34.11
The
consul in Spain was encamped not far from Emporiae. Here he was
approached by three envoys from Bilistages, the chief of the Ilergetes, one of
them the chief's son. They reported that their strongholds were being
attacked and they were hopeless of making a successful resistance unless the
Roman general sent a force: 3000 men would be sufficient; the enemy would
not stay to fight if such a large body of troops came into the field. The
consul told them that he was greatly concerned for their danger and their
fears, but his numbers were by no means sufficient to allow of his reducing
his strength by dividing his forces while the enemy were so near and he was
daily expecting to have to fight a pitched battle with them. On hearing this
the envoys flung themselves in tears at the consul's feet and implored him not
to desert them in an hour of such sore distress. Where could they, they cried,
go if they were repulsed by the Romans? They had no allies, no hope of
succour anywhere else in the world. They could have avoided this danger
had they been willing to break faith and make common cause with the rest of
their countrymen. No threats, no intimidation had moved them so long as
they hoped to find sufficient help and support from the Romans. If there was
none to be had, if their request was refused by the consul, they called gods
and men to witness that, against their will and through sheer compulsion,
they would have to desert the cause of Rome lest they should suffer what the
Saguntines had suffered. They would rather perish with the rest of the
Spaniards than meet their fate alone.
