Chapter C: Sallustii Crispi (2)

19. Postea Phoenices, alii multitudinis domi minuendae gratia, pars imperii cupidine, sollicitata plebe et aliis novarum rerum avidis,[132] Hipponem, Hadrumetum, Leptim[133] aliasque urbes in ora maritima condidere, eaeque brevi multum auctae, pars originibus suis[134] praesidio, aliae decori fuere. Nam[135] de Carthagine silere melius puto quam parum dicere, quoniam alio properare tempus monet. Igitur ad Katabathmon, qui locus Aegyptum ab Africa dividit, secundo mari[136] prima Cyrene est, colonia Theraeon, ac deinceps duae Syrtes,[137] interque eas Leptis; deinde Philaenon arae,[138] quem locum Aegyptum versus finem imperii habuere Carthaginienses, post aliae Punicae urbes. Cetera loca usque ad Mauretaniam Numidae tenent; proxime Hispaniam Mauri sunt. Super Numidiam[139] Gaetulos accepimus partim in tuguriis, alios incultius vagos agitare, post eos Aethiopas esse, dein loca exusta solis ardoribus. Igitur bello Jugurthino pleraque ex Punicis oppida et fines Carthaginiensium, quos novissime[140] habuerant, populus Romanus permagistratus administrabat, Gaetulorum magna pars et Numidae usque ad flumen Mulucham sub Jugurtha erant, Mauris omnibus rex Bocchus imperitabat, praeter nomen cetera ignarus[141] populi Romani, itemque nobis neque bello neque pace antea cognitus. De Africa et ejus incolis ad necessitudinem rei satis dictum.

[132] To _aliis--avidis_ supply _sollicitatis_.
[133] All three are cities in the territory of Carthage, which afterwards
became the province of Africa. Hippo with the surname of Diarrhytus,
(there being another town, Hippo Regius, on the coast of Numidia,) is
said to be the modern Bizerta; Hadrumetum, southeast of Carthage, and
Leptis, surnamed minor (there being another town, Leptis magna, more
to the east), are now in ruins.
[134] 'To their origin;' that is, to their mother country Phoenicia,
whence the settlers had come.
[135] The transition to Carthage by the conjunction _nam_ presupposes
the ellipsis of some such sentiment as--'I only meant to mention
these Phoenician settlements on the African coast, _for_ it is well
known that Carthage also was a settlement of the Phoenicians.'
[136] _Secundo mari_, 'along the sea,' is said according to the analogy
of _secundo flumine_ (see Caes. _Bell. Gall._ vii. 58) _secundo
flumine ad Lutetiam iter facere coepit_. The sea has indeed no
current like a river, but the direction is determined by the person
travelling on the coast, and in this case it is the direction from
east to west. _Theraei_ are the inhabitants of the island of Thera,
in the Greek Archipelago, south of Peloponnesus, whence the first
Greek settlers at Cyrene proceeded in B. C. 631, under the leadership
of Battus. Respecting the Greek genitive _on_, instead of _orum_, see
Zumpt, S 52, 1.
[137] _Syrtis major_ and _Syrtis minor_ are two large sandbanks near the
coast of Africa between Cyrene and Carthage. They were very
dangerous to navigation, and between them lay the route to Leptis
magna, a city of considerable importance. Compare chap. 78, where
Sallust describes these sandbanks and the bays named after them.
[138] The origin of the name of this place is stated by Sallust, chap.
79. As it was situated above the great, that is, the eastern Syrtis,
it is clear that _deinde_ is used somewhat vaguely, since only the
great Syrtis, but not the town of Leptis and the small Syrtis,
precede the place Arae Philaenon in the order of succession.
[139] 'Above Numidia;' that is, southward, towards the inland, the
coast being always, or at least being always conceived to be, lower
than the inland districts.
[140] _Novissime_, 'latterly;' that is, at the beginning of the third
Punic war, the result of which was, that Carthage and its territory
became a Roman province.
[141] _Cetera ignarus_, 'otherwise unknown.' Compare p. 87, note 4 [note
127]; and on _cetera_, Zumpt, S 459.

20. Postquam, diviso regno, legati Africa decessere, et Jugurtha contra timorem animi praemia sceleris adeptum sese videt, certum ratus, quod ex amicis apud Numantiam acceperat, omnia Romae venalia esse, simul et illorum pollicitationibus accensus, quos paulo ante muneribus expleverat, in regnum Adherbalis animum intendit. Ipse acer, bellicosus; at is, quem petebat, quietus, imbellis, placido ingenio, opportunus injuriae, metuens magis quam metuendus. Igitur ex improviso fines ejus cum magna manu invadit; multos mortales cum pecore atque alia praeda capit, aedificia incendit, pleraque loca hostiliter cum equitatu accedit, deinde cum omni multitudine in regnum suum convertit, existimans dolore permotum Adherbalem injurias suas manu vindicaturum, eamque rem belli causam fore. At ille, quod neque se parem armis existimabat et amicitia populi Romani magis quam Numidis fretus erat, legatos ad Jugurtham de injuriis questum[142] misit; qui tametsi contumeliosa dicta retulerant, prius tamen omnia pati decrevit quam bellum sumere, quia temptatum antea secus[143] cesserat. Neque eo magis cupido Jugurthae minuebatur, quippe qui totum ejus regnum animo jam invaserat. Itaque non uti antea cum praedatoria manu, sed magno exercitu comparato bellum gerere coepit et aperte totius Numidiae imperium petere. Ceterum qua pergebat urbes, agros vastare, praedas agere, suis animum, hostibus terrorem augere.

[142] _Questum_, the supine, 'in order to complain' [143] 'The war previously undertaken had turned out unsuccessfully.' About _secus_, see Zumpt, S 283.

21. Adherbal ubi intellegit eo processum, uti regnum aut relinquendum esset aut armis retinendum, necessario copias parat et Jugurthae obvius procedit. Interim haud longe a mari prope Cirtam oppidum[144] utriusque exercitus consedit, et quia diei extremum erat, proelium non inceptum. Sed ubi plerumque[145] noctis processit, obscuro etiamtum lumine, milites Jugurthini signo dato castra hostium invadunt; semisomnos partim,[146] alios arma sumentes fugant funduntque; Adherbal cum paucis equitibus Cirtam profugit, et ni multitudo togatorum[147] fuisset, quae Numidas insequentes moenibus prohibuit, uno die inter duos reges coeptum atque patratum bellum foret. Igitur Jugurtha oppidum circumsedit, vineis turribusque et machinis omnium generum expugnare aggreditur, maxime festinans tempus legatorum antecapere, quos ante proelium factum ab Adherbale Romam missos audiverat. Sed postquam senatus de bello eorum accepit, tres adolescentes in Africam legantur, qui ambos reges adeant, senatus populique Romani verbis nuntient: 'Velle et censere eos ab armis discedere, de controversiis suis jure potius quam bello disceptare; ita seque illisque[148] dignum esse.'

[144] _Cirta_, the capital of Numidia, situated in that part of the
country nearest to Carthage, or the Roman province. It is said to be
'not far from the sea,' only in consideration of the vast extent of
Numidia to the south. Cirta is the modern Constantina, which name it
received in honour of the Emperor Constantine, and is situated at a
distance of four days' march from Bona, the ancient Hippo Regius.
[145] _Plerumque_ for the more common _plurimum_, 'the greater part.'
See Zumpt, S 103.
[146] As Sallust in other passages connects _pars_ and _alii_, so here
_partim_ and _alios_, _partim_ being the same as _partem_.
[147] _Togati_ are Roman citizens, for they alone wore the peculiar and
privileged dress called _toga_. But it may be that other Italians
also are comprised under the name; for Romans and Italians resided in
great numbers in all the towns subject to the Roman dominion, for
the sake of commerce, and in them they formed a distinct _conventus_.
_Moenibus prohibere_. See Zumpt, S 468.
[148] It would be more in accordance with the ordinary usage to say,
_et se et illis_. See Zumpt, S 338.

22. Legati in Africam maturantes veniunt, eo magis, quod Romae, dum proficisci parant, de proelio facto et oppugnatione Cirtae audiebatur; sed is rumor clemens erat.[149] Quorum Jugurtha accepta oratione respondit: 'Sibi neque majus quiequam neque carius auctoritate senatus esse; ab adolescentia ita se enisum, ut ab optimo quoque probaretur; virtute, non malitia P. Scipioni, summo viro, placuisse; ob easdem artes ab Micipsa, non penuria liberorum, in regnum adoptatum esse. Ceterum quo plura bene atque strenue fecisset, eo animum suum injuriam minus tolerare: Adherbalem dolis vitae suae insidiatum; quod ubi comperisset, sceleri ejus obviam isse; populum Romanum neque recte neque pro bono facturum,[150] si ab jure gentium sese prohibuerit; postremo de omnibus rebus legatos Romam brevi missurum.' Ita utrique[151] digrediuntur. Adherbalis appellandi copia non fuit.

[149] Literally, 'but this report was mild;' that is, it spoke of the
battle and siege as if they had been mild or moderate; which was not
the case, as Jugurtha carried them on with all his energy.
[150] _Pro bono facere_; literally, 'to act in accordance with what is
good,' and hence 'to act well,' _bene agere_.
[151] _Utrique_ refers to both parties--the Roman ambassadors on the one
hand, and Jugurtha on the other. The ambassadors were not allowed to
speak with Adherbal.

23. Jugurtha ubi eos Africa decessisse ratus est, neque propter loci naturam Cirtam armis expugnare potest, vallo atque fossa moenia circumdat, turres extruit easque praesidiis firmat, praeterea dies noctesque aut per vim aut dolis temptare, defensoribus moenium praemia modo, modo formidinem ostentare, suos hortando ad virtutem arrigere,[152] prorsus intentus cuncta parare. Adherbal, ubi intellegit omnes suas fortunas in extremo sitas, hostem infestum, auxilii spem nullam, penuria rerum necessariarum bellum trahi non posse, ex iis, qui una Cirtam profugerant, duos maxime impigros delegit; eos multa pollicendo ac miserando casum suum confirmat, uti per hostium munitiones noctu ad proximum mare, dein Romam pergerent. Numidae paucis diebus jussa efficiunt; litterae Adherbalis in senatu recitatae, quarum sententia haec fuit:

[152] _Arrigere_, the same as _excitare_; hence frequently _animum
arrigere_, 'to rouse courage.'

24. 'Non mea culpa saepe ad vos oratum mitto, patres conscripti, sed vis Jugurthae subigit, quem tanta libido extinguendi me invasit, ut neque vos neque deos immortales in animo habeat, sanguinem meum quam omnia malit. Itaque quintum jam mensem socius et amicus populi Romani armis obsessus teneor, neque mihi Micipsae patris mei beneficia neque vestra decreta auxiliantur; ferro an fame acrius urguear incertus sum. Plura de Jugurtha scribere dehortatur me fortuna mea; et jam antea expertus sum parum fidei miseris esse. Nisi tamen intellego[153] illum supra quam ego sum petere, neque simul amicitiam vestram et regnum meum sperare. Utrum gravius existimet, nemini occultum est. Nam, initio occidit Hiempsalem, fratrem meum, dein patrio regno me expulit; quae sane fuerint nostrae injuriae, nihil ad vos.[154] Verum nunc vestrum regnum armis tenet, me, quem vos imperatorem Numidis posuistis, clausum obsidet; legatorum verba quanti fecerit, pericula mea declarant. Quid reliquum nisi vestra vis, quo moveri possit? Nam ego quidem vellem et haec, quae scribo, et illa, quae antea in senatu questus sum, vana forent potius, quam miseria mea fidem verbis faceret. Sed quoniam eo natus sum, ut Jugurthae scelerum ostentui essem,[155] non jam mortem neque aerumnas, tantummodo inimici imperium et crutiatus corporis deprecor.[156] Regno Numidiae, quod vestrum est, uti libet consulite; me ex manibus impiis eripite per majestatem imperii, per amicitiae fidem, si ulla apud vos memoria remanet avi mei Masinissae.'

[153] _Nisi tamen intellego_ refers to the preceding _plura scribere
nolo_, and expresses an exception, as is always the case with _nisi_
after a negative: he will write nothing else, but still add the
remark that Jugurtha aimed at something beyond the kingdom of
Adherbal; namely, that he intended afterwards to attack the Romans
themselves, because he saw that the acquisition of the kingdom of
Adherbal was irreconcilable with the friendship of Rome. _Plura non
scribam nisi hoc intellego_ is an elliptical expression, equivalent
to _plura non scribam, nisi hoc scribam, me intellegere_.
[154] 'Whatever may have been our mutual acts of injustice, it is no
concern of yours;' that is, they must be indifferent to you. Consider
only the fact, that he has taken possession of the kingdom of your
ally.
[155] Adherbal, for the purpose of exciting the sympathy of the senate,
represents it as a fact that he is born only to exhibit (endure) the
crimes of Jugurtha. Respecting the dative _ostentui_, see Zumpt,
SS 90 and 422.
[156] Adherbal prays the senate to _prevent (deprecor)_ his enemy from
acquiring the sole sovereignty, and from killing him amid tortures.

25. His litteris recitatis fuere, qui exercitum in Africam mittendum censerent et quam primum Adherbali subveniundum; de Jugurtha interim uti consuleretur,[157] quoniam legatis non paruisset. Sed ab iisdem illis regis fautoribus summa ope enisum,[158] ne tale decretum fieret. Ita bonum publicum, ut in plerisque negotiis solet, privata gratia devictum. Legantur tamen in Africam majores natu, nobiles, amplis honoribus usi; in quis fuit M. Scaurus, de quo supra memoravimus, consularis et tum in senatu princeps. Hi, quod res in invidia erat, simul et ab Numidis obsecrati, triduo navim ascendere, dein brevi Uticam appulsi litteras ad Jugurtham mittunt, quam ocissime[159] ad provinciam accedat, seque ad eum ab senatu missos. Ille ubi accepit homines claros, quorum auctoritatem Romae pollere audiverat, contra inceptum suum venisse, primo commotus, metu atque libidine diversus agitabatur. Timebat iram senatus, ni paruisset legatis; porro animus cupidine caecus ad inceptum scelus rapiebat. Vicit tamen in avido ingenio pravum consilium. Igitur exercita circumdato summa vi Cirtam irrumpere[160] nititur, maxime sperans, diducta manu hostium[161] aut vi aut dolis sese casum victoriae inventurum. Quod ubi secus procedit neque quod intenderat efficere potest, ut prius quam legates conveniret, Adherbalis potiretur; ne amplius morando Scaurum, quem plurimum metuebat, incenderet, cum paucis equitibus in provinciam venit. Ac tametsi senati verbis graves minae nuntiabantur, quod ab oppugnatione non desisteret, multa tamen oratione consumpta legati frustra discessere.

[157] _Consuleretur_; supply _senatus_; 'that the subject of the
disobedience shown by Jugurtha should be brought for decision before
the senate.'
[158] _Enisum est_, 'it was carried.' Observe the passive meaning of the
deponent verb.
[159] _Quam ocissime_, 'as speedily as possible.' The positive of
_ocissime_ is not in use in Latin. Zumpt, S 293, note.
[160] _Cirtam irrumpere_ is a peculiarity in the style of Sallust, the
common expression being, _in urbem irrumpere_. See Zumpt, S 386,
note.
[161] By engaging the enemy's troops in different places, and thus
dividing them. This is the meaning of the inseparable particle _dis_
or _di_.

26. Ea postquam Cirtae audita sunt, Italici, quorum virtute moenia defensabantur, confisi deditione facta propter magnitudinem populi Romani inviolatos sese fore, Adherbali suadent, uti seque et oppidum Jugurthae tradat, tantum ab eo vitam paciscatur, de ceteris senatui curae fore. At ille, tametsi omnia potiora fide Jugurthae rebatur,[162] tamen quia penes eosdem, si adversaretur, cogendi potestas erat, ita, uti censuerant Italici, deditionem facit. Jugurtha in primis Adherbalem excruciatum necat, deinde omnes puberes Numidas atque negotiatores promiscue, uti quisque armatis obvius fuerat, interficit.

[162] 'Although he considered everything else to be of more weight than
the faithfulness (promise) of Jugurtha.' The conquest of Cirta, and
the putting to death of Adherbal, belong to the year B. C. 112.

27. Quod postquam Romae cognitum est, et res in senatu agitari coepta, iidem illi ministri regis interpellando[163] ac saepe gratia, interdum jurgiis trahendo tempus, atrocitatem facti leniebant. Ac ni G. Memmius, tribunus plebis designatus, vir acer et infestus potentiae nobilitatis, populum Romanum edocuisset id agi, ut per paucos factiosos Jugurthae scelus condonaretur, profecto omnis invidia prolatandis consultationibus dilapsa foret: tanta vis gratiae atque pecuniae regis erat. Sed ubi senatus delicti conscientia populum timet, lege Sempronia[164] provinciae futuris consulibus Numidia atque Italia decretae; consules declarati P. Scipio Nasica, L. Bestia Calpurnius; Calpurnio Numidia, Scipioni Italia obvenit;[165] deinde exercitus, qui in Africam portaretur, scribitur; stipendium aliaque, quae bello usui forent, decernuntur.

[163] _Interpellando_, 'by interrupting the speakers, and introducing
other topics.'
[164] By this law of the tribune G. Sempronius Gracchus, in the year
B. C. 122, it had been ordained that every year previous to the
election of the consuls for the next year, the senate should
determine those provinces which should be assigned to the consuls
about to be elected, after the expiration of the year of their
office. As two provinces were thus fixed upon, the consuls afterwards
determined by lot which should have the one, and which the other. The
object of this law was to prevent intrigues in the senate, which
would be carried on by the ruling consuls if they had to choose their
own provinces.
[165] _Obvenit_, 'fell to the lot.' Whenever Italy is called a province,
it is implied that the consul undertaking its administration was to
remain at Rome, and was to be ready for any other war which might
break out. For in the first place, there were now no wars in Italy,
and in the second place, Italy was not a province in the ordinary
sense of the term. The consuls here mentioned entered upon their
office on the 1st January, B. C. 111.

28. At Jugurtha, contra spem nuntio accepto, quippe cui Romae omnia venum ire[166] in animo haeserat, filium et cum eo duos familiares ad senatum legatos mittit, hisque ut illis, quos Hiempsale interfecto miserat, praecipit, omnes mortales pecunia aggrediantur. Qui postquam Romam adventabant,[167] senatus a Bestia consultus est, placeretne legatos Jugurthae recipi moenibus; iique decrevere, nisi regnum ipsumque deditum venissent, uti in diebus proximis decem[168] Italia decederent. Consul Numidis ex senati decreto nuntiari jubet; ita infectis rebus illi domum discedunt. Interim Calpurnius, parato exercitu, legat[169] sibi homines nobiles, factiosos, quorum auctoritate, quae deliquisset, munita fore sperabat; in quis fuit Scaurus, cujus de natura et habitu supra[170] memoravimus. Nam in consule nostro multae bonaeque artes animi et corporis erant, quas omnes avaritia praepediebat; patiens laborum, acri ingenio, satis providens, belli haud ignarus, firmissimus contra pericula et insidias. Sed legiones per Italiam Rhegium atque inde Siciliam,[171] porro ex Sicilia in Africam transvectae. Igitur Calpurnius initio, paratis commeatibus, acriter Numidiam ingressus est, multosque mortales et urbes aliquot pugnando cepit.

[166] _Venum eo_, or contracted _veneo_, infinitive _venire_, 'to go to
be sold,' or 'to be sold;' the passive of _vendo_ (I sell) is not in
use. Zumpt, S 187.
[167] _Adventabant_, with the accusative, see Zumpt, S 489.
[168] _In diebus_, &c.; for _in_, with words denoting time, see Zumpt,
S 479. _Deditum_ is a supine.
[169] _Legare_ properly signifies 'to despatch,' and 'to add to;' whence
the word _legatus_ means both 'an ambassador,' and 'a person added
to an officer,' who, when necessary, supplies his place. See _Catil._
chap. 59. It was the business of the senate to supply such legates
to a magistrate (_senatus legat aliquem alicui_), but as this was
commonly done on the proposal or recommendation of the magistrate
himself, we also read _legat sibi_, 'he chooses some one to be his
legate.'
[170] _Supra_. See chap. 15.
[171] Respecting the omission of _in_ before _Siciliam_, see Zumpt,
S 398, note 1.

29. Sed ubi Jugurtha per legatos pecunia temptare bellique quod administrabat asperitatem ostendere coepit, animus aeger avaritia[172] facile conversus est. Ceterum socius et administer omnium consiliorum assumitur Scaurus, qui tametsi a principio,[173] plerisque ex factione ejus corruptis, acerrime regem impugnaverat, tamen magnitudine pecuniae a bono honestoque in pravum abstractus est. Sed Jugurtha primo tantummodo belli moram redimebat, existimans sese aliquid interim Romae pretio aut gratia effecturum; postea vero quam participem negotii Scaurum accepit, in maximam spem adductus recuperandae pacis, statuit cum eis de omnibus pactionibus praesens agere. Ceterum interea fidei causa mittitur a consule Sextius quaestor in oppidum Jugurthae Vagam,[174] cujus rei species erat acceptio frumenti, quod Calpurnius palam legatis imperaverat, quoniam deditionis mora induciae agitabantur.[175] Igitur rex, uti constituerat, in castra venit, ac pauca praesenti consilio locutus de invidia facti sui atque uti in deditionem acciperetur, reliqua cum Bestia et Scauro secreta[176] transigit, dein postero die, quasi per saturam sententiis exquisitis,[177] in deditionem accipitur. Sed uti pro consilio[178] imperatum erat, elephanti triginta, pecus atque equi multi cum parvo argenti pondere quaestori traduntur. Calpurnius Romam ad magistratus rogandos[179] proficiscitur. In Numidia et exercitu nostro pax agitabatur.

[172] _Aeger avaritia_, 'sick with avarice;' a very appropriate
expression, describing moral defects as a disease.
[173] _A principio_; that is, _in principio_. See Zumpt, S 304. The
faction of Scaurus is that of the nobility or aristocracy.
[174] _Vaga_, a considerable town in Numidia, to the south-east of Cirta.
[175] 'A truce was observed on account of (or during) the delay of the
surrender,' which Jugurtha had promised, but which could not yet be
carried into effect.
[176] _Secreta_ refers to _reliqua_, so that the other negotiations were
secret, whereas the proposal to surrender had been made in presence
of the war council. It would have been more in accordance with
ordinary usage to employ the adverb _secreto_ belonging to the verb.
[177] The opinions of the persons invited to the war council were asked
only _en masse (per saturam)_. The Latin expression is taken from
_lanx satura_, a dish offered as a sacrifice to the gods, and
containing different kinds of fruit. Its figurative application to
other mixtures is here indicated by _quasi_.
[178] _Pro consilio_; that is, _in consilio_. See Zumpt, S 311.
[179] To cause the magistrates for the year B.C. 110 to be elected.
The president in the elective assembly _rogat populum_ (requests the
people) to appoint new officers; hence _rogare_, the usual term.

30. Postquam res in Africa gestas quoque modo actae forent fama divulgavit, Romae per omnes locos et conventus de facto consulis agitari. Apud plebem gravis invidia, patres solliciti erant; probarentne tantum flagitium, an decretum consulis subverterent, parum constabat.[180] Ac maxime eos potentia Scauri, quod is auctor et socius Bestiae ferebatur, a vero bonoque impediebat. At G. Memmius, cujus de libertate ingenii et odio potentiae nobilitatis supra diximus, inter dubitationem et moras senatus contionibus populum ad vindicandum hortari, monere, ne rem publicam, ne libertatem suam desererent, multa superba et crudelia facinora nobilitatis ostendere; prorsus intentus omni modo plebis animum accendebat. Sed quoniam ea tempestate Romae Memmii facundia clara pollensque fuit, decere existimavi unam ex tam multis orationem ejus perscribere, ac potissimum ea dicam, quae in contione post reditum Bestiae hujuscemodi verbis disseruit.

[180] _Parum constabat_, 'was not firmly determined upon;' namely, _iis,
patribus_--that is, they had not yet made up their minds.

31. 'Multa me dehortantur a vobis,[181] Quirites, ni studium rei publicae omnia superet, opes factionis, vestra patientia, jus nullum, ac maxime, quod innocentiae plus periculi quam honoris est. Nam illa quidem piget dicere, his annis XV.[182] quam ludibrio fueritis superbiae paucorum, quam foede quamque inulti perierint vestri defensores, ut vobis animus ab ignavia[183] atque socordia corruptus sit, qui ne nunc quidem, obnoxiis inimicis,[184] exsurgitis, atque etiamnunc timetis eos, quibus decet terrori esse. Sed quamquam haec talia sunt, tamen obviam ire factionis potentiae animus subigit.[185] Certe ego libertatem, quae mihi a parente meo tradita est, experiar; verum id frustra an ob rem[186] faciam, in vestra manu situm est, Quirites. Neque ego vos hortor, quod saepe majores vestri fecere, uti contra injurias armati eatis. Nihil vi, nihil secessione opus est: necesse est suomet ipsi more praecipites eant.[187] Occisso Ti. Graccho, quem regnum parare ajebant, in plebem Romanam quaestiones habitae sunt. Post G. Gracchi et M. Fulvi caedem item vestri ordinis multi mortales in carcere necati sunt; utriusque cladis non lex, verum libido eorum finem fecit. Sed sane fuerit regni paratio plebi sua restituere; quicquid sine sanguine civium ulcisci nequitur, jure factum sit.[188] Superioribus annis taciti indignabamini aerarium expilari, reges et populos liberos paucis nobilibus vectigal pendere, penes eosdem et summam gloriam et maximas divitias esse; tamen haec talia facinora impune suscepisse parum habuere.[189] Itaque postremo leges, majestas vestra, divina et humana omnia hostibus tradita sunt. Neque eos, qui ea fecere, pudet aut poenitet, sed incedunt per ora vestra[190] magnifici, sacerdotia et consulatus, pars triumphos suos ostentantes, perinde quasi ea honori non praedae habeant. Servi aera parati injusta imperia dominorum non perferunt; vos, Quirites, imperio nati, aequo animo servitutem toleratis? At qui sunt hi qui rem publicam oocupavere? Homines sceleratissimi, cruentis manibus, immani avaritia, nocentissimi iidemque superbissimi, quibus fides, decus, pietas, postremo honesta atque inhonesta omnia quaestui sunt. Pars eorum occidisse tribunos plebis, alii quaestiones injustas, plerique caedem in vos fecisse, pro munimento habent.[191] Ita quam quisque pessime fecit, tam maxime[192] tutus est: metum a scelere suo ad ignaviam vestram transtulere;[193] quos omnes eadem cupere, eadem odisse, eadem metuere in unum coegit.[194] Sed haec inter bonos amicitia, inter malos factio est. Quodsi tam vos libertatis curam haberetis, quam illi ad dominationem accensi sunt, profecto neque res publica, sicuti nunc, vastaretur, et beneficia vestra[195] penes optimos, non audacissimos, forent. Majores vestri parandi juris et majestatis constituendae gratia bis per secessionem armati Aventinum occupavere,[196] vos pro libertate, quam ab illis accepistis, non summa ope nitemini?[197] atque eo vehementius, quo majus dedecus est parta amittere quam omnino non paravisse. Dicet aliquis: Quid igitur censes? Vindicandum in eos,[198] qui hosti prodidere rem publicam? Non manu neque vi, quod magis vos fecisse quam illis accidisse indignum est, verum quaestionibus[199] et indicio ipsius Jugurthae, qut si dediticius est, profecto jussis vestris obediens erit; sin ea contemnit, scilicet existimabitis, qualis illa pax aut deditio sit, ex qua ad Jugurtham scelerum impunitas, ad paucos potentes maximae divitiae, in rem publicam damna atque dedecora pervenerint. Nisi forte[200] nondum etiam vos dominationis eorum satietas tenet, et illa quam haec tempora magis placent, quum regna, provinciae, leges, jura, judicia, bella atque paces, postremo divina et humana omnia penes paucos erant; vos autem, hoc est, populus Romanus, invicti ab hostibus, imperatores omnium gentium, satis habebatis animam retinere; nam servitutem quidem quis vestrum recusare audebat? Atque ego, tametsi viro flagitiosissimum existimo impune injuriam accepisse, tamen vos hominibus sceleratissimis ignoscere, quoniam cives sunt, aequo animo paterer, ni misericordia in perniciem casura esset. Nam et illis, quantum importunitatis habent,[201] parum est impune male fecisse, nisi deinde faciundi licentia eripitur, et vobis aeterna sollicitudo remanebit, quum intellegetis aut serviundum esse aut permanus libertatem retinendam. Nam fidei quidem aut concordiae quae spes est? Dominari illi volunt, vos liberi esse, facere illi injurias, vos prohibere; postremo sociis vestris veluti hostibus, hostibus pro sociis utuntur. Potestne in tam diversis mentibus pax aut amicitia esse? Quare moneo hortorque vos, ne tantum scelus impunitum omittatis. Non peculatus aerarii factus est, neque per vim sociis ereptae pecuniae, quae quamquam gravia sunt, tamen consuetudine jam pro nihilo habentur: hosti acerrimo prodita senatus auctoritas, proditum imperium vestrum, domi militiaeque res publica venalis fuit. Quae nisi quaesita erunt, nisi vindicatum in noxios, quid erit reliquum, nisi ut illis, qui ea fecere, obedientes vivamus? Nam impune quaelibet facere, id est regem[202] esse. Neque ego vos, Quirites, hortor, ut malitis cives vestros perperam quam recte fecisse, sed ne ignoscendo malis bonos perditum eatis.[203] Ad hoc in re publica multo praestat beneficii quam maleficii immemorem esse;[204] bonus tantummodo segnior fit, ubi neglegas, at malus improbior. Ad hoc si injuriae non sint, haud saepe auxilii egeas.'

[181] _Dehortantur a vobis_--that is, _ad causam vestram suscipiendam_,
'many things dissuade me to undertake your cause.' According to
the context, the expression might, or rather should be, _multa me
dehortantur, ni superaret_; but the present represents the act of
_superare_ as an actual fact, and is at the same time more
impressive.
[182] The number XV., which is found in all good manuscripts, points
to the year B. C. 125, in which the aristocracy gained a decisive
victory through the praetor L. Opimius, who destroyed the town of
Fregellae, and thereby crushed the first attempt of the Italian
allies (_socii_) to obtain the Roman franchise. It may be supposed
that this attempt of the allies was even then supported by the Roman
plebs, as was the case afterwards in the time of Marius.
[183] _Ab ignavia_ is to be taken in the sense of 'in consequence of,' or
'on account of your cowardice.' See Zumpt, S 305.
[184] 'When your political enemies (in consequence of the crime which
they have committed) are deserving of punishment, and in your hands.'
[185] _Animus subigit_. 'My feelings compel me to stand out against
the faction (of the optimates), in spite of your lukewarmness.'
[186] _Ob rem_, 'effectually,' 'with success.'
[187] 'They must ruin themselves.'
[188] 'I will grant that everything has been done with justice, which
cannot be punished without again shedding the blood of citizens;'
that is, the cruelties then committed by the optimates in crushing
Tib. and G. Gracchus may be considered as legitimate, since the
perpetrators cannot be punished without fresh executions. _Ulciscor_,
usually a deponent, is here used in a passive sense, just as the
participle _ultus_ is sometimes used in the sense of _vindicatus_.
For the same reason, the passive form _nequitur_ has been chosen;
respecting which, see Zumpt, S 216.
[189] _Parum habuere_, 'they considered it too little' (this is the
meaning of _parum_): it was not enough for them that they had
committed such disgraceful acts.
[190] _Incedere per ora hominum_, 'to walk in the eyes' or 'in the sight
of men.'
[191] 'The cruelties committed against the defenders of the plebs, serve
them as a bulwark;' that is, make them only the more audacious.
[192] About _quam maxime--tam maxime_, expressing a proportionate
increase, see Zumpt, S 725.
[193] A complicated expression--'they have transferred their fear, which
they ought to have on account of their crime, to your cowardice;'
that is, to you who are cowards, or whom they consider as cowards.
[194] _In unum coegit_; that is, _conjunxit, copulavit_. The infinitives
here are the subjects of the sentence: the same fear and the same
greediness have united all your opponents into one league. Compare
_Cat._ 20: _idem velle atque idem nolle, ea demum firma amicitia
est_.
[195] _Benejicia vestra_; that is, _honores, magistratus, imperia_.
[196] The speaker refers to the two most important secessions of the
Roman plebs--the one in which they obtained their tribunes in B.C.
510, and the other, which was undertaken in B.C. 449. to restore
the consulate and the tribuneship after the overthrow of the
tyrannical rule of the decemvirs. Both led to the establishment of a
legitimate state of things (_jus_), and the latter, in particular, to
the establishment of the decisive authority of the people against the
magistrates and the patricians. This sovereignty of the Roman
people was termed _majestas_. These secessions, according to the
statements of the ancients, were made to the Mons Sacer, and not
to the Aventine; but Sallust here follows other ancient authorities;
and it is probable enough that the plebs may have occupied both
hills.
[197] Respecting the form of this sentence, see Zumpt, S 781. The answer
to this question is contained in the clause _atque eo vehementius_,
to which we must supply _nitendum vobis est_. _Atque_ introduces the
answer with emphasis.
[198] _Vindicare_ is construed with _in_ and the accusative, as well as
_vindicare scelus in aliquo_ and _vindicare aliquam rem_. _Vindicare
in aliquem_, 'to use force against a person for the purpose of taking
revenge.' _Vindicare sibi rem_, 'to claim a thing for one's self,' or
'to appropriate a thing.'
[199] _Quaestio_, 'a judicial inquiry into a crime,' 'a criminal trial.'
[200] _Nisi forte_ supposes, with a strong irony, a case which cannot be
conceived. See Zumpt, S 526.
[201] _Quantum importunitatis habent_, 'according to the high degree of
impudence and arrogance which they possess.' Sallust might have said,
_quae eorum importunitas est_, or _pro eorum importunitate_. See
Zumpt, S 705.
[202] _Rex_, according to Roman notions, always contains the idea of an
absolute ruler, and is therefore frequently used in the sense of 'a
tyrant.' The idea of a constitutional or limited monarchy was not
known in antiquity, except perhaps at Sparta.
[203] _Perditum eatis_; that is, _perdatis_. See Zumpt, S 669.
[204] Practically, it is quite correct, that in the administration of a
state it is more necessary to punish criminals than to reward good
services; for it is impossible that all good citizens should be
rewarded with external distinctions; but if a criminal remains
unpunished, he does harm by his example, and undermines the organism
of the state.

32. Haec atque alia hujuscemodi saepe dicundo Memmius populo persuadet, uti L. Cassius, qui tum praetor erat, ad Jugurtham mitteretur eumque interposita fide publica Romam duceret, quo facilius indicio regis Scauri et reliquorum, quos pecuniae captae arcessebant,[205] delicta patefierent. Dum haec Romae geruntur, qui in Numidia relicti a Bestia exercitui praeerant, secuti morem imperatoris sui plurima et flagitiosissima facinora fecere. Fuere, qui auro corrupti elephantos Jugurthae traderent; alii perfugas vendere, pars ex pacatis praedas agebant; tanta vis avaritiae in animos eorum veluti tabes invaserat. At Cassius, perlata rogatione[206] a G. Memmio ac perculsa omni nobilitate, ad Jugurtham proficiscitur eique timido et ex conscientia diffidenti rebus suis persuadet, quoniam se populo Romano dedisset, ne vim quam misericordiam ejus experiri mallet. Privatim praeterea fidem suam interponit, quam ille non minoris quam publicam ducebat; talis ea tempestate fama de Cassio erat.

[205] _Arcessere_, 'to summon before a court of justice,' governs the
genitive of the thing for which a person is summoned.
[206] _Rogatio_, 'a proposal to the people,' because, in making a
proposal, as well as at elections of magistrates, the people were
requested (_rogabatur_) to pass a resolution.

33. Igitur Jugurtha contra decus regium cultu quam maxime miserabili cum Cassio Romam venit. Ac tametsi in ipso magna vis animi erat, confirmatus ab omnibus, quorum potentia aut scelere cuncta ea gesserat, quae supra diximus, G. Baebium tribunum plebis magna mercede parat, cujus impudentia contra jus et injurias omnes munitus foret. At G. Memmius, advocata contione, quamquam regi infesta plebes erat, et pars in vincula duci jubebat, pars, ni socios sceleris sui aperiret, more majorum de hoste supplicium sumi; dignitati quam irae magis consulens, sedare motus et animos eorum mollire, postremo confirmare, fidem publicam per sese[207] inviolatam fore. Post, ubi silentium coepit, producto Jugurtha, verba facit; Romae Numidiaeque[208] facinora ejus memorat, scelera in patrem fratresque ostendit. Quibus juvantibus quibusque ministris ea egerit, quamquam intellegat populus Romanus, tamen velle manifesta magis ex illo habere. Si verum aperiat, in fide et clementia populi Romani magnam spem illi sitam; sin reticeat, non sociis saluti fore,[209] sed se suasque spes corrupturum.

[207] _Per sese_, 'as far as lay in him,' 'as much as he could,' as in
the phrase _per me licet_.
[208] Respecting _Romae Numidiaeque_, where _Numidiae_ by a kind of
attraction takes the same case as _Romae_, instead of _in Numidia_,
see Zumpt, S 398, note 1.
[209] 'He (Jugurtha) would not, indeed, thereby be a safety to his
accomplices, but destroy his own hope (of obtaining pardon).'

34. Deinde, ubi Memmius dicundi finem fecit et Jugurtha respondere jussus est, G. Baebius, tribunus plebis, quem pecunia corruptum supra diximus, regem tacere jubet, ac tametsi multitudo, quae in contione aderat, vehementer accensa, terrebat eum clamore, vultu, saepe impetu atque aliis omnibus, quae ira fieri amat,[210] vicit tamen impudentia. Ita populus ludibrio habitus ex contione discedit: Jugurthae Bestiaeque et ceteris, quos illa quaestio exagitabat, animi augescunt.[211]

[210] The words _quae ira fieri amat_ are very surprising, but were
regarded by the ancients themselves as a Graecism of Sallust, from
whom Quinctilian quotes the words _quae vulgus amat fieri_, which
occurred in a work of Sallust that is lost. In both cases, we must
construe _ira (vulgus) amat_ with an accusative with the infinitive
after it: 'anger likes that this or that should happen.'
[211] _Animus augescit_, 'courage grows' or 'increases.' For the plural
_animi_, see Zumpt, S 92.

35. Erat ea tempestate Romae Numida quidam, nomine Massiva, Gulussae filius, Masinissae nepos; qui, quia in dissensione regum Jugurthae adversus fuerat, dedita Cirta et Adherbale interfecto, profugus ex Africa abierat. Huic Sp. Albinus, qui proximo anno post Bestiam cum Q. Minucio Rufo consulatum gerebat,[212] persuadet, quoniam ex stirpe Masinissae sit, Jugurthamque ob scelera invidia cum metu urgueat,[213] regnum Numidiae ab senatu petat. Avidus consul belli gerundi moveri quam senescere omnia malebat; ipsi provincia Numidia, Minucio Macedonia evenerat. Quae postquam Massiva agitare coepit, neque Jugurthae in amicis satis praesidii est, quod eorum alium conscientia, alium mala fama et timor impediebat, Bomilcari, proximo ac maxime fido sibi, imperat, pretio, sicuti multa confecerat, insidiatores Massivae paret, ac maxime[214] occulte, sin id parum procedat, quovis modo Numidam interficiat. Bomilcar mature regis mandata exequitur, et per homines talis negotii artifices itinera egressusque ejus, postremo loca atque tempora cuncta explorat, deinde, ubi res postulabat, insidias tendit. Igitur unus ex eo numero, qui ad caedem parati erant, paulo inconsultius Massivam aggreditur; illum obtruncat, sed ipse deprehensus, multis hortantibus et in primis Albino consule, indicium profitetur.[215] Fit reus magis ex aequo bonoque quam ex jure gentium Bomilcar, comes ejus, qui Romam fide publica venerat. At Jugurtha manifestus[216] tanti sceleris non prius omisit contra verum niti, quam animum advertit,[217] supra gratiam atque pecuniam suam invidiam facti esse. Igitur, quamquam in priore actione ex amicis quinquaginta vades dederat,[218] regno magis quam vadibus consulens, clam in Numidiam Bomilcarem dimittit, veritus ne reliquos populares metus invaderet parendi sibi, si de illo supplicium sumptum foret. Et ipse paucis diebus[219] eodem profectus est, jussus a senatu Italia decedere. Sed postquam Roma egressus est, fertur saepe eo tacitus respiciens postremo dixisse: 'urbem venalem et mature perituram, si emptorem invenerit.'

[212] We here enter the year B.C. 110.
[213] _Urgueat_, 'presses Jugurtha;' that is, he is hindered by the
indignation on account of his past crimes, and at the same time by
the apprehension with which the Roman people regard him.
[214] He would like best that it should be done in secret; but if this
should not succeed, he would like it to be done in any way, whatever
it might be. Instead of _maxime_, the author might have said
_potissimum_. See the same expression chap. 46.
[215] _Profiteri indicium_, 'to declare that you will state everything.'
We must understand that in the defective administration of justice
at Rome, the _index_ (informer) received a promise of impunity.
[216] _Manifestus_, with the genitive of the crime, is a person _qui mani
festo tenetur_, or against whom there is most decisive evidence.
[217] _Animum adverto_, the same as the compound _animadverto_, like
_venum eo_ for _veneo_.
[218] Jugurtha had given fifty sureties in the name of Bomilcar, in order
that he might remain at liberty. These sureties were of course fifty
Roman citizens. As Bomilcar fled, those sureties had to pay the money
with which each guaranteed his appearance, and there can be no doubt
but that Jugurtha secretly paid the money.
[219] _Paucis diebus._ See Zumpt, S 480.

36. Interim Albinus renovato bello commeatum, stipendium aliaque, quae militibus usui forent, maturat in Africam portare; ac statim ipse profectus, uti ante comitia, quod tempus[220] haud longe aberat, armis aut deditione aut quovis modo bellum conficeret. At contra Jugurtha trahere omnia et alias deinde alias morae causas facere, polliceri deditionem, ac deinde metum simulare, cedere instanti et paulo post, ne sui diffiderent, instare; ita belli modo, modo pacis mora consulem ludificare.[221] Ac fuere, qui tum Albinum haud ignarum consilii regis existimarent, neque ex tanta properantia tam facile tractum bellum socordia magis quam dolo crederent.[222] Sed postquam dilapso tempore comitiorum dies adventabat, Albinus, Aulo fratre in castris pro praetore relicto Romam decessit.

[220] This season was usually the middle of the year, but was frequently
delayed until the autumn. The consul Albinus seems to have been
commissioned to preside at the elections, because his colleague, who
had obtained Macedonia, was at a still greater distance.
[221] Jugurtha protracted the war, delayed the negotiations for peace,
and in this manner thwarted the consul. We have here restored the
active form _ludificare_, because it exists in all the manuscripts.
It is found also in Cicero, though the deponent _ludificari_ is more
frequent.
[222] Some were convinced that after the hurry which the consul had
shown at the beginning, the war was protracted, not so much by his
carelessness, as by his cunning designs. _Non magis quam_ is
expressed in modern languages as if the Latin were _dolo magis quam
socordia_: 'they believed that the war was protracted by his cunning
designs rather than by his carelessness.' See Zumpt, S 725.

37. Ea tempestate Romae seditionibus tribuniciis atrociter res publica agitabatur. P. Lucullus et L. Annius, tribuni plebis, resistentibus collegis, continuare magistratum[223] nitebantur, quae dissensio totius anni comitia impediebat. Ea mora in spem adductus Aulus, quem pro praetore in castris relictum supra diximus, aut conficiundi belli aut terrore exercitus ab rege pecuniae capiundae, milites mense Januario ex hibernis in expeditionem evocat, magnisque itineribus, hieme aspera, pervenit ad oppidum Suthul, ubi regis thesauri erant. Quod quamquam et saevitia temporis et opportunitate loci neque capi neque obsideri poterat (nam circum murum situm in praerupti montis extremo planities limosa hiemalibus aquis paludem fecerat[224]), tamen aut simulandi gratia, quo regi formidinem adderet, aut cupidine caecus ob thesauros oppidi potiundi, vineas agere, aggerem jacere, aliaque, quae incepto usui forent, properare.

[223] _Continuare magistratum_, 'to continue for another year in a
magistracy which has been given for only one year.' In the case of
some magistracies this was forbidden by law; in that of tribunes of
the people, it occurs rather frequently in the early times, that they
were re-elected twice or oftener in successive years. The last in
stance of a tribuneship lasting for two years is that of G. Gracchus,
in B.C. 123 and 122; and even then this re-election was the cause of
violent commotions, and it was impossible to carry it for the third
year.
[224] Around the wall, which had been built on the extreme edge of a
precipitous rock, the clayey soil had formed a marsh. Respecting
_extremum_ used substantively, see Zumpt, S 435.

38. At Jugurtha, cognita vanitate atque imperitia legati, subdolus ejus augere amentiam, missitare[225] supplicantes legatos, ipse quasi vitabundus per saltuosa loca et tramites exercitum ductare. Denique Aulum spe pactionis perpulit, uti relicto Suthule in abditas regiones sese veluti cedentem insequeretur; 'ita delicta occultiora fore.' Interea per homines callidos die noctuque exercitum temptabat; centuriones ducesque turmarum partim uti transfugerent corrumpere, alii signo dato locum uti desererent.[226] Quae postquam ex sententia instruit, intempesta nocte de improviso multitudine Numidarum Auli castra circumvenit. Milites Romani, perculsi tumultu insolito, arma capere alii, alii se abdere, pars territos confirmare, trepidare[227] omnibus locis; vis magna hostium, coelum nocte atque nubibus obscuratum, periculum anceps,[228] postremo fugere an manere tutius foret, in incerto erat. Sed ex eo numero, quos paulo ante corruptos diximus, cohors una Ligurum cum duabus turmis Thracum et paucis gregariis militibus transiere ad regem,[229] et centurio primi pili[230] tertiae legionis per munitionem, quam uti defenderet acceperat, locum hostibus introeundi dedit, eaque Numidae cuncti irrupere. Nostri foeda fuga, plerique abjectis armis, proximum collem occupavere. Nox atque praeda castrorum hostes, quo minus victoria uterentur, remorata sunt. Deinde Jugurtha postero die cum Aulo in colloquio verba facit: 'tametsi ipsum cum exercitu fame et ferro clausum tenet,[231] tamen se memorem humanarum rerum, si secum foedus faceret, incolumes omnes sub jugum missurum,[232] praeterea uti diebus decem Numidia decederet.' Quae quamquam gravia et flagitii plena erant, tamen, quia mortis metu mutabantur,[233] sicuti regi libuerat, pax convenit.

[225] Respecting the frequentatives _ductare_ and _missitare_, which last
is a secondary derivative from _mittere_ (as _currere, cursare,
cursitare_), see Zumpt, S 231; and about _vitabundus_, S 248.
[226] The usual arrangement of the words would be: _corrumpere, ut alii
(partim) transfugerent, alii--desererent_. The _ut_ is here repeated
in the second clause, which is rather unusual.
[227] _Trepidare_, in its proper sense, is, 'to run about with fear and
trembling.'
[228] _Anceps_, 'twofold,' on the part of the enemy and of that of
nature.
[229] The author here distinguishes the infantry (_cohors_) and cavalry
(_turma_) of the auxiliaries, and the common soldiers from the Roman
legions.
[230] The _primus pilus_ in a Roman legion is the first company
(_manipulus_) of the third class of legionaries, who were called
_pilani_ or _triarii_, and were employed in battle as a reserve,
while the two other classes of legionaries, the _hastati_ and
_principes_, began the engagement. A legion thus contained ten
maniples of every class; that is, altogether thirty maniples, each of
which consisted of two _centuriae_, and each _centuria_ was commanded
by a _centurio_. Out of these sixty centurions of a legion, the two
commanding the _primus pilus_ (they themselves also were called, like
their companies, _primi pili_) were the first in rank, and again the
_ductor prioris centuriae primi pili_ was the principal centurion in
a legion. The treachery of such an officer, therefore, is the more
surprising. To the pronoun _ea_ supply _via_; _ea_, with this
ellipsis, is used as an adverb in the sense of 'there.' See Zumpt,
S 207, 288.
[231] In accordance with the rules on the oratio obliqua, Sallust ought
to have written _teneat_.
[232] A _jugum_ was formed by two lances fixed in the ground, and a
third fastened across them so as to form a gate. When an army
confessed itself to be conquered, and after capitulating, was allowed
to depart, the troops had to march under a yoke of this description.
[233] Literally: 'because the disgrace was exchanged for the fear of
death;' that is, by enduring it, they became free from the fear of
death.

39. Sed ubi ea Romae comperta sunt, metus atque maeror civitatem invasere. Pars dolere pro gloria imperii, pars insolita rerum bellicarum timere libertati,[234] Aulo omnes infesti, ac maxime, qui bello saepe praeclari fuerant, quod armatus dedecore potius quam manu salutem quaesiverat. Ob ea consul Albinus ex delicto fratris invidiam ac deinde periculum timens, senatum de foedere consulebat, et tamen interim exercitui supplementum scribere, ab sociis et nomine Latino[235] auxilia accersere, denique omnibus modis festinare. Senatus ita, uti par fuerat, decernit, suo atque populi injussu nullum potuisse foedus fieri. Consul impeditus a tribunis plebis, ne, quas paraverat copias, secum portaret, paucis diebus in Africam proficiscitur; nam omnis exercitus, uti convenerat, Numidia deductus, in provincia hiemabat. Postquam eo venit, quamquam persequi Jugurtham et mederi fraternae invidiae animo ardebat, cognitis militibus, quos praeter fugam, soluto imperio, licentia atque lascivia corruperat, ex copia rerum[236] statuit sibi nihil agitandum.

[234] _Dolere pro gloria_, 'to be grieved for reputation;' that is, as
they were interested in the glory of their country, they were grieved
at the disgrace (_dedecore_ or _propter dedecus_) they had suffered.
_Timere libertati_, 'to be afraid of losing one's freedom,' it
appearing to be in danger. See Zumpt, S 414.
[235] _Nomen Latinum_ is the same as _socii Latini_, or _Latini_ alone.
The expression properly signifies those who are called Latins; for
this class of people comprised not only those who really belonged to
the nation of the Latins--such as the inhabitants of the ancient
Latin towns of Tibur and Praeneste--but those also whose towns
subsequently received the same privileges. The latter were termed
coloniae Latinae--such as Alba in the country of the Marsians,
Beneventum in Samnium, Cremona and Placentia on the Po.
[236] _Ex copia rerum_, 'according to his present resources,' 'according
to the state of affairs.'

40. Interim Romae C. Mamilius Limetanus tribunus plebis rogationem ad populum promulgat, uti quaereretur in eos, quorum consilio Jugurtha senati decreta neglexisset,[237] quique ab eo in legationibus aut imperiis pecunias accepissent, qui elephantos quique perfugas tradidissent, item qui de pace aut bello cum hostibus pactiones fecissent. Huic rogationi partim conscii sibi, alii ex partium invidia pericula metuentes, quoniam aperte resistere non poterant, quin illa et alia talia placere sibi faterentur,[238] occulte per amicos ac maxime per homines nominis Latini et socios Italicos impedimenta parabant. Sed plebes incredibile memoratu est, quam intenta fuerit quantaque vi rogationem jusserit, decreverit, voluerit: magis odio nobilitatis, cui mala illa parabantur, quam cura rei publicae; tanta libido in partibus erat. Igitur ceteris metu perculsis, M. Scaurus, quem legatum Bestiae fuisse supra docuimus, inter laetitiam plebis et suorum fugam, trepida etiamtum civitate quum ex Mamili regatione tres quaesitores rogarentur, effecerat, uti ipse in eo numero crearetur.[239] Sed quaestio exercita aspere violenterque ex[240] rumore et libidine plebis; ut saepe nobilitatem, sic ea tempestate plebem ex secundis rebus insolentia ceperat.

[237] In a few manuscripts we read _neglegisset_, respecting which see
Zumpt, S 195.
[238] _Quin faterentur_, 'without confessing.' See Zumpt, S 539.
[239] M. Scaurus, who, as Sallust stated before, was himself bribed
by Jugurtha, had availed himself of the time when the people were
rejoicing at his victory, when the city was still under apprehensions
respecting the war, and when many other nobles, from a consciousness
of guilt, kept back; and there can be no doubt that, through the
influence of his friends, he contrived to be himself elected one of
the commissioners who had to institute inquiries about these
briberies, and thus escaped being tried himself.
[240] _Ex_ here signifies 'with respect to.' The people after this
victory were insolent, so that the commissioners yielded to the
wishes of the multitude.

41. Ceterum mos partium popularium et senatus factionum,[241] ac deinde omnium malarum artium paucis ante annis Romae ortus est otio atque abundantia earum rerum, quae prima mortales ducunt.[242] Nam ante Carthaginem deletam populus et senatus Romanus placide modesteque inter se rem publicam tractabant, neque gloriae neque dominationis certamen inter cives erat; metus hostilis in bonis artibus civitatem retinebat. Sed ubi illa formido mentibus decessit, scilicet[243] ea, quae res secundae amant, lascivia atque superbia incessere. Ita, quod in adversis rebus optaverant otium, postquam adepti sunt, asperius acerbiusque fuit. Namque coepere nobilitas dignitatem, populus libertatem in libidinem vertere, sibi quisque ducere, trahere, rapere. Ita omnia in duas partes abstracta sunt, res publica, quae media fuerat, dilacerata. Ceterum nobilitas factione magis pollebat, plebis vis soluta atque dispersa in multitudine minus poterat. Paucorum arbitrio belli domique agitabatur, penes eosdem aerarium, provinciae, magistratus, gloriae triumphique erant; populus militia atque inopia urguebatur; praedas bellicas imperatores cum paucis diripiebant; interea parentes aut parvi liberi militum, uti quisque potentiori confinis erat, sedibus pellebantur.[244] Ita cum potentia avaritia sine modo modestiaque invadere, polluere et vastare omnia, nihil pensi neque sancti habere, quoad semet ipsa praecipitavit. Nam ubi primum ex nobilitate reperti sunt, qui veram gloriam injustae potentiae anteponerent, moveri civitas et dissensio civilis quasi permixtio terrae[245] oriri coepit.

[241] 'The custom of (forming) parties among the people, and of factions
in the senate;' the people are divided into _partes_, the senate
into _factiones_; the latter evidently implies intriguing
combinations.
[242] 'From the abundance of those things which mortals deem of the
first importance.' _Prima_ is used substantively, and with it the
relative pronoun (_quae_) agrees. Sallust might have said
_quas--primas_.
[243] _Scilicet_, 'naturally,' is used here as an adverb. See Zumpt,
S 271.
[244] The annexation of small free farms to the adjoining large estates,
is described by all the ancient authors as the cause of the great
misery of the Roman state, and, as Sallust remarks, it was
facilitated by the absence of many of the free citizens who were
serving in the armies; for their fathers or children, who were left
behind, were easily induced to sell their small farm to a wealthy and
powerful neighbour. For force was certainly not always applied, and
_pellere_ here signifies 'to displace,' rather than 'to expel.' The
large estates thus formed were called _latifundia_.
[245] _Permixtio terrae_ is said figuratively, as is indicated by
_quasi_, 'a chaos--a mixture of elements.'

42. Nam postquam Tiberius et G. Gracchus, quorum majores Punico atque aliis bellis multum rei publicae addiderant, vindicare plebem in libertatem et paucorum scelera patefacere coepere, nobilitas noxia atque eo perculsa, modo per socios ac nomen Latinum, interdum per equites Romanos, quos spes societatis a plebe dimoverat, Gracchorum actionibus obviam ierat, et primo Tiberium, dein paucos post annos eadem ingredientem Gaium, tribunum alterum, alterum triumvirum coloniis deducendis, cum M. Fulvio Flacco ferro necaverat.[246] Et sane Gracchis cupidine victoriae haud satis moderatus animus fuit: sed bono vinci satius est quam malo more injuriam vincere.[247] Igitur ea victoria nobilitas ex libidine sua usa multos mortales ferro aut fuga extinxit, plusque in reliquum sibi timoris quam potentiae addidit. Quae res plerumque magnas civitates pessumdedit, dum alteri alteros vincere quovis modo et victos acerbius[248] ulcisci volunt. Sed de studiis partium et omnis civitatis moribus si singulatim aut pro magnitudine parem disserere, tempus quam res maturius me deseret.[249] Quamobrem ad inceptum redeo.

[246] Tib. Gracchus was slain in B.C. 133, and his brother, G. Gracchus,
in B.C. 121. Sallust here states that the faction of the optimates
threw obstacles in the way of the two brothers, sometimes by means of
the _socii_ (in Italy), and sometimes by means of the Roman equites,
who had been drawn into the senate by the popular party. This
refers, in the first place, to the opposition made, through the
instrumentality of the Latins, to the scheme of the Gracchi to
settle poor Roman citizens in Latin colonies; and secondly, to the
ingratitude of the equites, to whom G. Gracchus had transferred
the administration of justice, after having taken it from the senate.
Respecting _modo--interdum_, instead of _modo--modo_, see Zumpt,
S 723.
[247] Sallust admits that the Gracchi went somewhat too far, but blames
the violence with which the faction of the optimates took
vengeance upon them; 'for,' says he, 'a good man prefers being
conquered, to taking revenge for injury done to him in a violent
manner'--intimating that the optimates ought to have borne the
injury done to them by the Gracchi, rather than avenge it with
murder and assassination.
[248] _Acerbius_; that is, _nimis acerbe_, or _acerbius quam par est_.
[249] _Omnis civitatis_ for _totius civitatis_, in opposition to the
patres. _Parem_; that is, _velim_, which is followed in the apodosis
by the same subjunctive present, or the future indicative. See Zumpt,
S 524, note 1. _Res_, the same as _materia_, _argumentum_, 'subject.'

43. Post Auli foedus exercitusque nostri foedam fugam, Metellus et Silanus consules designati,[250] provincias inter se partiverant, Metelloque Numidia evenerat, acri viro et quamquam adverso populi partium,[251] fama tamen aequabili et inviolata. Is ubi primum magistratum ingressus est, alia omnia sibi cum collega ratus, ad bellum, quod gesturus erat, animum intendit.[252] Igitur diffidens veteri exercitui, milites scribere, praesidia[253] undique accersere, arma, tela, equos et cetera instrumenta militiae parare, ad hoc commeatum affatim, denique omnia, quae in bello vario et multarum rerum egenti usui esse solent. Ceteram ad ea patranda senatus auctoritate, socii nomenque Latinum et reges ultro auxilia mittendo, postremo omnis civitas summo studio adnitebatur. Itaque ex sententia omnibus rebus paratis compositisque, in Numidiam proficiscitur, magna spe civium, quum propter artes bonas, tum maxime, quod adversum divitias invictum animum gerebat, et avaritia magistratuum ante id tempus in Numidia nostrae opes contusae[254] hostiumque auctae erant.