40.50
On
this, Ergavica, a powerful and influential city, alarmed at the disasters which
had befallen her neighbours, opened her gates to the Romans. Some
authorities assert that these surrenders were not made in good faith, and
wherever Gracchus withdrew his legions, hostilities were at once renewed;
also that he fought a great battle with the Celtiberi at Mt. Chaunus, lasting
from dawn till mid-day, and many fell on both sides. You would not suppose
from this that the Romans achieved any great success beyond the fact that
they challenged the enemy who kept within his lines, and also spent the
whole day in collecting the spoils. They assert, further, that on the third day
a still bigger battle was fought, and now at last the Celtiberi suffered a
decisive defeat; their camp was taken and plundered, 22,000 of the enemy
were killed, more than 300 taken prisoners, and about the same number of
horses and 72 military standards were taken. This finished the war and a real,
not an insincere peace, as before, was made. According to these authors, L.
Postumius fought with great success against the Vaccaei in Further Spain
this summer, killing 35,000 of the enemy and getting possession of their
camp. It would be nearer the truth to say that he arrived in his province too
late in the summer to undertake a campaign.
