The consul in Spain was encamped not far from Emporiae. [2] Here he was approached by three envoys from Bilistages, the chief of the Ilergetes, one of them the chief's son. They reported that their strongholds were being attacked and they were hopeless of making a successful resistance unless the Roman general sent a force: [3] 3000 men would be sufficient; the enemy would not stay to fight if such a large body of troops came into the field. [4] The consul told them that he was greatly concerned for their danger and their fears, but his numbers were by no means sufficient to allow of his reducing his strength by dividing his forces while the enemy were so near and he was daily expecting to have to fight a pitched battle with them. [5] On hearing this the envoys flung themselves in tears at the consul's feet and implored him not to desert them in an hour of such sore distress. [6] Where could they, they cried, go if they were repulsed by the Romans? They had no allies, no hope of succour anywhere else in the world. [7] They could have avoided this danger had they been willing to break faith and make common cause with the rest of their countrymen. No threats, no intimidation had moved them so long as they hoped to find sufficient help and support from the Romans. [8] If there was none to be had, if their request was refused by the consul, they called gods and men to witness that, against their will and through sheer compulsion, they would have to desert the cause of Rome lest they should suffer what the Saguntines had suffered. They would rather perish with the rest of the Spaniards than meet their fate alone.
