34.18
The
subjugation of the enemy was a more difficult task for Cato than it had been
for those generals who had entered Spain for the first time. The Spaniards
went over to them because they were sick of the domination of Carthage,
but Cato had, so to speak, to reclaim them like slaves who had asserted and
enjoyed freedom. He found commotion everywhere, some tribes were in
arms, others were having their cities besieged to drive them into revolt, and
had it not been for his timely succour their powers of resistance must have
been exhausted. But the consul was a man of such force and energy that he
took up and executed single-handed the greatest and smallest tasks alike; he
not only thought out and gave directions as to what was best to be done, but
he carried most of his measures through personally. Over no one in the army
did he exercise severer discipline than over himself; in his frugal mode of life,
in his incessant vigilance and hard work he rivalled the meanest of his
soldiers. The only privilege he enjoyed in his army was his rank and
authority.
