so strong and celebrated, and so closely connected with the Carthaginians, that Hannibal had taken a wife from it, revolted to the Romans.  The Carthaginians commenced the siege of Illiturgi, because there was a Roman garrison in it; and it seemed that they would carry the place, chiefly in consequence of a lack of provisions.  Cneius Scipio, setting out with a legion lightly equipped, in order to bring succour to his allies and the garrison, entered the city, passing between the two camps of the enemy, and slaying a great number of them.  The next day also he sallied out and fought with equal success.  Above twelve thousand were slain in the two battles, more than a thousand made prisoners, and thirty-six military standards captured.  In consequence of this they retired from Illiturgi.  After this the siege of Bigerra, a city which was also in alliance with the Romans, was commenced by the Carthaginians; but Scipio coming up, raised the siege without experiencing any opposition.

42.  The Carthaginians then removed their camp to Munda, whither the Romans speedily followed them.  Here a pitched battle was fought, which lasted almost four hours; and while the Romans were carrying all before them in the most glorious manner, the signal for retreat was sounded, because the thigh of Cneius Scipio had been transfixed with a javelin.  The soldiers round about him were thrown into a state of great alarm, lest the wound should be mortal.  However, there was no doubt but that if they had not been prevented by the intervention of this accident, they might have taken the Carthaginian camp that day.  By this time, not only the men, but the elephants, were driven quite up to the rampart; and even upon the top of it nine and thirty elephants were pierced with spears.  In this battle, too, as many as twelve thousand are said to have been slain, nearly three thousand captured, with fifty-seven military standards.  The Carthaginians retired thence to the city Auringis, whither the Romans followed them, in order to take advantage of their terror.  Here Scipio again fought them, having been carried into the field in a small litter; the victory was decisive; but not half so many of the enemy were slain as before, because fewer survived to fight.  But this family, which possessed a natural talent at renewing war and restoring its effects, in a short time recruited their army, Mago having been sent by his brother to press soldiers, and assumed courage to try the issue of a fresh struggle.  Though the soldiers were for the most part different, yet as they fought in a cause which had so often been unsuccessful within the space of a few days, they carried into the field the same state of mind as those which had been engaged before, and the issue of the battle was similar.  More than eight thousand were slain, not much less than a thousand captured, with fifty-eight military standards.  The greater part of the spoils had belonged to the Gauls, consisting of golden chains and bracelets in