Carthaginians Driven From Spain
When these troops were at close quarters the elephants
were severely handled, being wounded and
harassed on every side by the velites and
cavalry, and did as much harm to their friends as to their foes;
for they rushed about promiscuously and killed every one that
fell in their way on either side alike. As to the infantry,—
the Carthaginian wings began to be broken, but the centre
occupied by the Libyans, and which was the best part of the
army, was never engaged at all. It could not quit its ground
to go to the support of the wings for fear of the attack of the
Iberians, nor could it by maintaining its position do any actual
fighting, because the enemy in front of it did not come to close
quarters. However, for a certain time the two wings fought
gallantly, because it was for them, as for the enemy, a struggle
for life and death. But now the midday heat was become intense, and the Carthaginians began to feel faint, because the
unusual time at which they had been forced to come on the
field had prevented them from fortifying themselves with the
proper food; while the Romans had the advantage in physical
vigour as well as in cheerfulness, which was especially promoted
by the fact that the prudence of their general had secured his
best men being pitted against the weakest troops of the enemy.
Thus hard pressed Hasdrubal's centre began to retreat; at first
step by step; but soon the ranks were broken, and the men
rushed in confusion to the skirts of the mountain; and on the
Romans pressing in pursuit with still greater violence, they
began a headlong flight into their entrenchments. Had not
Providence interfered to save them, they would promptly have
been driven from their camp too; but a sudden storm
gathered in the air, and a violent and prolonged torrent of
rain descended, under which the Romans with difficulty
effected a return to their own camp. . . .
Many Romans lost their lives by the fire in
The Romans in the mining district of Spain. |
trying to get the silver and gold which had been
melted and fused. . . .
Scipio on the Expulsion of the Carthaginians from Spain in Consequence of the Above Victory
When every one complimented Scipio after he had
Scipio's idea of transferring the war to Africa. |
driven the Carthaginians from
Iberia, and
advised him straightway to take some rest and
ease, as having put a period to the war, he
answered that he "congratulated them on their sanguine
hopes; for himself he was now more than ever revolving in his
mind how to begin the war with
Carthage. Up to that time
the Carthaginians had waged war upon the Romans; but that
now fortune put it in the power of the Romans to make war
upon them. . . ."
Scipio's Visit to Syphax, King of Masaesylians
See Livy, 28, 17, 18.
In his conversation with Syphax, Scipio, who was eminently
Scipio's influence over Syphax. |
endowed by nature in this respect, conducted
himself with so much kindness and tact, that
Hasdrubal afterwards remarked to Syphax that
"Scipio appeared more formidable to him in such an interview
than in the field. . . ."
