Chapter C: Sallustii Crispi (4)

71. Sed quum hae litterae allatae,[376] forte Nabdalsa exercito corpore fessus in lecto quiescebat, ubi cognitis Bomilcaris verbis primo cura, deinde, uti aegrum animum solet,[377] somnus cepit. Erat ei Numida quidam negotiorum curator, fidus acceptusque et omnium consiliorum nisi novissimi particeps. Qui postquam allatas litteras audivit, ex consuetudine ratus opera aut ingenio suo opus esse, in tabernaculum introiit, dormiente illo epistolam, super caput in pulvino temere positam, sumit ac perlegit, dein propere, cognitis insidiis, ad regem pergit. Nabdalsa post paulo experrectus ubi neque epistolam repperit[378] et rem omnem, uti acta erat, cognovit, primo indicem persequi conatus, postquam id frustra fuit, Jugurtham placandi gratia accedit; dicit quae ipse paravisset facere perfidia clientis sui praeventa;[379] lacrimans obtestatur per amicitiam perque sua antea fideliter acta, ne super[380] tali scelere suspectum sese haberet.

[376] _Allatae_; supply _essent_, an ellipsis, which is not very common after a conjunction, governing the subjunctive. [377] _Solet_, supply _capere_. [378] _Repperit_; for the orthography of this word, see Zumpt, S 22. [379] _Res praevenitur_, 'a thing is anticipated,' or 'something is done previously,' is found very rarely instead of _occupatur_. _Homo praevenitur_, 'a person is anticipated in a thing,' is more common. [380] _Super_, the same as _de_. See Zumpt, S 320.

72. Ad ea rex, aliter atque animo gerebat,[381] placide respondit. Bomilcare aliisque multis, quos socios insidiarum cognoverat, interfectis iram oppresserat, ne qua ex eo negotio seditio oriretur. Neque post id locorum Jugurthae dies aut nox ulla quieta fuit, neque loco neque mortali cuiquam aut tempori satis credere, cives hostesque juxta metuere, circumspectare omnia et omni strepitu pavescere, alio atque alio loco saepe contra decus regium noctu requiescere, interdum somno excitus arreptis armis tumultum facere; ita formidine quasi vecordia exagitari.[382]

[381] 'Differently from what he carried in his mind;' that is, from what
he intended in his mind.
[382] A beautiful and vivid description of a man who is conscious of
his guilt, and is pursued by all: it is a situation which would have
paralysed the mental energy of even the most enterprising barbarian.

73. Igitur Metellus, ubi de casu Bomilcaris et indicio patefacto[383] ex perfugis cognovit, rursus tamquam ad integrum bellum cuncta parat festinatque. Marium, fatigantem de profectione, simul et invitum et offensum sibi parum idoneum ratus, domum dimittit. Et Romae plebes, litteris, quae de Metello ac Mario missae erant, cognitis, volenti animo de ambobus acceperant.[384] Imperatori nobilitas, quae antea decori, invidiae esse; at illi alteri generis humilitas favorem addiderat; ceterum in utroque magis studia partium quam bona aut mala sua moderata.[385] Praeterea seditiosi magistratus vulgum exagitare, Metellum omnibus contionibus capitis arcessere,[386] Marii virtutem in majus celebrare. Denique plebes sic accensa, uti opifices agrestesque omnes, quorum res fidesque[387] in manibus sitae erant, relictis operibus frequentarent Marium[388] et sua necessaria post illius honorem ducerent. Ita perculsa nobilitate post multas tempestates novo homini consulatus mandatur, et postea populus a tribuno plebis Manlio Mancino rogatus, quem vellet cum Jugurtha bellum gerere, frequens Marium jussit. Sed senatus paulo ante Metello decreverat; ea res frustra fuit.[389]

[383] _Indicio patefacto_ is a kind of pleonasm, as _indicio facto_ would
be sufficient; for _indicium fit, res ipsa_ (that is, _conjuratio_)
_patefit_--'the denunciation is made, the conspiracy is revealed.'
[384] _Plebs--acceperant_ for _acceperat_, _plebs_ being a collective
noun. Zumpt, S 366.
[385] 'However, the party-zeal was in both men more decisive than
either their virtues or their faults.' _Moderata sunt_, from the
deponent _moderor_, 'I determine,' 'I guide;' as in Cicero, _mens
moderatur omnia_, 'the mind determines everything.' _Sua bona aut
mala_, 'their own virtues or vices,' in apposition to the party-zeal
of others. _Suus_ here is not reflective, but only designates
something as opposed to that which belongs to another. See Zumpt,
S 550.
[386] _Arcessere_, 'to summon before a court of justice,' with the
genitive of the crime or punishment. The forms _arcessere_ and
_accersere_ have the same meaning, but _arcessere_ is more frequent
in the sense of 'to summon,' or 'to accuse.'
[387] _Res fidesque_, 'property and credit.'
[388] 'Crowded around Marius,' whenever he appeared in public, to show
him their attachment. _Post honorem Marii ducerent_, the same, as
_postponerent honori Marii_, the preposition in this sense being
commonly joined to the verb. Compare _Cat_. chap. 23.
[389] From this instance, we see that the popular assembly was sovereign
in the Roman state; that is, when the people were called upon
to decide a question, which happened but rarely, since it was
customary to leave to the senate the provinces and the current
administration of foreign affairs.

74. Eodem tempore Jugurtha amissis amicis, quorum plerosque ipse necaverat, ceteri formidine, pars ad Romanos, alii ad regem Bocchum[390] profugerant, quum neque bellum geri sine administris posset, et novorum fidem in tanta perfidia veterum experiri periculosum duceret, varius incertusque agitabat. Neque illi res neque consilium aut quisquam hominum satis placebat; itinera praefectosque in dies mutare, modo adversum hostes, interdum in solitudines pergere, saepe in fuga ac post paulo in armis spem habere, dubitare, virtuti an fidei popularium minus crederet; ita quocunque intenderat, res adversae erant. Sed inter eas moras repente sese Metellus cum exercitu ostendit. Numidae ab Jugurtha pro tempore parati instructique; dein proelium incipitur. Qua in parte rex pugnae affuit, ibi aliquamdiu certatum, ceteri ejus omnes milites primo congressu pulsi fugatique. Romani signorum et armorum aliquanto numero;[391] hostium paucorum potiti; nam ferme Numidas in omnibus proeliis magis pedes quam arma tuta sunt.[392]

[390] _Bocchus_, king of Mauretania, west of Numidia, and extending as
far as the Ocean, opposite to Spain. It accordingly comprised the
modern empire of Fez and Morocco.
[391] 'The Romans gained possession of a considerable number of
standards.' The adjective _aliquantus_, with the exception of the
neuter in an absolute sense, is rarely used. We have here to observe
the varying construction of _potior_. See Zumpt, SS 465, 466. Sallust
often prefers variety to uniformity.
[392] _Tuta sunt_ might also be _tuentur_; for the perfect is here used
of things which usually happened, and still happen. _Tuta_ is less
common than _tuita_ or _tutata_, which in this passage is found in
some good manuscripts, and must perhaps be received into the text.

75. Ea fuga Jugurtha impensius modo[393] rebus suis diffidens cum perfugis et parte equitatus in solitudines, dein Thalam pervenit, in oppidum magnum atque opulentum, ubi plerique thesauri filiorumque ejus multus pueritiae cultus[394] erat. Quae postquam Metello comperta sunt, quamquam inter Thalam flumenque proximum in spatio milium quinquaginta, loca arida atque vasta esse cognoverat, tamen spe patrandi belli, si ejus oppidi potitus foret, omnes asperitates supervadere ac naturam etiam vincere aggreditur. Igitur omnia jumenta sarcinis levari jubet nisi frumento dierum decem, ceterum utres modo et alia aquae idonea[395] portari. Praeterea conquirit ex agris quam plurimum potest domiti pecoris, eoque imponit vasa cujusque modi, sed pleraque lignea, collecta ex tuguriis Numidarum. Ad hoc finitimis imperat, qui se post regis fugam Metello dederant, quam plurimum quisque aquae portaret; diem locumque, ubi praesto fuerint,[396] praedicit. Ipse ex flumine, quam proximam oppido aquam esse supra diximus, jumenta onerat; eo modo instructus ad Thalam proficiscitur. Deinde ubi ad id loci ventum, quo Numidis praeceperat, et castra posita munitaque sunt, tauta repente coelo missa vis aquae dicitur, ut ea modo[397] exercitui satis superque foret. Praeterea commeatus spe amplior, quia Numidae, sicuti plerique in nova deditione, officia intenderant. Ceterum milites religione pluvia magis usi, eaque res multum animis eorum addidit; nam rati sese dis immortalibus curae esse. Deinde postero die contra opinionem Jugurthae ad Thalam perveniunt. Oppidani, qui se locorum asperitate munitos crediderant, magna atque insolita re perculsi, nihilo segnius bellum parare; idem nostri facere.

[393] _Impensius modo_ may be 'still more strongly,' his despondency
having already been mentioned; or _modo_ is the ablative, and
_impensius modo_ is stronger than the (ordinary) measure; that is,
beyond measure, _ultra modum_.
[394] _Cultus_ is everything belonging to the regulation of life, apart
from eating and drinking; so that _pueritiae cultus_ comprises the
regulations for a youth's residence, his education, and the things
and persons by whom he is surrounded.
[395] 'And other things fit to contain water;' probably vessels to keep
water in, and apparatus to purify and mix water, for example, with
vinegar, a beverage usually drunk by the soldiers.
[396] 'Where they should be assembled.'
[397] _Modo_ is commonly used only to denote that something is less
than it might be, but has here the unusual meaning of 'that alone,'
or 'even that alone.'

76. Sed rex nihil jam infectum Metello credens,[398] quippe qui omnia, arma tela, locos tempora, denique naturam ipsam ceteris imperitantem industria vicerat, cum liberis et magna parte pecuniae ex oppido noctu profugit, neque postea in ullo loco amplius uno die aut una nocte moratus simulabat sese negotii gratia properare; ceterum proditionem timebat, quam vitare posse celeritate putabat; nam talia consilia per otium et ex opportunitate capi. At Metellus, ubi oppidanos proelio intentos, simul oppidum et operibus et loco munitum videt, vallo fossaque moenia circumvenit. Deinde locis ex copia[399] maxime idoneis vineas agere, aggerem jacere et super aggerem impositis turribus opus et administros tutari. Contra haec oppidani festinare, parare; prorsus ab utrisque nihil reliquum fieri. Denique Romani multo ante labore proeliisque fatigati,[400] post dies quadraginta quam eo ventum erat, oppido modo potiti, praeda omnis ab perfugis corrupta. Ii postquam murum arietibus feriri resque suas afflictas vident, aurum atque argentum et alia, quae prima ducuntur, domum regiam comportant; ibi vino et epulis onerati, illaque et domum et semet igni corrumpunt, et quas victi ab hostibus poenas metuerant, eas ipsi volentes pependere.[401]

[398] 'That for Metellus nothing was now impossible,' the perfect
participle with the negative prefix denoting impossibility--as
_invictus_, invincible; _incorruptus_, incorruptible; _inaccessus_,
inaccessible. See Zumpt, S 328.
[399] _Ex copia_, 'according to circumstances,' here referring especially
to the different nature of the locality. _Vinea_, properly 'a bower
formed of vines;' hence 'a protecting roof,' under which the soldiers
attacked the fortifications of the enemy.
[400] 'After they had previously worn themselves out by great exertions:'
_ante_ here is superfluous.
[401] _Poenas pendere_, the same as _poenas solvere_, 'to pay a penalty.'
In _corrumpunt_ we may notice a zeugma, as out of _corrumpunt_ we
have to take _interficiunt_. See Zumpt, S 775.

77. Sed pariter cum capta Thala legati ex oppido Lepti ad Metellum venerant orantes, uti praesidium praefectumque eo mitteret; Hamilcarem quendam, hominem nobilem, factiosum, novis rebus studere, adversum quem neque imperia magistratuum neque leges valerent; ni id festinaret, in summo periculo suam salutem, illorum[402] socios fore. Nam Leptitani jam inde a principio belli Jugurthini ad Bestiam consulem et postea Romam miserant amicitiam societatemque rogatum. Deinde, ubi ea impetrata, semper boni fidelesque mansere et cuncta a Bestia, Albino Metelloque imperata nave[403] fecerant. Itaque ab imperatore facile, quae petebant, adepti. Emissae eo cohortes Ligurum quatuor et G. Annius praefectus.

[402] _Illorum_; that is, _Romanorum_. Respecting the situation of Leptis
magna, see chap. 19.
[403] _Nave_ or _naviter_ ('actively') is the correct orthography, for
which other editions have _gnave_. See Zumpt, S 12. Its case is the
same as that of _natus_, which in composition takes the _g_--as
_cognatus_, _agnatus_; and also _narus_, _ignarus_.

78. Id oppidum ab Sidoniis conditum est, quos accepimus profugos ob discordias civiles, navibus in eos locos venisse; ceterum situm inter duas Syrtes, quibus nomen ex re inditum. Nam duo sunt sinus prope in extrema Africa, impares magnitudine, pari natura; quorum proxima terrae praealta sunt, cetera, uti fors tulit, alta,[404] alia in tempestate vadosa. Nam ubi mare magnum esse et saevire ventis coepit, limum arenamque et saxa ingentia fluctus trahunt; ita facies locorum cum ventis simul mutatur: Syrtes ab tractu nominatae.[405] Ejus civitatis lingua modo[406] conversa connubio Numidarum, legum cultusque pleraque Sidonica, quae eo facilius retinebant, quod procul ab imperio regis aetatem agebant. Inter illos et frequentem Numidiam multi vastique loci erant.

[404] _Alta_; supply _in alia tempestate_, 'sometimes deep, and sometimes
shallow.'
[405] 'They have been called Syrtes from this current, which draws
other things along with it;' for the Greek [Greek: surein] signifies
'to draw,' or 'drag along.'
[406] It was only the language of the inhabitants of Leptis that had
experienced a change, in consequence of their matrimonial connections
with the Numidians, otherwise they had for the most part preserved
their Sidonian, that is, Phoenician, laws and habits, being separated
from the inhabited part of Numidia by extensive deserts, which was
also the reason of the Numidian king's seldom residing at Leptis,
although the town belonged to his kingdom.

79. Sed quoniam in has regiones per Leptitanorum negotia venimus, non indignum videtur egregium atque mirabile facinus duorum Carthaginiensium memorare; eam rem nos locus admonuit.[407] Qua tempestate Carthaginienses pleraeque Africae imperitabant,[408] Cyrenenses quoque magni atque opulenti fuere. Ager in medio arenosus, una specie; neque flumen neque mons erat, qui fines eorum discerneret; quae res eos in magno diuturnoque bello inter se habuit. Postquam utrimque legiones item classes saepe fusae fugataeque, et alteri alteros aliquantum attriverant, veriti, ne mox victos victoresque defessos alius aggrederetur, per inducias sponsionem faciunt,[409] uti certo die legati domo proficiscerentur; quo in loco inter se obvii fuissent, is communis utriusque populi finis haberetur. Igitur Carthagine duo fratres missi, quibus nomen Philaenis erat, maturavere iter pergere,[410] Cyrenenses tardius iere. Id socordiane an casu acciderit, parum cognovi. Ceterum solet in illis locis tempestas haud secus atque in mari retinere.[411] Nam ubi per loca aequalia et nuda gignentium[412] ventus coortus arenam humo excitavit, ea magna vi agitata ora oculosque implere solet, ita prospectu impedito morari iter. Postquam Cyrenenses aliquanto posteriores se vident et ob rem corruptam[413] domi poenas metuunt, criminari Carthaginienses ante tempus domo digresses, conturbare rem,[414] denique omnia malle quam victi abire. Sed quum Poeni aliam condicionem, tantummodo aequam, peterent, Graeci optionem Carthaginiensium faciunt,[415] ut vel illi, quos fines populo suo peterent, ibi[416] vivi obruerentur, vel eadem condicione sese, quem in locum vellent, processuros. Philaeni condicione probata seque vitamque suam rei publicae condonavere; ita vivi obruti. Carthaginienses in eo loco Philaenis fratribus aras consecravere, aliique illis domi honores instituti. Nunc ad rem redeo.

[407] _Admonere_ is here construed in an unusual manner with two
accusatives, one of the person, and the other of the thing, the
latter being expressed by a substantive; for the neuter of a pronoun
in the accusative is not uncommon--as _hoc, id, illud te admoneo_.
[408] _Imperare_ and _imperitare_ are construed with the dative of that
over which one rules, or take the preposition in with the accusative
or ablative.
[409] _Sponsionem facere_ here has the general sense, 'to make a
contract,' otherwise it signifies a contract at which security is
given, which is lost by him who is condemned.
[410] 'They hastened to get through their journey.' The intransitive
_pergere_ (like _ire_) containing the notion of an uninterrupted
continuance, takes a substantive of the same meaning, or of the same
derivation, in the accusative, and thus acquires a transitive
meaning. See Zumpt, S 384.
[411] _Retinere_; supply _proficiscentes_ or _iter facientes_.
[412] 'Devoid of,' or 'without products;' for _gignere_ is used of those
things which, like plants or animals, produce other things like
themselves.
[413] 'Because they had spoiled the affair;' as by quick travelling they
might have traversed a considerable extent of country.
[414] _Conturbare_, 'to disturb,' or 'to try to throw into confusion;'
namely, the agreement.
[415] 'The Greeks give the Carthaginians the choice,' for _dant optionem
Carthaginiensibus_. The genitive _Carthaginiensium_ occurs in most,
and in the best manuscripts.
[416] _Ibi_; that is, _in illis finibus_.

80. Jugurtha postquam amissa Thala nihil satis firmum contra Metellum putat, per magnas solitudines cum paucis profectus, pervenit ad Gaetulos,[417] genus hominum ferum incultumque et eo tempore ignarum nominis Romani. Eorum multitudinem in unum cogit ac paulatim consuefacit ordines habere, signa sequi, imperium observare, item alia militaria facere. Praeterea regis Bocchi proximos magnis muneribus et majoribus promissis ad studium sui perducit, quis adjutoribus regem aggressus impellit, uti adversum Romanos bellum incipiat. Id ea gratia facilius proniusque[418] fuit, quod Bocchus initio hujusce belli legatos Romam miserat, foedus et amicitiam petitum, quam rem opportunissimam incepto bello pauci impediverant caeci avaritia, quis omnia honesta atque inhonesta vendere mos erat.[419] Etiam antea Jugurthae filia Bocchi nupserat. Verum ea necessitudo apud Numidas Maurosque levis ducitur, quia singuli pro opibus quisque quam plurimas uxores, denas alii, alii plures habent, sed reges eo amplius.[420] Ita animus multitudine distrahitur, nulla pro socia obtinet,[421] pariter omnes viles sunt.

[417] The Nomades of the great desert Sahara, and of the oases in it,
in the south of Numidia and Mauretania, as far as the southern
countries inhabited by real negroes.
[418] _Pronum_, that which, when once commenced, proceeds without
obstacle or difficulty. This is a figurative sense taken from an
inclined plane.
[419] The Roman rulers thus demanded money from Bocchus before
they would grant his request to be declared a friend and ally of the
Roman people, although Bocchus no doubt considered his offer of
friendship as a matter of no small value to the Romans.
[420] 'But kings so much the more;' namely, surpass others in the
numbers of their wives.
[421] 'None (no wife) maintains her position as a sharer;' that is, none
is recognised as sharing with her husband all the relations of life
and rank.

81. Igitur in locum ambobus placitum[422] exercitus conveniunt; ibi fide data et accepta Jugurtha Bocchi animum oratione accendit: Romanes injustos, profunda avaritia,[423] communes omnium hostes esse; eandem illos causam belli cum Boccho habere quam secum et cum aliis gentibus, libidinem imperitandi, quis[424] omnia regna adversa sint; tum sese,[425] paulo ante Carthaginienses, item regem Persen, post, uti quisque opulentissimus videatur, ita Romanis hostem fore. His atque aliis talibus dictis ad Cirtam oppidum iter constituunt, quod ibi Metellus praedam captivosque et impedimenta locaverat. Ita Jugurtha ratus aut capta urbe[426] operae pretium fore aut, si Romanus auxilio suis venisset, proelio sese certaturos. Nam callidus id modo festinabat, Bocchi pacem imminuere,[427] ne moras agitando aliud quam bellum mallet.

[422] _In locum placitum_, 'at a fixed place,' at a place where it had
been agreed to meet. The participle _placitus_ is formed irregularly
from the neuter verb _placeo_, as such verbs generally have no
passive voice. But _placeo_ is used also as an impersonal verb,
_placet_, and, as such, its perfect is either _placuit_ or _placitum
est_, 'it pleased,' or 'was decreed.' The same is the case with other
impersonal verbs; and as in this manner the regular passive form
gradually ceased to be offensive, _placitus, a, um_, came to be used
in the sense of _is qui, ea quae, id quod placuit_. Compare Zumpt,
SS 142, 225.
[423] 'Of an insatiable avarice;' for _profundus_ is often used
figuratively of passions and desires which have no bottom or end.
[424] _Quis_ (_quibus_) refers to the preceding _illos_; that is,
_Romanos_.
[425] _Tum, sese_; supply _hostem Romanis esse_, which infinitive must be
taken from the following _fore_. The _tum_ must be rendered in
English by 'now,' as it refers to present time. See Zumpt, S 732; and
regarding _Persen_ for _Perseum_, S 52.
[426] _Capta urbe_, 'if the town were taken,' it would be worth while.
[427] _Pacem imminuere_, to disturb or spoil the peace with Bocchus
intended to conclude with the Romans.

82. Imperator postquam de regum societate cognovit, non temere neque, uti saepe jam victo Jugurtha consueverat, omnibus locis pugnandi copiam facit; ceterum haud procul ab Cirta castris munitis reges opperitur, melius esse ratus, cognitis Mauris, quoniam is novus hostis accesserat, excommodo[428] pugnam facere. Interim Roma per litteras certior fit provinciam Numidiam Mario datam; nam consulem factum ante acceperat. Quis rebus supra bonum atque honestum[429] perculsus, neque lacrimas tenere neque moderari linguam;[430] vir egregius in aliis artibus nimis molliter aegritudinem pati. Quam rem alii in superbiam vertebant, alii[431] bonum ingenium contumelia accensum esse, multi, quod jam parta victoria ex manibus eriperetur. Nobis satis cognitum est, illum magis honore Marii quam injuria sua[432] excruciatum, neque tam anxie laturum fuisse, si adempta provincia alii quam Mario traderetur.

[428] 'According to his advantage;' that is, if a favourable opportunity should offer. [429] 'More than is just and fair.' [430] According to the language of Cicero, the dative _linguae_ would have been used in this sense. See Zumpt, S 414. [431] _Alii_; supply from what precedes _interpretabantur_, 'they accounted for his sensibility by,' &c. [432] _Injuria sua_ has a passive sense; 'by the injustice done to him.'

83. Igitur eo dolore impeditus, et quia stultitiae[433] videbatur alienam rem periculo suo curare, legatos ad Bocchum mittit postulatum, ne sine causa hostis populo Romano fieret; habere tum[434] magnam copiam societatis amicitiaeque conjungendae, quae potior bello esset; quamquam opibus suis confideret, tamen non debere incerta pro certis mutare;[435] omne bellum sumi facile, ceterum aegerrime desinere;[436] non in ejusdem potestate initium ejus et finem esse; incipere cuivis, etiam ignavo, licere, deponi, quum victores velint; proinde sibi regnoque suo consuleret, neu florentes res suas cum Jugurthae perditis misceret. Ad ea rex satis placide verba facit; sese pacem cupere, sed Jugurthae fortunarum misereri; si eadem illi copia fieret,[437] omnia conventura. Rursus imperator contra postulata Bocchi nuntios mittit; ille probare partim, alia abnuere. Eo modo saepe ab utroque missis remissisque nuntiis tempus procedere et ex Metelli voluntate bellum intactum trahi.

[433] _Stultitiae_ might have been _stultilia_ for the genitive. See
Zumpt, S 448, note 1.
[434] _Tum_. See page 137, note 3 [note 425].
[435] _Incerta mutare_, 'to obtain uncertain things in exchange for
others, or for certain things;' but it might also mean, 'to give
uncertain things for certain ones.' See Zumpt, S 456, note.
[436] _Desinere_ is used here for the sake of variety, instead of
_finire_, _deponi_.
[437] 'If the same power were granted to him' (Jugurtha), namely, to
conclude peace, 'an agreement might easily be come to.' _Res convenit
inter nos_ is the same as _convenimus de re_, 'we agree upon the
matter.'

84. At Marius, ut supra diximus, cupientissima plebe[438] consul factus, postquam ei provinciam Numidiam populus jussit, antea jam infestus nobilitati, tum vero multus[439] atque ferox instare, singulos modo, modo universos laedere; dictitare sese consulatum ex victis illis spolia cepisse; alia praeterea magnifica pro se, et illis dolentia. Interim, quae bello opus erant, prima habere; postulare legionibus supplementum, auxilia a populis et regibus sociisque arcessere, praeterea ex Latio fortissimum quemque, plerosque militiae, paucos fama cognitos accire, et ambiundo cogere[440] homines emeritis stipendiis secum proficisci. Neque illi senatus, quamquam adversus erat, de ullo negotio abnuere audebat; ceterum supplementum etiam laetus decreverat, quia neque plebi militia volenti[441] putabatur et Marius aut belli usum aut studia vulgi amissurus. Sed ea res frustra sperata; tanta libido cum Mario eundi plerosque invaserat. Sese quisque praeda locupletem fore, victorem domum rediturum, alia hujuscemodi animis trahebant,[442] et eos non paulum oratione sua Marius arrexerat. Nam postquam omnibus, quae postulaverat, decretis milites scribere vult, hortandi causa, simul et nobilitatem, uti consueverat, exagitandi, contionem populi advocavit. Deinde hoc modo disseruit:

[438] 'The plebs being most desirous.' The participle _cupiens_, with
its degrees of comparison like an adjective, is rare, but not
contrary to grammar.
[439] _Multus instare_ is rather a poetical phrase for _multum_,
'greatly,' or 'repeatedly.'
[440] _Ambiundo cogere_, 'to oblige a person by flattering words;' a very
expressive phrase, signifying that kind of compulsion which is
effected by flattery and intreaties.
[441] For the expression _aliquid mihi volenti est_, 'a thing accords
with my wishes,' see Zumpt, S 420, note. _Neque_ corresponds with
_et_: on the one hand, it was _not_ believed that the service in the
army was agreeable to the plebs; and on the other hand, it _was_
believed that Marius, owing to the aversion of the people to military
service, would either do without a numerous army, or that he would
lose the popular favour if he should compel the common people.
[442] _Traho animo_, or _cum animo meo_, 'I am incessantly occupied in my
mind with something.'

85. 'Scio ego, Quirites, plerosque non iisdem artibus imperium a vobis petere et, postquam adepti sunt, gerere; primo industrios, supplices, modicos esse, dein per ignaviam et superbiam aetatem agere. Sed mihi contra ea videtur; nam[443] quo pluris est universa res publica quam consulatus aut praetura, eo majore cura illam administrari quam haec peti debere. Neque me fallit, quantum cum maximo vestro beneficio[444] negotii sustineam. Bellum parare simul et aerario parcere, cogere ad militiam eos, quos nolis offendere, domi forisque omnia curare, et ea agere inter invidos, occursantes, factiosos, opinione, Quirites, asperius est.[445] Ad hoc, alii si deliquere, vetus nobilitas, majorum fortia facta, cognatorum et affinium opes, multae clientelae, omnia haec praesidio adsunt; mihi spes omnes in memet sitae, quas necesse est virtute et innocentia tutari; nam alia infirma sunt. Et illud intellego, Quirites, omnium ora in me conversa esse, aequos bonosque favere, quippe mea bene facta rei publicae procedunt,[446] nobilitatem locum invadendi quaerere. Quo mihi acrius adnitendum est, uti neque vos capiamini et illi frustra sint. Ita ad hoc aetatis a pueritia fui, ut omnes labores, pericula consueta habeam. Quae ante vestra beneficia gratuito faciebam, ea uti accepta mercede deseram, non est consilium, Quirites. Illis difficile est in potestatibus temperare, qui per ambitionem sese probos simulavere; mihi, qui omnem aetatem in optimis artibus egi, bene facere jam ex consuetudine in naturam vertit.[447] Bellum me gerere cum Jugurtha jussistis, quam rem nobilitas aegerrime tulit. Quaeso, reputate cum animis vestris, num id mutari melius sit, si quem ex illo globo nobilitatis ad hoc aut aliud tale negotium mittatis, hominem veteris prosapiae[448] ac multarum imaginum et nullius stipendii, scilicet ut in tanta re ignarus omnium trepidet, festinet, sumat aliquem ex populo monitorem officii sui. Ita plerumque evenit, ut quem vos imperatorem jussistis, is sibi imperatorem alium quaerat. Atque ego scio, Quirites, qui, postquam consules facti sunt, acta majorum et Graecorum militaria praecepta legere coeperint; praeposteri homines: nam gerere quam fieri tempore posterius, re atque usu prius est.[449] Comparate nunc, Quirites, cum illorum superbia me hominem novum. Quae illi audire et legere solent, eorum partem vidi, alia egomet gessi; quae illi litteris, ea ego militando didici. Nunc vos existimate, facta an dicta pluris sint. Contemnunt novitatem meam, ego illorum ignaviam; mihi fortuna, illis probra objectantur. Quamquam ego naturam unam et communem omnium existimo, sed fortissimum quemque generosissimum.[450] Ac si jam ex patribus Albini aut Bestiae quaeri posset, mene an illos ex se gigni maluerint, quid responsuros creditis, nisi sese liberos, quam optimos voluisse? Quodsi jure me despiciunt, faciant[451] idem majoribus suis, quibus uti mihi ex virtute nobilitas coepit. Invident honori meo; ergo invideant labori, innocentiae, periculis etiam meis, quoniam per haec illum cepi. Verum homines corrupti superbia ita aetatem agunt, quasi vestros honores contemnant; ita hos petunt, quasi honeste vixerint. Nae illi falsi sunt, qui diversissimas res pariter expectant, ignaviae voluptatem et praemia virtutis. Atque etiam, quum apud vos aut in senatu verba faciunt, pleraque oratione majores suos extollunt, eorum fortia facta memorando clariores sese putant. Quod contra est; nam quanto vita illorum praeclarior, tanto horum socordia flagitiosior. Et profecto ita se res habet: majorum gloria posteris quasi lumen est, neque bona neque mala eorum in occulto patitur. Hujusce rei[452] ego inopiam fateor. Quirites, verum id, quod multo praeclarius est, meamet[453] facta mihi dicere licet. Nunc videte, quam iniqui sint. Quod ex aliena virtute sibi arrogant, id mihi ex mea non concedunt, scilicet quia imagines non habeo et quia mihi nova nobilitas est, quam certe peperisse melius est quam acceptam corrupisse. Equidem ego non ignoro, si jam mihi respondere velint, abunde illis facundam et compositam orationem fore. Sed in maximo vestro beneficio, quum omnibus locis me vosque maledictis lacerent, non placuit reticere, ne quis modestiam in conscientiam duceret.[454] Nam me quidem ex animi mei sententia nulla oratio laedere potest; quippe vera necesse est bene praedicet, falsam vita moresque mei superant. Sed quoniam vestra consilia accusantur, qui mihi summum honorem et maximum negotium imposuistis, etiam atque etiam reputate, num eorum poenitundum sit. Non possum fidei causa imagines neque triumphos aut consulatus majorum meorum ostentare, at, si res postulet, hastas, vexillum, phaleras, alia militaria dona,[455] praeterea cicatrices adverso corpore. Hae sunt meae imagines, haec nobilitas, non hereditate relicta, ut illa illis, sed quae egomet plurimis laboribus et periculis quaesivi. Non sunt composita mea verba; parum id facio;[456] ipsa se virtus satis ostendit; illis artificio opus est, ut turpia facta oratione tegant. Neque litteras Graecas didici; parum placebat eas discere, quippe quae ad virtutem doctoribus nihil profuerunt.[457] At illa multo optima rei publicae doctus sum, hostem ferire, praesidia agitare,[458] nihil metuere nisi turpem famam, hiemem et aestatem juxta pati, humi requiescere, eodem tempore inopiam et laborem tolerare. His ego praeceptis milites hortabor, neque illos arte colam,[459] me opulenter, neque gloriam meam laborem illorum faciam. Hoc est utile, hoc civile imperium. Namque quum tute per mollitiem agas, exercitum supplicio cogere,[460] id est dominum, non imperatorem esse. Haec atque talia majores vestri faciundo seque remque publicam celebravere.[461] Quis nobilitas freta, ipsa dissimilis moribus, nos illorum aemulos contemnit, et omnes honores non ex merito, sed quasi debitos a vobis repetit. Ceterum homines superbissimi procul errant. Majores eorum omnia, quae licebat, illis reliquere, divitias, imagines, memoriam sui praeclaram; virtutem non reliquere, neque poterant; ea sola neque datur dono neque accipitur. Sordidum me et incultis moribus aiunt, quia parum scite convivium exorno, neque histrionem ullum, neque pluris pretii coquum quam villicum habeo.[462] Quae mihi libet confiteri, Quirites; nam ex parente meo et ex aliis sanctis viris ita accepi, munditias mulieribus, viris laborem convenire, omnibusque bonis oportere plus gloriae quam divitiarum esse; arma, non supellectilem decori esse. Quin ergo quod juvat, quod carum aestimant, id semper faciant;[463] ament, potent, ubi adolescentiam habuere, ibi senectutem agant, in conviviis, dediti ventri et turpissimae parti corporis; sudorem, pulverem et alia talia relinquant nobis, quibus illa epulis jucundiora sunt. Verum noti est ita. Nam ubi se flagitiis dedecoravere turpissimi viri, bonorum praemia ereptum eunt.[464] Ita injustissime luxuria et ignavia, pessimae artes, illis, qui coluere eas, nihil officiunt, rei publicae innoxiae cladi sunt.[465] Nunc, quoniam illis, quantum mores mei, non illorum flagitia poscebant, respondi, pauca de re publica loquar. Primum omnium de Numidia bonum habete animum, Quirites; nam quae ad hoc tempus Jugurtham tutata sunt, omnia removistis,[466] avaritiam, imperitiam atque superbiam. Deinde exercitus ibi est, locorum sciens, sed mehercule magis strenuus quam felix; nam magna pars ejus avaritia aut temeritate ducum attrita est.[467] Quamobrem vos, quibus militaris aetas est, adnitimini mecum et capessite rem publicam,[468] neque quemquam ex calamitate aliorum aut imperatorum superbia metus ceperit. Egomet in agmine, in proelio consultor idem[469] et socius periculi vobiscum adero, meque vosque in omnibus rebus juxta geram.[470] Et profecto dis juvantibus omnia matura sunt, victoria, praeda, laus; quae si dubia aut procul essent, tamen omnes bonos rei publicae subvenire decebat.[471] Etenim nemo ignavia immortalis factus est, neque quisquam parens liberis, uti aeterni forent, optavit, magis, uti boni honestique vitam exigerent. Plura dicerem, Quirites, si timidis virtutem verba adderent; nam strenuis abunde dictum puto.'

[443] From what precedes, supply _mihi videtur_.
[444] Marius, according to the ordinary usage of the Latin language,
calls his appointment to the consulship a _beneficium_, 'a favour,'
of the Roman people.
[445] 'Is more difficult;' namely, than is commonly believed, quam
_opinio_ est.
[446] _Procedunt_, 'benefit the state,' 'promote the general good.'
[447] _Vertit_, intransitively, 'has become changed;' the same as _vertit
se_, or _versum est_. See Zumpt, S 145.
[448] _Prosapia_ for _familia_, an ancient and obsolete word, and
intentionally put into the mouth of Marius to ridicule the
pretensions of the nobility.
[449] Marius calls those nobles who do not make themselves acquainted
with the duties of public offices, until they have obtained them,
_praeposteri homines_; that is, 'men who do afterwards that which
they ought to do before;' for, he adds, it is true one must first be
appointed to an office, in order to do anything in it, but an active
preparation ought to precede.
[450] 'I consider, indeed, all men to be equal by nature, but I make
this distinction, that the bravest is the most noble.' By _quamquam_,
Marius breaks off the question about noble or ignoble birth (Zumpt,
S 341); _sed_ introduces a new distinction between men; namely that
of merit.
[451] _Faciant idem_, 'let them despise their own ancestors likewise.'
[452] _Hujusce rei_; that is, _commemorationis majorum meorum_, 'I cannot
speak of my ancestors.'
[453] _Meamet_, commonly with the addition of _ipse_. Zumpt, S 139, note.
[454] 'That no one may interpret my modesty as if I were conscious
of my own weakness and want of ability.' Modesty often shows
itself mainly in silence. _Conscientia_ is the consciousness of a
person both of his valuable qualities and of his deficiencies.
_Ducere in aliquid_, 'to consider a thing as;' 'to interpret a thing
as:' compare chap. 82: _vertere in superbiam_.
[455] _Militaria dona_ are presents which a general gives publicly to
brave soldiers, and which they either wear as honourable
distinctions, or which they kept and preserved in their houses. Such
presents were with the ancients what orders are in modern times.
Among them are frequently mentioned lances, bridles, chains worn
round the neck (_torques_), bracelets (_armillae_), pins or brooches
(_fibulae_) to fasten the cloak, and crowns (_coronae_). It was less
common, but very honourable, to receive a flag (_vexillum_) attached
to a pole.
[456] 'I consider this as something too unimportant.' _Parum_ is used
substantively.
[457] 'Greek literature has not benefited its professors (that is, the
Greek nation) in regard to political virtue:' inasmuch as the Greek
states had been unable to protect their political liberty either
against kings and tyrants, or against foreigners. _Virtus_ signifies
especially 'bravery,' 'valour;' but it has also a more general
meaning, comprising justice, abstinence, and the sacrificing of one's
own advantages.
[458] _Praesidia agitare_, 'to keep watch,' to maintain the posts
intrusted to us for the protection of friends against the attacks of
enemies.
[459] _Arte colere_, 'to keep close;' _opulenter colere_, 'to treat
liberally.'
[460] 'To compel by bodily punishment.'
[461] _Celebravere_; that is, _extulerunt_, _auxerunt_. _Celebrare_
properly signifies 'to make or render frequent;' that is, to bring
into repute, and therefore to fill with men, buildings or other
objects.
[462] 'I have no cook worth more than a steward.' Marius here assails
the luxury of others, who considered a clever cook worth more
than a clever steward. Both kinds of people were slaves; the
_villicus_ was the principal and overseer of all the servants engaged
in agriculture on the estate (_villa_) of a Roman noble. _Coquus_ is
also spelled _cocus_. See Zumpt, S 5.
[463] _Quin ergo--faciant_, 'why, then, will they not do?' This form
of expression contains an exhortation to do something. The
subjunctive, therefore, does not depend upon _quin_, but upon the
optative meaning of the sentence. See Zumpt, S 542.
[464] _Ereptum eunt_, 'they endeavour to snatch away,' or 'they snatch
away.'
[465] _Cladi sunt_, 'they are a destruction;' the same as _calamitosae,
perniciosae sunt_.
[466] That is, 'you have removed (deposed) the greedy, inexperienced,
and haughty commanders.' Marius alluding to his predecessors, Bestia,
Albinus, and Metellus.
[467] _Attrito_, 'worn away,' 'annihilated,' 'sacrificed.'
[468] 'Serve the republic,' 'devote yourselves to the public good.'
[469] 'Both as an adviser and sharer in the danger.' _Idem_ indicates the
union of two predicates belonging to one subject. See Zumpt, S 697.
[470] 'I shall treat myself and you in the same manner.'
[471] _Decebat_, a peculiarity of the Latin language for _deceret_. See
Zumpt, S 518.

86. Hujuscemodi oratione habita Marius, postquam plebis animos arrectos videt, propere commeatu, stipendio, armis aliisque utilibus naves onerat; cum his A. Manlium legatum proficisci jubet. Ipse interea milites scribere, non more majorum, neque ex classibus, sed uti cujusque libido erat, capite censos plerosque.[472] Id factum alii inopia bonorum, alii per ambitionem consulis memorabant, quod ab eo genere celebratus auctusque erat, et homini potentiam quaerenti egentissimus quisque opportunissimus cui neque sua curae,[473] quippe quae nulla sunt, et omnia cum pretio honesta videntur. Igitur Marius cum aliquanto[474] majore numero, quam decretum erat, in Africam profectus paucis diebus Uticam[475] advehitur. Exercitus ei traditur a P. Rutilio legato; nam Metellus conspectum Marii fugerat, ne videret ea, quae audita animus tolerare nequiverat.

[472] In this way Marius introduced a great change in the military
affairs of Rome. Previous to his time, only the citizens of the first
five property classes were enlisted to serve in the legions. Those
persons whose property did not come up to the lowest estimate of
the fifth class, were excluded from the honourable service in the
legions. They were _capite censi_, because, when the censors made
out their lists, those persons had only to give in their personal
existence or name for registration. Their being called 'the sixth
class' is an improper application of the term, as, strictly speaking,
_classis_ signifies only 'a property class.' As the number of persons
of this kind was at that time (B.C. 107) already very considerable,
and as there were among them many both able and willing to serve in
the army, and lastly, as Marius was opposed to all exclusive
privileges, he enlisted those poor people who voluntarily offered
themselves in the legions, and thus created an army of able men, and
accustomed to endure hardships. The higher orders did not object to
this measure, because it lightened their burdens connected with the
service in the army. But however useful this arrangement was at the
time, it contained the elements of a body of soldiers distinct from
the citizens; for when the time of their military service was over,
those men did not feel inclined to return to a quiet citizen's life,
and thus became a very powerful and ready instrument in the hands of
ambitious generals, such as Sulla and Caesar.
[473] _Sua curae_; another reading is _cura sunt_, the sense of which is
nearly the same. _Sua_, 'a person's own property,' or 'all that
belongs to him,' including the state itself.
[474] 'With a considerably larger army.' About this meaning of
_aliquanto_ with a comparative, see Zumpt, SS 108, 488.
[475] _Utica_, the most important city in the province of Africa: it was
a more ancient Phoenician colony than even Carthage. In the second
Punic war, after it had revolted from Carthage, it was rewarded
by the Romans with freedom and independence. Its present name is
Biserta, north-west of Tunis.

87. Sed consul expletis legionibus cohortibusque auxiliariis in agrum fertilem et praeda onustum[476] proficiscitur; omnia ibi capta militibus donat, dein castella et oppida natura et viris parum munita aggreditur; proelia multa, celerura levia, alia aliis locis facere. Interim novi milites sine metu pugnae adesse,[477] videre fugientes capi aut occidi, fortissimum quemque tutissimum, armis libertatem, patriam parentesque et alia omnia tegi, gloriam atque divitias quaeri. Sic brevi spatio novi veteresque coaluere, et virtus omnium aequalis facta. At reges, ubi de adventu Marii cognoverunt, diversi in locos difficiles abeunt. Ita Jugurthae placuerat speranti mox effusos hostes invadi posse, Romanos sicuti plerosque remoto metu laxius licentiusque futuros.[478]

[476] 'Laden with booty;' that is, filled with things which can be taken
as booty.
[477] _Pugnae adesse_ belong together, 'to take part in the battle.'
Marius's plan was well calculated, as he inspired his soldiers with
courage before leading them to labour and hardship.
[478] _Futuros_; supply _esse_, 'they would behave;' hence the adverbs.
See Zumpt, S 365.

88. Metellus interea Romam profectus contra spem[479] suam laetissimis animis excipitur, plebi patribusque, postquam invidia decesserat, juxta carus. Sed Marius impigre prudenterque suorum et hostium res pariter attendere, cognoscere quid boni utrisque aut contra esset, explorare itinera regum, consilia et insidias eorum antevenire, nihil apud se remissum neque apud illos tutum pati. Itaque et Gaetulos et Jugurtham ex sociis nostris praedas agentes saepe aggressus in itinere fuderat, ipsumque regem haud procul ab oppido Cirta armis exuerat.[480] Quae postquam gloriosa modo neque belli patrandi[481] cognovit, statuit urbes, quae viris aut loco pro hostibus et adversum se opportunissimae erant,[482] singulas circumvenire; ita Jugurtham aut praesidiis nudatum,[483] si ea pateretur, aut proelio certaturum. Nam Bocchus nuntios ad eum saepe miserat, velle populi Romani amicitiam; ne quid ab se hostile timeret. [484] Id simulaveritne, quo improvisus gravior accideret, an mobilitate ingenii pacem atque bellum mutare solitus, parum exploratum est.

[479] 'Contrary to his expectation;' for _spes_ is often used in the
general sense of 'expecting,' or 'looking forward to' anything,
whether good or bad.
[480] _Armis exuere,_ 'to disarm;' here the same as 'conquer' or
'defeat;' intimating that the enemies take to flight, leaving their
arms behind.
[481] 'Not calculated to bring the war to a close.' See Zumpt, S 662.
[482] _Adversum se erant_ is a combination of two constructions
--_adversum se essent_ and _adversum eum erant_--of which we have
already observed several instances. Compare chap. 66, and p. 122,
note 1 [note 326].
[483] To _nudatum_ supply _fore_, which is to be taken out of the
following _esse_; 'he hoped that Jugurtha would either be deprived of
his fortified places, or be compelled to fight.'
[484] _Ne quid--timeret_, '(requesting him) not to fear anything;' the
imperative of the oratio recta is expressed in the oratio obliqua by
the subjunctive. See Zumpt, S 603.

89. Sed consul, uti statuerat, oppida castellaque munita adire, partim vi, alia metu aut praemia ostentando avertere ab hostibus. Ac primo mediocria gerebat, existimans Jugurtham ob suos tutandos in manus venturum.[485] Sed ubi illum procul abesse et aliis negotiis intentum accepit, majora et magis aspera aggredi tempus visum est.[486] Erat inter ingentes solitudines oppidum magnum atque valens, nomine Capsa,[487] cujus conditor Hercules Libys memorabatur. Ejus cives apud Jugurtham immunes,[488] levi imperio et ob ea fidelissimi habebantur, muniti adversum hostes non moenibus modo et armis atque viris, verum etiam multo magis locorum asperitate. Nam praeter oppido propinqua alia omnia vasta, inculta, egentia aquae, infesta serpentibus, quorum[489] vis sicuti omnium ferarum inopia cibi acrior; ad hoc natura serpentium ipsa perniciosa siti magis quam alia re accenditur. Ejus potiundi Marium maxima cupido invaserat, quum propter usum belli, tum quia res aspera videbatur, et Metellus oppidum Thalam magna gloria ceperat, haud dissimiliter situm munitumque, nisi quod apud Thalam non longe a moenibus aliquot fontes erant, Capsenses una modo atque ea intra oppidum jugi aqua;[490] cetera pluvia utebantur. Id ibique et in omni Africa, quae procul a mari incultius agebat,[491] eo facilius tolerabatur, quia Numidae plerumque lacte et ferina carne vescebantur et neque salem neque alia irritamenta gulae quaerebant; cibus illis adversum famem atque sitim, non libidini neque luxuriae erat.

[485] _In manus venire_, 'to come within reach,' 'engage in close
combat;' for _manus conserere_, which is much more frequent.
[486] 'It seemed to be time;' that is, it seemed to be a favourable
moment, or it seemed to be advisable; hence the infinitive _aggredi_.
Zumpt, S 659, note.
[487] _Capsa_, a town in the eastern part of Numidia, between the river
Bagradas, which empties itself into the sea not far from Carthage,
and lake Tritonis: it is believed still to exist under the name of
Cafza, and to have been founded by the African Hercules; that is,
by Phoenicians; for the Phoenician conquests are ascribed to a
Phoenician Hercules, and the north coast of Africa was the principal
scene of the enterprises of those seafaring conquerors.
[488] _Immunis_, 'exempt from taxes.'
[489] Other editions have _quarum_ instead of _quorum_. See Zumpt, S 78,
note.
[490] _Jugis aqua_, 'running water,' or 'a well perpetually flowing.'
The other water which they used was rain water, and to _pluvia_ we
must supply _aqua_.
[491] _Africa--incultius agebat_, 'Africa, which was in a state of
greater want of cultivation;' an unusual transfer of the verb _agere_
(to be in a condition) from the inhabitants of a country to the
country itself.

90. Igitur consul omnibus exploratis, credo dis fretus (nam contra tantas difficultates consilio satis providere non poterat, quippe etiam frumenti inopia temptabatur,[492] quod Numidae pabulo pecoris magis quam arvo student,[493] et quodcumque natum fuerat jussu regis in loca munita contulerant, ager autem aridus et frugum vacuus ea tempestate, nam aestatis extremum erat), tamen pro rei copia satis providenter exornat;[494] pecus omne, quod superioribus diebus praedae fuerat, equitibus auxiliariis agendum attribuit, A. Manlium legatum cum cohortibus expeditis ad oppidum Lares, ubi stipendium et commeatum locaverat, ire jubet dicitque se praedabundum, post paucos dies eodem venturum. Sic incepto suo occultato pergit ad flumen Tanam.

[492] 'He was brought into danger' or 'difficulty.' [493] 'They take more care about pastures than cultivated fields.' [494] _Exornat_; supply _rem, expeditionem_, 'the undertaking or campaign.'

91. Ceterum in itinere cotidie pecus exercitui per centurias, item turmas [495] aequaliter distribuerat, et ex coriis utres uti fierent curabat; simul et inopiam frumenti lenire et ignaris omnibus parare, quae mox usui forent; denique sexto die, quum ad flumen ventum est, maxima vis utrium effecta. Ibi castris levi munimento positis, milites cibum capere atque, uti simul cum occasu solis egrederentur, paratos esse jubet, omnibus sarcinis abjectis, aqua modo seque et jumenta onerare. Dein, postquam tempus visum, castris egreditur noctemque totam itinere facto consedit; idem proxima facit, dein tertia multo ante lucis adventum pervenit in locum tumulosum ab Capsa non amplius duum[496] milium intervallo; ibique quam occultissime potest, cum omnibus copiis opperitur. Sed ubi dies coepit et Numidae nihil hostile metuentes, multi oppido egressi, repente omnem equitatum et cum his velocissimos pedites cursu tendere ad Capsam et portas obsidere jubet; deinde ipse intentus propere sequi, neque milites praedari sinere. Quae postquam oppidani cognovere, res trepidae,[497] metus ingens, malum improvisum, ad hoc pars civium extra moenia in hostium potestate, coegere, uti deditionem facerent. Ceterum oppidum incensum, Numidae puberes interfecti, alii omnes venumdati, praeda militibus divisa. Id facinus contra jus belli non avaritia neque scelere consulis admissum, sed quia locus Jugurthae opportunus, nobis aditu difficilis, genus hominum mobile, infidum ante, neque beneficio neque metu coercitum.[498]

[495] _Per_ implies an equal distribution among the centuries and turmae. [496] _Duum_ for _duorum_ occurs most frequently in connection with _milium_. See Zumpt, S 115, note 2. [497] _Res trepidae_, 'a dangerous situation.' [498] Sallust feels that he must excuse or explain the destruction of a town which had surrendered at discretion.

92. Postquam tantam rem Marius sine ullo suorum incommodo patravit, magnus et clarus antea, major atque clarior haberi coepit. Omnia non bene consulta in virtutem trahebantur,[499] milites modesto imperio habiti simul et locupletes ad coelum ferre, Numidae magis quam mortalem timere, postremo omnes, socii atque hostes, credere illi aut mentem divinam esse aut deorum nutu cuncta portendi.[500] Sed consul, ubi ea res bene evenit, ad alia oppida pergit, pauca repugnantibus Numidis capit, plura deserta propter Capsensium miserias igni corrumpit; luctu atque caede omnia complentur. Denique multis locis potitus ac plerisque exercitu incruento, aliam rem aggreditur non eadem asperitate qua Capsensium,[501] ceterum haud secus difficilem. Namque haud longe a flumine Mulucha, quod Jugurthae Bocchique regnum disjungebat, erat inter ceteram planitiem mons saxeus, mediocri castello satis patens, in immensum editus, uno perangusto aditu relicta, nam omnia[502] natura velut opere atque consulto praeceps. Quem locum Marius, quod ibi regis thesauri erant, summa vi capere intendit. Sed ea res forte quam consilio melius gesta. Nam castello virorum atque armorum satis magna vis, et frumenti,[503] et fons aquae; aggeribus turribusque et aliis machinationibus locus importunus, iter castellanorum[504] angustum admodum, utrimque praecisum. Vineae cum ingenti periculo frustra agebantur; nam quum eae paulo processerant, igni aut lapidibus corrumpebantur, milites neque pro opere consistere propter iniquitatem loci, neque inter vineas sine periculo administrare;[505] optimus quisque cadere aut sauciari, ceteris metus augeri.

[499] 'All things, not only his good arrangements, were interpreted
as good services,' so that to _non_ we have to supply _modo_. For the
phrase _in virtutem trahere_, see chap. 85: _ducere in conscientiam_.
[500] 'He was either himself endowed with a divine mind, or everything
was revealed to him by divine inspiration.'
[501] _Capsensium_; supply _res_, 'the undertaking against Capsa;' for
the name of the inhabitants of a town is often used for that of the
town itself.
[502] 'For it was on all sides steep, as if made so by human hands,
and purposely.' The accusative _omnia_ is to be taken adverbially,
'on all sides,' just as we frequently find _cetera_ and _reliqua_.
See Zumpt, S 459. Other editions and inferior manuscripts have _per
omnia_, _omni parte_, _omnis_, all of which are only attempts to
explain the true reading.
[503] 'For the fort contained a sufficient number of men, arms, and
provisions.' This is the reading of the manuscripts; in modern
editions _et_ is omitted, and the passage is given with the following
punctuation: _nam castello virorum atque armorum satis, magna vis
frumenti_, which seems indeed to be supported by the sense; but
violates the rule, that when there are three nouns, the conjunction
must either be used twice, or omitted altogether.
[504] 'The road of the inhabitants of the castle;' that is, the only
road which led up to the castle.
[505] 'Do their work ;' namely, break through the wall.

93. At Marius, multis diebus et laboribus consumptis, anxius trahere cum animo suo, omitteretne inceptum, quoniam frustra erat, an fortunam opperiretur, qua saepe prospere usus fuerat. Quae quum multos dies noctesque aestuans[506] agitaret, forte quidam Ligus,[507] ex cohortibus auxiliariis miles gregarius, castris aquatum egressus, haud procul ab latere castelli, quod aversum proeliantibus erat, animum advertit inter saxa repentes cochleas; quarum quum unam atque alteram, dein plures peteret, studio legundi paulatim prope ad summum montis egressus est.[508] Ubi postquam solitudinem intellexit, more humani ingenii cupido difficilia faciundi animum vertit.[509] Et forte in eo loco grandis ilex coaluerat inter saxa paulum modo prona, dein flexa atque aucta in altitudinem, quo cuncta gignentium natura fert; cujus ramis modo, modo eminentibus saxis nisus Ligus castelli planitiem perscribit,[510] quod cuncti Numidae intenti proeliantibus aderant.[511] Exploratis omnibus, quae mox usui fore ducebat, eadem regreditur, non temere, uti escenderat, sed temptans omnia et circumspiciens. Itaque Marium propere adit, acta edocet, hortatur, ab ea parte, qua ipse escenderat, castellum temptet; pollicetur sese itineris periculique ducem. Marius cum Ligure, promissa ejus cognitum, ex praesentibus misit;[512] quorum uti cujusque ingenium erat, ita rem difficilem aut facilem nuntiavere. Consulis animus tamen paulum arrectus. Itaque ex copia tubicinum et cornicinum numero quinque quam velocissimos delegit,[513] et cum his, praesidio qui forent, quatuor centuriones, omnesque Liguri parere jubet, et ei negotio proximum diem constituit.

[506] _Aestuans_ is here used figuratively of one who is in care and
anxiety.
[507] _Ligus_, 'a Ligurian,' belonging to the country of Liguria, which
was then not yet considered as belonging to Italy, and the capital
of which was Genoa. Four cohorts of Ligurian auxiliares in the Roman
army were mentioned in chap. 77, and those auxiliaries were no doubt
of great service to the Romans in this war, since they were
accustomed to climbing, ascending heights, and other hardships, from
their own mountainous country. Livy, too, praises the quickness,
perseverance, and adroitness of the Ligurians in the petty warfare in
which they were engaged for many years against the Romans.
[508] _Egressus est_, the same as _escendit_ or _evasit_, 'he got up.'
[509] 'The desire to accomplish difficult things changed his mind,'
inasmuch as he gave up collecting snails, and planned an attack
upon the castle.
[510] 'He drew an accurate plan of the area of the castle,' as from his
high position he could survey the whole. It is indeed hard to suppose
that the Ligurian had with him the necessary drawing materials;
but _perscribit_ may possibly mean only to mark such points as
would enable the soldier to make an accurate drawing of the locality
after his return to the camp.
[511] 'The Numidians were most intently observing the combatants, being
with them.'
[512] 'Marius despatched some of his followers to test the promises of
the Ligurian.'
[513] 'Out of the horn-blowers and trumpeters he chose five in number.'
_Numero_ is almost superfluous.

94. Sed ubi ex praecepto tempus visum, paratis compositisque omnibus ad locum pergit.[514] Ceterum illi, qui ascensuri erant, praedocti ab duce, arma ornatumque mutaverant, capite atque pedibus nudis, uti prospectus nisusque per saxa facilius foret;[515] super terga gladii et scuta, verum ea Numidica ex coriis, ponderis gratia simul et offensa quo levius streperent.[516] Igitur praegrediens Ligus saxa, et si quae vetustate radices eminebant,[517] laqueis vinciebat, quibus allevati milites facilius escenderent, interdum timidos insolentia itineris levare manu, ubi paulo asperior ascensus erat, singulos prae se inermes mittere, deinde ipse cum illorum armis sequi, quae dubia nisu videbantur, potissimus temptare,[518] ac saepius eadem ascendens descendensque, dein statim digrediens,[519] ceteris audaciam addere. Igitur diu multumque fatigati tandem in castellum perveniunt, desertum ab ea parte, quod omnes sicuti aliis diebus adversum hostes aderant. Marius, ubi ex nuntiis, quae Ligus egerat, cognovit, quamquam toto die intentos proelio Numidas habuerat, tum vero cohortatus milites et ipse extra vineas egressus, testudine acta succedere et simul hostem tormentis sagittariisque et funditoribus eminus terrere. At Numidae saepe antea vineis Romanorum subversis, item incensis, non castelli moenibus sese tutabantur; sed pro muro dies noctesque agitare, maledicere Romanis ac Mario vecordiam objectare; militibus nostris Jugurthae servitium minari, secundis rebus feroces esse. Interim omnibus, Romanis hostibusque, proelio intentis, magna utrimque vi pro gloria atque imperio his, illis pro salute certantibus, repente a tergo signa canere; ac primo mulieres et pueri, qui visum processerant, fugere, deinde uti quisque muro proximus erat, postremo cuncti, armati inermesque. Quod ubi accidit, eo acrius Romani instare, fundere ac plerosque tanturamodo sauciare, dein super occisorum corpora vadere, avidi gloriae certantes murum petere, neque quemquam omnium praeda morari. Sic forte correcta Marii temeritas gloriam ex culpa invenit.[520]