not only with the maritime states, but now also with
the more savage tribes in the inland and mountainous
districts; nor was peace only effected with them,
but also an alliance of arms, and several fine cohorts
of auxiliaries were levied from their numbers.
The country on this side of the Iberus was the province
of Hanno, whom Hannibal had left to defend that region.
He, therefore, judging that he ought to make opposition,
before every thing was alienated from him, having pitched
his camp in sight of the enemy, led out his forces
in battle-array; nor did it appear to the Roman, that
the engagement ought to be deferred, as he knew that
he must fight with Hanno and Hasdrubal, and wished
rather to contend against each of them separately,
than against both together. The conflict did
not prove one of great difficulty; six thousand of
the enemy were slain, and two thousand made prisoners,
together with the guard of the camp; for both the camp
was stormed, and the general himself, with several
of the chief officers, taken; and Scissis, a town
near the camp, was also carried by assault. But
the spoil of this town consisted of things of small
value, such as the household furniture used by barbarians
and slaves that were worth little. The camp enriched
the soldiers; almost all the valuable effects, not
only of that army which was conquered, but of that
which was serving with Hannibal in Italy, having been
left on this side the Pyrenees, that the baggage might
not be cumbrous to those who conveyed it.
61. Before any certain news of this disaster
arrived, Hasdrubal, having passed the Iberus with
eight thousand foot and a thousand horse, intending
to meet the Romans on their first approach, after he
heard of the ruin of their affairs at Scissis, and
the loss of the camp, turned his route towards the
sea. Not far from Tarraco, having despatched
his cavalry in various directions, he drove to their
ships, with great slaughter, and greater route, the
soldiers belonging to the fleet and the mariners,
while scattered and wandering through the fields (for
it is usually the case that success produces negligence),
but not daring to remain longer in that quarter, lest
he should be surprised by Scipio, he withdrew to the
other side of the Iberus. And Scipio, having
quickly brought up his army on the report of fresh
enemies, after punishing a few captains of ships and
leaving a moderate garrison at Tarraco, returned with
his fleet to Emporiae. He had scarcely departed,
when Hasdrubal came up, and having instigated to a
revolt the state of the Ilergetes, which had given
hostages to Scipio, he lays waste, with the youth
of that very people, the lands of the faithful allies
of the Romans. Scipio being thereupon roused
from his winter quarters, Hasdrubal again retires from
in all the country on this side the Iberus. Scipio,
when with a hostile army he had invaded the state
of the Ilergetes, forsaken by the author of their
revolt, and having driven them all into Athanagia,