28.23
The
wholesale slaughter was at any rate the work of an exasperated soldiery who
met their armed foes in the shock of open battle. But a much more horrible
butchery took place in the city, where a weak and defenceless crowd of
women and children were massacred by their own people, and their still
writhing bodies flung on to the lighted pile which was again almost
extinguished by the streams of blood. And last of all the men themselves,
exhausted by the pitiful slaughter of those dear to them, flung themselves
arms and all into the midst of the flames. All had perished by the time the
Romans came on the scene. At first they stood horror-struck at such a
fearful sight, then, seeing the melted gold and silver flowing amongst the
other articles which made up the heap, the greediness common to human
nature impelled them to try and snatch what they could out of the fire. Some
were caught by the flames, others were scorched by the heated air, for those
in front could not retreat owing to the crowd pressing on behind. Thus
Astapa was destroyed without yielding any plunder to the soldiers. After
accepting the surrender of the remaining cities in that district Marcius led his
victorious army back to Scipio at New Carthage. Just at this time some
deserters came from Gades and promised to deliver up the city with its
Carthaginian garrison and the commandant and also the ships in the harbour.
After his flight Mago had taken up his quarters in that city, and with the help
of the ships which he had assembled he had got together a considerable
force, partly from the opposite coast of Africa and partly through the agency
of Hanno from the Spanish tribes round. After guarantees of good faith had
been given on both sides, Scipio sent Marcius with the cohorts of light
infantry and Laelius with seven triremes and one quinquereme to conduct
joint operations against the place by sea and land.