us armies marched immediately in quest of Cneus, in
order to put an end to the war by his defeat. He was already more than
half vanquished by the desertion of his allies, who all forsook him; and
left to the Roman generals this important instruction;(793) _viz._ never
to let their own forces be exceeded in number by those of foreigners. He
guessed that his brother was slain, and his army defeated, upon seeing
such great bodies of the enemy arrive. He survived him but a short time,
being killed in the engagement. These two great men were equally lamented
by their citizens and allies; and Spain deeply felt their loss, because of
the justice and moderation of their conduct.

These extensive countries seemed now inevitably lost; but the valour of L.
Marcius,(794) a private officer of the equestrian order, preserved them to
the Romans. Shortly after this, the younger Scipio was sent thither, who
severely revenged the death of his father and uncle, and restored the
affairs of the Romans in Spain to their former flourishing condition.

(M128) _The Defeat and Death of Asdrubal._(_795_)--One unforeseen defeat
ruined all the measures, and blasted all the hopes of Hannibal with regard
to Italy. The consuls of this year, which was the eleventh of the second
Punic war, (for I pass over several events for brevity's sake,) were C.
Claudius Nero, and M. Livius. The latter had, for his province, the
Cisalpine Gaul, where he was to oppose Asdrubal, who, it was reported, was
preparing to pass the Alps. The former commanded in the country of the
Brutians, and in Lucania, that is, in the opposite extremity of Italy, and
was there making head against Hannibal.

The passage of the Alps gave Asdrubal very little trouble, because his
brother had cleared the way for him, and all the nations were disposed to
receive him. Some time after this, he despatched couriers to Hannibal, but
they were intercepted. Nero found by their letters, that Asdrubal was
hastening to join his brother in Umbria. In a conjuncture of so important
a nature as this, when the safety of Rome lay at stake, he thought himself
at liberty to dispense with the established rules(796) of his duty, for
the welfare of his country. In consequence of this, it was his opinion,
that such a bold and unexpected blow ought to be struck, as might be
capable of striking terror into the enemy; by marching to join his
colleague, in order that they might charge Asdrubal unexpectedly with
their