23.28
Although this despatch made a great
impression on the senate, they decided that as Italy demanded their first and
closest attention, the arrangements about Hannibal and his forces must not
be altered. Himilco was sent with a large and well-appointed army and an
augmented fleet to hold and defend Spain by sea and land. As soon as he had
brought his military and naval forces across he formed an entrenched camp,
hauled his ships up on the beach and surrounded them with a rampart. After
providing for the safety of his force he started with a picked body of cavalry,
and marching as rapidly as possible, and being equally on the alert whether
passing through doubtful or through hostile tribes, succeeded in reaching
Hasdrubal. After laying before him the resolutions and instructions of the
senate and being in his turn shown in what way the war was to be managed
in Spain, he returned to his camp. He owed his safety most of all to the
speed at which he travelled, for he had got clear of each tribe before they
had time for any united action. Before Hasdrubal commenced his march, he
levied contributions on all the tribes under his rule, for he was quite aware
that Hannibal had secured a passage through some tribes by paying for it,
and had obtained his Gaulish auxiliaries simply by hiring them. To commence
such a march without money would hardly bring him to the Alps. The
contributions were therefore hurriedly called in and after receiving them he
marched down to the Ebro. When the resolutions of the Carthaginians and
Hasdrubal's march were reported to the Roman generals, the two Scipios at
once put aside all other matters and made preparations to meet him at the
outset with their joint forces and stop his further progress. They believed
that if Hannibal, who single-handed was almost too much for Italy, were
joined by such a general as Hasdrubal and his Spanish army it would mean
the end of the Roman empire. With so much to make them anxious they
concentrated their forces at the Ebro and crossed the river. They deliberated
for some considerable time as to whether they should meet him, army against
army, or whether it would be enough for them to hinder his proposed march
by attacking the tribes in alliance with the Carthaginians. The latter plan
seemed the best, and they made preparations for attacking a city which from
its proximity to the river was called Hibera, the wealthiest city in that
country. As soon as Hasdrubal became aware of this, instead of going to the
assistance of his allies he proceeded to attack a city which had recently put
itself under the protection of Rome. On this the Romans abandoned the siege
which they had begun and turned their arms against Hasdrubal himself.
