side of the walls, and somewhat of the north, was fenced with this lake, which the fishermen of Tarragona had sounded; and finding in some part thereof a shelve, whereon, at low water, men might pass knee-deep, or (at most) wading up to the navel, Scipio thrust therein some companies of his men; who recovered the top of the walls without resistance; the place being left without guard, as able to defend itself by the natural strength. These falling suddenly upon the backs of the Carthaginians within the city, easily forced a gate, and gave free entrance to the Roman army. What booty was found within the town, Livy himself cannot certainly affirm; but is fain to say, that some Roman historians told lies without measure, in way of amplification. By that small proportion of riches which was afterward carried by Scipio into the Roman treasury, we may easily perceive how great a vanity it was to say, that all the wealth of Africa and Spain was heaped up in that one town. But therein were bestowed all the Spanish hostages, (or at least of the adjoining provinces,) whom Scipio entreated with singular courtesy; restoring them unto their kindred and friends, in such gracious manner, as doubled the thanks due to so great a benefit. Hereupon a prince of the Celtiberians, and two petty kings of the Illergetes and Lacetani, nearest neighbours to Tarracon, and dwelling on the north side of Iberus, forsook the Carthaginian party, and joined with the Romans. The speech of Indibilis, king of the Illergetes, is much commended; for that he did not vaunt himself, as commonly fugitives use, of the pleasure which he did unto the Romans, in revolting from their enemies; but rather excused this his changing side, as being thereto compelled by injuries of the Carthaginians, and invited by the honourable dealing of Scipio. This temperate estimation of his new professed friendship, was indeed no unsure token VOL. V.

X

that it should be long lasting. But if the Illergetes had, long ere this (as we have heard before) forsaken the Carthaginian party, and stoutly held themselves as friends to Cn. Scipio; then could nothing have been devised more vain than this oration of Indibilis their king; excusing, as new, his taking part with the same, when he should have rather craved pardon for his breach of alliance, formerly contracted with the father and the uncle. Most likely, therefore, it is, that howsoever the two elder Scipios had gotten some few places among these their neighbours, and held them by strength; yet were the Romans never masters of the country, till this worthy commander, by recovering their hostages from the Carthaginians, and by his great munificence in sending them home, won unto himself the assured love and assistance of these princes. The Carthaginian generals, when they heard of this loss, were very sorry; yet nevertheless they set a good face on the matter; saying, that a young man having stolen a town by surprise, was too far transported and overjoyed; but that shortly they would meet with him, and put him in mind of his father and uncle; which would alter his mood, and bring him to a more convenient temper.

Now, if I should here interpose mine own conjecture, I should be bold to say, that the Carthaginians were at this time busy in setting forth towards Italy; and that Scipio, to divert them, undertook New Carthage, as his father and uncle, upon the like occasion, sat down before Iberia. And in this respect I would suppose that it had not been much amiss, if the passage over the lake had been undiscovered, and the town held out some longer while. howsoever that particular action was the more fortunate, in coming to such good issue upon the first day; yet in the generality of the business between Rome and Carthage, it was more to be wished that

For

Asdrubal should be staid from going into Italy, than that half of Spain should be taken from him. Whereas, therefore, he had nothing left to do, that should hinder his journey; Mago, and Asdrubal, the son of Gisco, were thought sufficient to hold Scipio at work, in that lingering war of taking and re-taking towns, whilst the main of the Carthaginian forces, under Asdrubal, the son of Hamilcar, went to a greater enterprise; even to fight in trial of the empire. But the Roman historians tell this after another fashion; and say, that Asdrubal was beaten into Italy, whither he ran for fear, as thinking himself ill-assured of the Spaniards, as long as they might but hear the name of Scipio. Scipio, say they, coming upon Asdrubal, his vant-courrers charged so lustily the Carthaginian horse, that they drove them into their trenches, and made it apparent, even by that small piece of service, how full of spirit the Roman army was, and how dejected the enemy. Asdrubal, therefore, by night, retired out of that even ground, and occupied an hill, compassed on three sides with a river, very steep of ascent, and not of easy access on the foreside; by which himself got up, and was to be followed by the Romans. On the top of it there was a plain, whereon he strongly encamped himself, and in the mid-way, between the top and root of the hill, was also another plain; into which he descended, more upon bravery, that he might not seem to hide himself within his trenches, than for that he durst adventure his army to the hazard of a battle, for which this was no equal ground. But such advantage of place could not save him from the Romans. They climbed up the hill to him; they recovered even footing with him; drove him out of this lower plain, up into his camp on the hill-top; whither, although the ascent were very difficult, and his elephants bestowed in the smoothest places to hinder their approach; yet compassing about, and....

seeking passage where it was hardest to be found, but much more strongly breaking their way, where the Carthaginians had got up before them, they drove both men and elephants headlong, I know not whither; for it is said, that there was no way to fly. Out of such a battle, wherein he lost eight thousand men, Asdrubal is said to have escaped; and, gathering together his dispersed troops, to have marched towards the Pyrenees, having sent away his elephants ere the fight began. Nevertheless Mago, and Asdrubal, the son of Gisco, are reported, after this, to have consulted with him about this war; and finally to have concluded, that go he needs must, were it but to carry all the Spaniards as far as might be from the name of Scipio. How likely this was to have been true, it shall appear at his coming into Italy; whence these incoherent relations of the Spanish affairs have too long detained us.

SECT. XII.

The great troubles that Hannibal raised in all quarters to the city of Rome. Posthumius, the Roman general, with his whole army, is slam by the Gauls. Philip, king of Macedon, enters into a league with Hannibal, against the Romans. The Romans, joining with the Etolians, make war upon Philip in Greece; and afterwards conclude a peace with him, the better to intend their business against the Carthaginians.

We left Hannibal wintering at Capua; where he and his new confederates rejoiced (as may be thought) not a little, to hear the good news from Carthage, of such mighty aid as was decreed to be sent thence unto him. In former times he had found work e

nough to carry the Roman corn into his own barns, and to drive away their cattle to Geryon; his victories affording him little other profit than sustenance for his army; by making him master of the open field. He might perhaps have forced some walled towns, in like sort as he did Geryon and the castle of Cannæ; but had he spent much time about the getting of any one place well defended, the hunger that his army must have endured the winter and spring following, until corn were ripe, would have grievously punished him for such employment of the summer. This may have been the reason why he forbore to adventure upon Rome, after his victory at Cannæ. For had he failed (as it was a matter of no certainty) to carry the city at his first coming, want of victuals would have compelled him to quit the enterprise. Yea, many of the people that opened so hastily their gates unto him, upon the first bruit of his glorious success, would have taken time of deliberation, and waited, perhaps, the event of another battle; if being, either for want of means to force the city, or of necessaries to continue a siege before it, repelled (as might seem) from the walls of Rome, he had presented himself unto them with a lessened reputation, somewhat later in the year; when time to force their obedience was wanting, unless they would freely yield it. But this great part of the care and travel was past, when so many states of Italy were become his: the year following, the Samnites, and other old enemies of Rome, were like to receive a notable pleasure of their new alliance with Carthage, by helping to lay siege to that proud city, which so long had held them in subjection. Thus the winter was passed over joyfully; saving that there came not any tidings of the preparations, to second the welcome report of those mighty forces that were decreed and expected. The spring drew on, and of the promised supply there arrived no more than on