been the fear of the event: for ever since it was known in what sort Nero had left his army, the whole city was troubled, as much as lately at Hannibal's coming thither. Men thought it strange that the consul should make such a great adventure, as thus to put the one half of all the Roman forces unto hazard of the dice. For what if Hannibal should chance to have notice of this his departure, and either pursue him, or set upon the army that stayed behind, much weakened, and without a general? Thus did they talk k; yet reserving their censure unto the success, with liberty to approve or condemn, according to the issue. In the mean while, the people filled the market-place; the women ran to the temples, with vows and prayers; and the senators were daily in counsel, waiting still ready at hand upon the magistrates, as if some great matter were likely to fall out, that would require every one's help. In brief, they were all so full of melancholy, that when first news of the victory came, there were not many that would believe it. Afterwards, when messengers arrived from the consuls, with letters containing all that had passed, there was not only great and joyful concourse of all sorts of men unto the temples, but the very face of the city was altered, and men from thenceforth began to follow their private business, making contracts one with another, (which they had long forborne to do,) and attending their own affairs in such wise, as if Hannibal were already driven out of Italy.

Nero, returning to his camp, threw forth openly the head of Asdrubal before the Carthaginians, and producing his African prisoners bound, sent two of them loose, to give Hannibal notice of what had happened. These two prisoners might have served well enough to certify Hannibal of this misadventure, without doing wrong to the dead body of Asdrubal; especially since Hannibal, in honourable and far different manner, had given burial to Gracchus and Marcellus, yea, to all the Roman generals whose carcasses fell into his hands. But it may seem, that howsoever the people of Carthage wanted much of the generous disposition which was found among the Romans, in their love unto the

commonweal, yet in dealing with enemies, they were far more civil, and less prone to the insolency of revenge. The best excuse of this outrage done by Nero, is, that he hoped much more by the sudden terror of such a spectacle, than by the simple relation of that which had passed, to make a deep impression of fear into the Carthaginians. It may also be said, that he forgot himself, being overjoyed with the greatness of his prosperity. For it was the battle of Metaurus that weighed down the balance, and turned the tide of the Roman fortune; which, being then at the lowest ebb, ceased not afterwards to flow, till it could not be contained within any banks. Hannibal, having lost in this unhappy fight (besides that worthy gentleman his brother) all the hope that so long sustained him in Italy, withdrew himself into the country of the Brutians; and thither he caused all the Lucans that were of his party to remove, as likewise all that dwelt in Metapontum. For he wanted men to defend so many places as he held at the present, because they lay too far asunder. Wherefore he drew them all into a lesser compass in the utmost corner of Italy, it being a country of much fastness, and the people exceedingly devoted to his service. In this business Nero gave him no memorable impediment, either because Hannibal was too strong for him, having all his forces united, or because it is likely that this remove of the Lucans and Metapontines was not before the end of summer, when their harvest was gathered in, at what time the senate called him home to Rome. M. Livius, the other consul, tarried among the Cisalpine Gauls until the end of summer, there to set things in such order as he thought requisite; which done, he wrote unto the senate, that there was no more need of him and his army in that province, but that L. Porcius, with the two legions that were there before, might very well discharge the place. For this cause he desired leave to return home, and that he might bring his army with him. The senate well understood his meaning, which was, to have the honour of a triumph, as he well deserved. But forasmuch as it was well known what interest Nero had in the late victory, order was given,

that not only Livy with his army should come home, but likewise Nero, though leaving his army behind him, to confront Hannibal. So the honour of triumph was granted to them both; in the pomp whereof Livy made the greater show, as riding in a chariot, and followed by his soldiers, because in his province, and upon his day of command, the victory was gotten, his army also being present at the triumph. But Nero, that rode on horseback, and without such attendance, was the more extolled both by the people and soldiers, by whom the victory was in a manner wholly ascribed unto his great worth. Neither wanted L. Veturius Philo and Q. Cæcilius Metellus, lieutenants to the generals, the due acknowledgment of their good service: for they were commended unto the people as men worthy to be chosen consuls; and consuls they were chosen for the year following. But nothing was done by them worthy of memory in their consulship. Neither indeed from this year, which was the thirteenth of the present war, until the eighteenth year, wherein it ended, was there any matter of importance wrought in Italy, save only the taking of Locri from the Carthaginians by surprise. For Hannibal wanted strength wherewith to make any great offer, and the Romans had little mind to provoke him, but thought it well that he was quiet. Such opinion had they conceived of him, that though all about him went to ruin, yet in him alone they thought there was force enough to hold himself upright. And surely very notable are the commendations given unto him by Polybius, whom Livy therein follows; that making war upon a people, of all others the most warlike, he obtained so many victories by his own good conduct; and that leading an army compounded of so many sundry nations, Africans, Spaniards, Gauls, Carthaginians, Italians, and Greeks, which were neither in language, laws, conditions, or any other thing, one like to another, he held them all in such good order, that they never fell to sedition among themselves, or against their general. But that which Livy adds hereto is yet perhaps of greater admiration, that he sustained his army without help from other

places, from this time forward, upon the hungry soil of the Brutians; which, when it was best manured in time of peace, could hardly suffice to nourish the inhabitants. It is therefore apparent, that by his proper worth and virtue he kept his army in such order and obedience, rather than by any greatness of reward and booty; since, after the death of Asdrubal, he made no invasion upon the wealthier parts of Italy, but held himself still among the poor Brutians. Where we must leave him until he be drawn into Afric by Scipio, whose doings will henceforth entertain and lead us unto the end of this war.

SECT. XVII.

How P. Cornelius Scipio, the Roman, made entire conquest of Spain.

§. I.

How the Carthaginians were driven by Scipio from the continent into the isle of Gades.

MAGO, and Asdrubal the son of Gesco, took upon them the charge of Spain, when Asdrubal the son of Amilcar departed thence into Italy. These agreed together, that Mago should make a voyage to the Baleares, there to levy a supply of men; and Asdrubal withdraw himself into Lusitania, (which is now Portugal,) whither the Romans had ill means to follow, being altogether unacquainted in those parts. Mago had soon ended his business, and returned into Spain, where he met with one Hanno, (the same perhaps that had lately been employed in Sicily,) who brought new forces out of Afric, and came to succeed in place of Asdrubal the Barchine. It is not unlikely that Spain was now the better and more readily furnished with men and all things needful from Carthage, when that son of Amilcar, whose authority had been greatest, was thence departed. For hereby might the factious diligence of old Hanno approve itself against that noble race of warriors, when it should appear that things did prosper much the better by being left unto the handling of other men. Whether it were upon desire to make good some such opinion raised of him

at home, or whether upon confidence in the forces that he brought over, Hanno took the field, and led Mago with him, as purposing afresh to set upon the Romans. So he entered into the country of the Celtiberians, not very far from new Carthage; where, by money and other persuasions, he levied above nine thousand men.

P. Scipio in the mean while contained himself in the eastern parts of Spain; attentive, as it may seem, to the proceedings of Asdrubal the son of Amilcar; against whom he is reported by some writers to have sent part of his forces into Italy, to the assistance of C. Claudius Nero and M. Livius the consuls. But hearing of the levy made by Hanno and Mago among the Celtiberians, he sent M. Syllanus, the propretor, with ten thousand foot and five hundred horse. Syllanus got intelligence by some fugitive Celtiberians, who became his guides, that their countrymen encamped apart from the Carthaginians in great disorder; as men fearing no danger, because they were at home. Wherefore, as closely as he was able, he drew near to these Celtiberians; and falling upon them on the sudden, gave them such an overthrow, that Hanno and Mago coming to their succour, instead of heartening and reinforcing them, became partakers of the loss. Mago saved himself, with all the horse, and old companies of foot, which were about two thousand; and in ten days' journey brought them safe to Asdrubal. The rest of the Africans were either slain or taken; among whom Hanno had the ill luck to be taken prisoner, though he kept himself out of the fight until all was lost. As for the Celtiberians, they knew better how to make shift, and saved most of themselves by running into the woods.

It could no otherwise be, but that Scipio was much troubled with the danger wherein Italy stood, by the coming thither of Asdrubal. Ten thousand foot and eighteen hundred horse he did therefore send out of Spain (as it is reported by some authors) to the defence of his own country; or was perhaps about to send them, and thereupon remained at New Carthage, intentive to the necessity and success of