28.34
The
Spanish camp was captured the same day and in addition to the rest of the
booty 3000 prisoners were secured. As many as 2000 Romans and allies fell
in the battle; the wounded amounted to more than 3000. The victory would
not have been so costly had the battle been fought in a wider plain where
flight would have been easier. Indibilis laid aside all idea of continuing the
war, and thought that the safest course, considering his hopeless position,
would be to throw himself on Scipio's well-known clemency and honour. He
sent his brother Mandonius to him. Throwing himself on his knees before the
victor he put everything down to the fatal frenzy of the time, which like
some pestilential contagion had infected not only the Ilergetes and
Lacetanians but even a Roman army with madness. He declared that he and
his brother and the rest of their countrymen were in such a condition that
they would, if he thought it right, give back their lives to the same P. Scipio
from whom they had received them, or, if they were spared a second time,
they would devote the whole of their lives to the one man to whom they
owed them. Previously they had trusted to the strength of their cause and
had not made trial of his clemency, now that their cause was hopeless they
put all their trust in their conqueror's mercy. It was the traditional practice of
the Romans, in the case of a conquered nation with whom no friendly
relations had previously existed either through treaty or community of rights
and laws, not to accept their submission or allow any terms of peace until all
their possessions sacred and profane had been surrendered, hostages given,
their arms taken away and garrisons placed in their cities. In the present
instance however, Scipio, after sternly reprimanding Mandonius and the
absent Indibilis at considerable length, said that their lives were justly
forfeited by their crime, but that through his own kindness and that of the
Roman people, they would be spared. He would not, however, demand
hostages, since these were only a security for those who feared a fresh
outbreak of hostilities, nor would he take away their arms, he would leave
their minds at rest. But if they revolted it was not unoffending hostages but
they themselves who would feel the weight of his arm; he would inflict
punishment not upon a defenceless but upon an armed foe. He would leave it
to them whether they preferred the favour or the wrath of Rome; they had
experience of both. So Mandonius was dismissed, the only condition
imposed upon him being a pecuniary indemnity sufficient to furnish the pay
which was owing to the troops. After sending Marcius on in advance into
Southern Spain, Scipio stayed where he was for a few days until the
Ilergetes paid over the indemnity and then, setting out with a light-armed
force, overtook Marcius who was already nearing the ocean.