BOOK Hasdrubal Bars, and joined Mago, having quickly
XXVIII. armed a great numer of men in Celtiberia (an in-
Y.R.545. land prin equidistant from both seas), Scipio, to
B.C.207. oppose him Maus Silanus with only ten
thousand fit and five hundred horse. Silanus pro-
celet with all possible expedition; and though his
seded by the ruggedness of the roads,
des suunded with thick woods, which
with in most parts of Spain, yet, taking
irls sne of the natives, who had deserted
from Cellers, he came up with the Carthaginians
bene ay seger, or even any report of his ap
proach had acted them. From deserters he also
received ition, when he was about ten mile
stant from the enemy, that they had two camps,
en est side of the road in which he was march-
th the Celtiberians, who were newly-raised
sting to more than nine thousand men,

the camp on the left, the Carthaginians that
the right that the latter was strong, and secured
bywatelies, and every regular military
und the her disorderly, and negligently guarded

cs of barbarians, who were but lately
aiset vere under the less apprehension because
win their own country. Silanus, resolving
te this son first, ordered the troops to
se a great way to the left, so as not to
of the posts of the Carthaginians
isletscouts before him, he advanced

I. He halved within about three miles, and tend yet descried him; craggy Tods in with thick bushes, covered the HB derp as to be out of the Ray a theratin be undered his men to halt, and take at the seats in the mean-time atgece given by the dests collecting the baggage

Y.R.545.

he centre, armed themselves, and moved for- BOOK n regular order. At the distance of a mile XXVIII. ere perceived by the enemy, among whom pearance immediately created much hurry B.C. 207. fusion. On the first shout, Mago rode up eed from his camp. Now there were, in erian army, four thousand targeteers, and ed horsemen; this regular legion (and it the whole of their strength) he placed line; the rest, who were lightly armed, 1 reserve. While he was leading them camp in this order, and when they had t clear of the rampart, the Romans heir javelins at them; these the Spaed to avoid, and then the enemy rose to eir own; which, when the Romans, in ad received on their conjoined shields, customed manner, they immediately foot, and had recourse to their swords the contest. But the unevenness of the same time that it rendered their to the Celtiberians, who practise a od of fighting, was no disadvantage accustomed to a steady fight, except passes, and the bushes interspersed, ranks, and obliged them to engage or two against two, as if they had the combat. The same circumented the enemy from flying, deif in fetters, to slaughter. The ltiberians being thus almost enht troops and the Carthaginians, n the other camp to support routed and put to the sword. foot, and all the cavalry fled ry onset. Hanno, the other came up last, after the batken alive. Almost the whole t veteran infantry they had,

THE

HISTORY OF ROME.

BOOK XXVIII.

Successful operations against the Carthaginians, in Spain, under Silanus, Scipio's lieutenant, and L. Scipio, his brother; of Sulpicius and Attalus, against Philip King of Macedonia. Scipio finally vanquishes the Carthaginians in Spain, and reduces that whole country; passes over into Africa; forms an alliance with Syphax King of Numidia; represses and punishes a mutiny of a part of his army; concludes a treaty of friendship with Masinissa; returns to Rome, and is elected consul; solicits Africa for his province, which is opposed by Quintus Fabius Maximus; is appointed governor of Sicily, with permission to pass over into Africa.

I.

L.A

XXVIII.

T the time when, in consequence of Hasdru- BOOK bal's removing his forces, Spain seemed to be relieved of so much of the burden of the war Y.R.545. as had been thrown upon Italy, hostilities suddenly B.C. 207. revived there with the same violence as before. The possessions of the Romans and Carthaginians in Spain, at that time, were thus situated: Hasdrubal, son of Gisgo, had withdrawn quite to the ocean and Gades; the coast of our sea, and almost all that part of Spain which lies to the eastward, was under the power of Scipio, and the dominion of the Romans. Hanno, the new general; who had come over from Africa with a new army, in the room of