CHARACTER OF VIRIATUS.

41

his country's wrongs. For some time, perhaps for years, his exploits were confined to the despoiling the avaricious invaders of the plunder they had amassed. Whenever he discovered any detached body of Romans (and he had emissaries in every direction), not the whirlwind could move more swiftly to revenge, or the thunderbolt prove more destructive. The wealth which he thus acquired he is said to have utterly disregarded: a portion was distributed among his followers, the rest among the poor, to whom he was the most bountiful of benefactors. When the adversary was too powerful to be assailed with any prospect of success, he harassed the rear; and if pursued, fled to his inaccessible fastnesses in the mountains, to rush forth on a more favourable occasion.

Thus trained in the best of schools for the great scenes that were about to open before him, his habits were distinguished by uncommon temperance, even by austerity. He never changed his raiment, nor indulged himself with the luxury of a bed: bread and meat were his only food, and water his only beverage. Over his passions he had acquired supreme control. Self he is said to have sacrificed on the altar of patriotism, and to have smiled at the oblation. Of the contempt with which he beheld the luxuries and even conveniences of life, his marriage-feast afforded a good proof. On that occasion the guests were regaled with great splendour by the father of the bride, one of the richest men in the Peninsula. Not only were the tables loaded with plate of silver and gold filled with the choicest dainties, but the very floors were covered with costly carpets. At the hour of dinner, Viriatus with his lance in hand, without which he never appeared, entered the room. Casting an angry glance at the magnificence around him, he advanced to the table, and in a standing posture rapidly despatched his bread and flesh, while the guests were abandoned to epicurean indulgence. He then received the hand of the maiden according to the rites of the

147.

country; but the moment the ceremony was concluded, he took her in his arms, mounted his horse, and galloped to the mountains, where his followers were encamped.

B. C. Animated by success and the increased number of his adherents, whom the perfidy of Galba roused to revenge, Viriatus, now the acknowledged chief of several tribes, poured from his dwelling in the clouds the storm of war on the plains of Lusitania. On the confines of the Turdetani, who inhabited the western part of Andalusia, perhaps also the Algarves of Portugal, his followers, while occupied in plunder, were surprised by the prætor Vitellius at the head of 10,000 Romans. Perceiving that defence would be of little avail, they were preparing to surrender, when Viriatus, with a thundering voice, called them round him; upbraided them for their want of subordination, still more for their panic fear; and made them swear implicit obedience to his commands. He formed them into line of battle, as if resolved to contest the field with Vitellius. Nothing, however, was farther from his thoughts; he would not yet oppose his raw levies to the probability of extermination by disciplined veterans. At this momentous crisis he had recourse to stratagem: the moment he mounted his horse as if to charge the enemy, the whole of his infantry, in compliance with his orders, suddenly fled through the precipitous mountain paths, leaving him with only 1000 horsemen opposed to Vitellius. This extraordinary manoeuvre riveted the Romans to the spot; nor did they recover from their surprise before the fugitives were too distant to render pursuit availing. During more than twenty-four hours, he deluded them with a succession of masterly feints: if they advanced, he fell back, yet with his front towards them; if they halted, he also remained immovable, as if ready to receive them. The second night, knowing that his troops must be far on their way to the appointed rendezvous, he and his horsemen galloped off with the

SUCCESSES OF VIRIATUS.

43

speed of the wind, and joined them within the walls of Tribola.*

This stratagem was succeeded by another still more humiliating and disastrous to the Romans. While on the march towards Tribola, and just as they were passing through a wood, they were surprised by the unexpected appearance of the Lusitanian chief accompanied by a handful of men. Feigning extreme fear, he fled, and artfully drew them into a marsh, which from his acquaintance with the places that afforded a firm footing, he and his followers traversed with safety. While struggling in the mire, they were assailed by his whole force, which he had placed in ambush: nearly one half were destroyed or taken prisoners. Among the latter was the prætor himself; whom a fierce Lusitanian, despising his age and corpulency, ran through the body.

Viriatus was too sagacious not to pursue the advantage. He followed the fugitives into Carpetania, and reduced their already diminished numbers at every step. Not one would have escaped him, had not Nigidius, prætor of Hither Spain, hastened from Tarragona to avenge the death of his colleague. The new forces were joined by the fugitives, and their combined numbers presenting too formidable a front to the Lusitanian, he retreated. He was pursued into Portugal, where in a pitched battle his arms again triumphed over the Romans.

The next campaign was distinguished by successes B. C. still more signal. Two new prætors, Unimanus of 146. Hither and Plautius of Farther Spain, were successively routed nearly on the same spot, and not far from the banks of the Tagus, in the Portuguese province of Alentejo. The victor now carried his arms into Bætica. In his march he carefully refrained from injuring the crops, -a policy as humane as it was unexampled ; but he exacted rigorous contributions from the towns

Tribola was probably situated between Beja and Evora, in the province of Alentejo.

to

140.

which owned the authority of the republic. Most of
the Iberian nations south of the Xucar felt the weight
of his arms, or submitted to his demands.
The strong

town of Segobriga, now Segorbe, in Valencia, bade de-
fiance to both. Where force failed him, stratagem was
generally successful. Having placed his followers in
ambush, at some distance from the town, he sent a
chosen band to seize the flocks and herds which were
feeding on the plain. Many of the inhabitants having
issued forth to protect their property, were deluded into
the ambuscade, and destroyed. Still the place refused to
surrender; but the crafty Lusitanian, who pretended to
abandon the siege, and who had remained three days'
journey from the walls, suddenly returned; and while
the inhabitants were occupied in a religious festival,
forced an entrance, and, after an obstinate struggle, in-
flicted a terrible vengeance on them.

*

B. C. Rome now began to look seriously on a war which 145 had deprived her already of nearly one half her possessions in the Peninsula. At the head of 17,000 men, the consul, Quintus Fabius Maximus, was despatched thither; but he prudently forbore to encounter the formidable Viriatus, until a rigorous discipline of twelve months had inured his forces to fatigue, and restored them to self-confidence. His lieutenant sustained a defeat under the walls of Orsona (now Ossuna), but he soon gained a decisive victory over the Lusitanians. Other advantages were gained by the prætor Lælius, but not of a character sufficient to damp the exertions of the enemy. While Termes and Numantia defied the ablest generals and numerous hosts of Rome, Viriatus passed from tribe to tribe, reanimated the desponding, confirmed the wavering, and lost no opportunity of striking a blow for his country when there appeared the slightest probability of success. But the most

Livy, Epit., lib. xl.-lii. Florus, Hist. Rom. lib. xi. c. 17. Appian, De Bello Hispanico, lib. iii. Orosius, lib. iv. v. Cornelius Victor, De Viris Illustribus, passim. Appian is generally correct, as we might expect from a foreigner, and still more so the Christian Orosius.

PEACE WITH VIRIATUS.

45

those on

powerful of his allies, the Celtiberians, whom he placed the greatest dependence,—were too fickle to adhere with constancy to the common cause. So long, indeed, as his arms were victorious, they eagerly followed his standard; but when defeat came,and, in spite of his talents and activity, it was frequently his lot,—they turned a favourable ear to the proposals of Rome. Some tribes, indeed, of that great nation adhered to him with as much fidelity as the most devoted of the Lusitanians; but the defection of the rest frequently compelled him to retire for a season to his mountain fastnesses. It was therefore no wonder that the consul Metellus, the successor of Fabius, should subdue several of the revolted tribes, and force Viriatus to retire into Lusitania. But the latter was never more formidable than in retreat. Having drawn the consul Servilianus into the heart of the country, he twice routed that general with great slaughter. The whole war was so disastrous to the Romans, notwithstanding the ability and valour of Metellus; the losses of the enemy were so soon repaired; that Pompeius Rufus, his successor, after an unsuccessful assault on Termes and Numantia, made peace with Viriatus. He was, indeed, compelled to make it, or to witness the destruction of his army, which the Lusitanian had drawn into a very unfavourable position, and which lay at the mercy of the latter. The reasonableness of the conditions proves the moderation of Viriatus, no less than his desire for the tranquillity of his country.*

If, as Appian informs us†, this peace was ratified by the Roman senate, the perfidy of that body was as infamous as any which had disgraced their prætors. Cæpio, the successor of Pompeius in the government of Farther Spain, received secret orders to prosecute the war, yet as if on his own responsibility, and so as not to compromise the honour of the fathers. That

* Viriatus himself was desirous of peace. "Pacem a populo Romano maluit integer petere, quam victus."—Aurelius Victor.

+ Tom. i. p. 498.