§34.17.1interim P. Manlius praetor exercitu vetere Q. Minucio, cui successerat, accepto, adiuncto et Ap. Claudi Neronis ex ulteriore Hispania vetere item exercitu, in Turdetaniam proficiscitur. §34.17.2omnium Hispanorum maxime imbelles habentur Turdetani; freti tamen multitudine sua obviam ierunt agmini Romano. §34.17.3eques immissus turbavit extemplo aciem eorum.
Meanwhile, the praetor Publius Manlius, having received the veteran army from Quintus Minucius, whom he had succeeded, and having also joined to it the likewise veteran army of Appius Claudius Nero from Farther Spain, set out for Turdetania. The Turdetani are considered the least warlike of all the Spaniards; nevertheless, relying on their numbers, they went out to meet the Roman column. The cavalry, being sent against them, immediately threw their line into confusion.
pedestre proelium nullius ferme certaminis fuit; §34.17.4milites veteres, periti hostium bellique, haud dubiam pugnam fecerunt.
The infantry battle was of almost no contest; the veteran soldiers, experienced with the enemy and war, made the battle of no doubtful outcome.
nec tamen ea pugna debellatum est; decem milia Celtiberum mercede Turduli conducunt alienisque armis parabant bellum. §34.17.5consul interim rebellione Bergistanorum ictus, ceteras quoque civitates ratus per occasionem idem facturas, arma omnibus cis Hiberum Hispanis adimit. §34.17.6quam rem adeo aegre passi, ut multi mortem sibimet ipsi consciscerent, ferox genus, nullam vitam rati sine armis esse. §34.17.7quod ubi consuli renuntiatum est, senatores omnium civitatium ad se vocari iussit atque iis “non nostra” inquit “magis quam vestra refert vos non rebellare, si quidem id maiore Hispanorum malo quam exercitus Romani labore semper adhuc factum est. §34.17.8id ut ne fiat, uno modo arbitror caveri posse, si effectum erit, ne possitis rebellare. §34.17.9volo id quam mollissima via consequi.
Yet the war was not ended by that battle; the Turduli hired ten thousand Celtiberians for pay and were preparing for war with foreign arms. Meanwhile, the consul, struck by the rebellion of the Bergistani and thinking that the other states also would do the same if given the opportunity, disarmed all the Spaniards on this side of the Ebro. They took this matter so hard that many inflicted death upon themselves, being a fierce race, who thought that there was no life without arms. When this was reported to the consul, he ordered the senators of all the states to be summoned to him, and said to them: "It is of concern not so much to us as to you that you do not rebel, since indeed it has always hitherto happened with greater disaster to the Spaniards than labor to the Roman army. In order that this may not happen, I think it can be guarded against in only one way, if it is brought about that you cannot rebel. I wish to attain this by the gentlest possible way.
vos quoque in ea re consilio me adiuvate. §34.17.10nullum libentius sequar, quam quod vosmet ipsi attuleritis. ” tacentibus spatium se ad deliberandum dierum paucorum dare dixit. §34.17.11cum revocati secundo quoque concilio tacuissent, uno die muris omnium dirutis, ad eos, qui nondum parebant, profectus, ut in quamque regionem venerat, omnes, qui circa incolebant, populos in deditionem accepit. §34.17.12Segesticam tantum, gravem atque opulentam civitatem, vineis et pluteis cepit.
Do you also assist me with your advice in this matter. I will follow no advice more willingly than that which you yourselves bring forward." As they remained silent, he said that he gave them a space of a few days for deliberation. When, being summoned again, they had also remained silent at the second council, having destroyed the walls of all of them in a single day, he set out against those who did not yet obey, and as he came into each region, he accepted all the peoples dwelling around into surrender. Only Segestica, an important and wealthy state, he took by means of mantlets and breastworks.