Hasdrubal's Conduct in His Last Battle
Hasdrubal had behaved on this occasion, as throughout
note
his whole life, like a brave man, and died
fighting: and he deserves not to be passed over
without remark. I have already stated that
Hannibal was his brother, and on his departure to Italy
entrusted the command in Iberia to him. I have also described
his many contests with the Romans, and the many embarrassing
difficulties with which he had to struggle, caused by the generals
sent from Carthage to Iberia; and how in all these matters he
had supported these vicissitudes and reverses in a noble spirit
worthy of a son of Barcas. But I will now speak of his last
contest, and explain why he seems to me pre-eminently to
deserve respectful attention and imitation. Most generals and
kings, when entering upon decisive battles, place before their
eyes the glory and advantages to be obtained from victory, and
frequently consider and contrive what use they will make of
every success; but they do not go on to review the chances
of failure, nor contemplate the plan to be adopted, or the
action to be taken, in the case of reverse. Yet the former is
obvious, the latter requires foresight. Therefore it is that most
of them, though in many instances their soldiers have fought
nobly, by their own folly and imprudence in this respect have
added dishonour to defeat: have disgraced their previous
achievements, and rendered themselves, during the remainder
of their lives, objects of reproach and contempt. It is easy to
see that many leaders make this fatal mistake, and that the
difference between one man and another in these points is
most signal; for history is full of such instances. Hasdrubal,
on the contrary, as long as there was reasonable hope of being
able to accomplish anything worthy of his former achievements,
regarded his personal safety in battle as of the highest consequence; but when Fortune deprived him of all hopes for the
future, and reduced him to the last extremities, though
neglecting nothing either in his preparations or on the field
that might secure him the victory, nevertheless considered
how, in case of total overthrow, he might face his fate and
suffer nothing unworthy of his past career.
These remarks are meant for those engaged in active
operations, that they may neither dash the hopes of those who
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rely upon them by a heedless seeking of danger, nor by an
unworthy clinging to life add disgrace and shame to the
catastrophies which befall them.
