21.52
The
fact that both consuls and all the available strength that Rome possessed
were now brought up to oppose Hannibal, was a pretty clear proof that
either that force was adequate for the defence of Rome or that all hope of its
defence must be abandoned. Nevertheless, one consul, depressed after his
cavalry defeat, and also by his wound, would rather that battle should be
deferred. The other, whose courage had suffered no check and was therefore
all the more eager to fight, was impatient of any delay. The country between
the Trebia and the Po was inhabited by Gauls who in this struggle between
two mighty peoples showed impartial goodwill to either side, with the view,
undoubtedly, of winning the victor's gratitude. The Romans were quite
satisfied with this neutrality if only it was maintained and the Gauls kept
quiet, but Hannibal was extremely indignant, as he was constantly giving out
that he had been invited by the Gauls to win their freedom. Feelings of
resentment and, at the same time, a desire to enrich his soldiers with plunder
prompted him to send 2000 infantry and 1000 cavalry, made up of Gauls and
Numidians, mostly the latter, with orders to ravage the whole country,
district after district, right up to the banks of the Po. Though the Gauls had
hitherto maintained an impartial attitude, they were compelled in their need
of help to turn from those who had inflicted these outrages to those who
they hoped would avenge them. They sent envoys to the consuls to beg the
Romans to come to the rescue of a land which was suffering because its
people had been too loyal to Rome. Cornelius Scipio did not consider that
either the grounds alleged or the circumstances justified his taking action. He
regarded that nation with suspicion on account of their many acts of
treachery, and even if their past faithlessness could have been forgotten
through lapse of time, he could not forget the recent treachery of the Boii.
Sempronius, on the other hand, was of opinion that the most effective means
of preserving the fidelity of their allies was to defend those who first asked
for their help. As his colleague still hesitated, he sent his own cavalry
supported by about a thousand javelin men to protect the territory of the
Gauls on the other side of the Trebia. They attacked the enemy suddenly
whilst they were scattered and in disorder, most of them loaded with
plunder, and after creating a great panic amongst them, and inflicting severe
losses upon them, they drove them in flight to their camp. The fugitives were
driven back by their comrades who poured in great numbers out of the
camp, and thus reinforced they renewed the fighting. The battle wavered as
each side retired or pursued, and up to the last the action was undecided.
The enemy lost more men; the Romans claimed the victory.
