34.19
The
Turdetani, as I have already stated, were employing Celtiberian mercenaries,
and this added to the praetor's difficulties in his campaign against them. He
wrote to Cato for assistance and the consul marched his legions thither, and
found on arrival that the Celtiberians and the Turdetani were occupying
separate camps. With the Turdetanian patrols encounters commenced at
once and the Romans always came off victorious, however desultory the
fighting. The Celtiberians were treated differently; the consul ordered the
military tribunes to go to them and give them the choice of three courses: to
go over to the Romans and receive double the pay that they were to get from
the Turdetanians, or to depart to their homes under a guarantee from the
Roman Government that they should not suffer for having joined their
enemies, or, if they were in any case bent on war, to fix a time and place
where they could decide the matter by arms. The Celtiberians asked for a
day's grace for consultation. A council was held, but owing to the presence
of the Turdetani and the confusion and disorder which prevailed, no decision
could be arrived at. Whilst the question of war or peace was still in suspense
the Romans were bringing provisions from the fields and fortified villages of
the enemy, and often entered their entrenchments as many as ten at a time,
just as though there was a tacit truce admitting of general intercourse. As the
consul could not induce the enemy to fight, he sent some light-armed cohorts
on a plundering expedition into a part of the country which had not yet
suffered spoliation. He next marched to Segestia with the view of attacking
it, as he heard that all the baggage and personal belongings of the
Celtiberians had been left there. As, however, nothing would make them
move, he returned with an escort of seven cohorts to the Ebro, after
discharging the arrears of pay to his own men and to the praetor's army as
well. The whole of his army he left in the praetor's camp.
