum, odium paternum erga Romanos sic conservavit, ut prius animan quam id deposuerit, qui quidem, cum patria pulsus esset et alienarum opum indigeret, numquam distiterit animo bellare cum Romanis.  

Hannibal the Carthaginian, son of Hamilcar. If it is true, which nobody doubts, that the Roman people have surpassed all clans in virtue, it must be admitted that Hannibal excelled other generals in skill as much as the Roman people are superior to all nations in bravery. 

For however often he clashed with them in Italy, he always departed superior. Because if he had not been debilitated by the envy of his own citizens at home, it seems that he would have been able to overcome the Romans. But the jealousy of many defeated the virtue of one. 

This however, just as relinquished by hereditary, conserved his father’s hatred towards the Romans, so that he laid down his own life for it, who, when he had been expelled from his country and was lacking of others’ assistance, never did he cease in his soul to war with the Romans.