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]
[514] _Pergit_; namely, _Ligus_.
[515] 'That it might proceed more easily.'
[516] 'In order that, if they stumbled against anything, they might make
less noise.'
[517] 'And the roots which, owing to their old age, were standing forth;'
for the roots of old trees rise out of the ground, and such
knots remain on the surface even when the trees no longer exist.
[518] 'He himself foremost (_potissimus_) tried those places which it
was doubtful (dangerous) to climb up.'
[519] 'And then immediately withdrawing;' namely, in order to make room
for those who followed.
[520] 'The inconsiderate boldness of Marius (of attacking an impregnable
fortress), when it became adjusted (justified, _correcta_) by
chance, found praise instead of blame.' The sudden terror of the
Numidians on their hearing the military music of the Romans in
their rear, was, according to Sallust, most advantageous to the
Romans; for if the Numidians, while engaged in fighting, had
despatched fifty men, they might easily have thrown down the few
Romans who had found their way up; for the number of four centurions
for the protection of the trumpeters is indeed surprisingly
small, and we might almost be inclined to suppose that these
centurions were followed by their centuries at some distance.
95. Ceterum dum ea res geritur, L. Sulla quaestor cum magno equitatu in
castra venit, quos[521] uti ex Latio et a sociis cogeret, Romae relictus
erat. Sed quoniam nos tanti viri res admonuit,[522] idoneum visum est de
natura cultuque ejus paucis dicere; neque enim alio loco de Sullae rebus
dicturi sumus, et L. Sisenna optime et diligentissime omnium, qui eas res
dixere, persecutus,[523] parum mihi libero ore locutus videtur. Igitur
Sulla gentis patriciae nobilis fuit, familia prope jam extincta majorum
ignavia,[524] litteris Graecis atque Latinis juxta, atque
doctissime,[525] eruditus, animo ingenti, cupidus voluptatum, sed gloriae
cupidior, otio luxurioso esse; tamen, ab negotiis nunquam voluptas
remorata, nisi quod[526] de uxore potuit honestius consuli; facundus,
callidus et amicitia facilis;[527] ad simulanda negotia altitudo ingenii
incredibilis;[528] multarum rerum ac maxime pecuniae largitor. Atque
illi, felicissimo omnium ante civilem victoriam, nunquam super industriam
fortuna fuit,[529] multique dubitavere, fortior an felicior esset; nam
postea quae fecerit, incertum habeo, pudeat magis an pigeat disserere.
[521] _Quos_ refers to the _equites_ implied in the word _equitatus_.
This is a construction _ad sensum_, of which many examples occur in
Sallust (compare _Cat._ 7), though the present case is rather
unusual.
[522] _Res_, 'the subject,' 'the present discussion,' or 'the context of
the narrative.'
[523] _Persecutus_; supply _Sullae naturam cultumque_. L. Sisenna, an
early contemporary of Cicero, had written a history of the civil war
between Marius and Sulla; he was himself a partisan of Sulla, and
therefore not quite unbiassed in his judgment.
[524] The patrician gens to which Sulla belonged was the gens Cornelia.
The statement that the family of Sulla was almost extinct, in
consequence of the inactivity of the ancestors of the great Sulla,
applies to their loss of power and influence rather than to a
physical decay of the family.
[525] _Atque doctissime_, 'and that very profoundly;' the same as _et
doctissime quidem_.
[526] _Nisi quod_ adds a limitation or exception to something stated
before. Here the preceding praise is qualified or limited by the
remark, that in his matrimonial relation he might have behaved
better; for he was married several times, and chose his wives at the
spur of a momentary passion. _Potuit consuli_; supply _ab eo_; that
is, _potuisset consulere_.
[527] _Amicitia facilis_, 'pleasing and agreeable in his friendship or
friendly intercourse.'
[528] _Altitudo animi_, the unfathomableness of a man's character and
designs--a character which shows nothing outwardly of what is going
on within. Such a character has all the requisites to become
hypocritical, _ad simulationem et dissimulationem_.
[529] 'His good fortune was never greater than his activity;' that is,
his activity was equal to his good fortune, and he therefore deserved
all praise. But his doings after his victory in the civil war are
utterly condemned by Sallust, who then assigns to him neither
good-luck nor activity.
96. Igitur Sulla, uti supra dictum est, postquam in Africam atque in
castra Marii cum equitatu venit, rudis antea et ignarus belli,
sollertissimus omnium in paucis tempestatibus[530] factus est. Ad hoc
milites benigne appellare, multis rogantibus, aliis per se ipse dare
beneficia, invitus accipere, sed ea properantius quam aes mutuum reddere,
ipse ab nullo repetere, magis id laborare,[531] ut illi quam plurimi
deberent, joca atque seria cum humillimis agere, in operibus, in agmine
atque ad vigilias multus adesse,[532] neque interim, quod prava ambitio
solet, consulis aut cujusquam boni famam laedere, tantummodo neque
consilio neque manu priorem alium pati, plerosque antevenire. Quis rebus
et artibus brevi Mario militibusque carissimus factus.
[530] For _intra breves tempestates_, see note 3, page 59 [note 304 in
Cat.].
[531] _Id laboro_. See Zumpt, S 385. _Ut illi deberent_ should properly
be _sibi_ or _ipsi_; but see Zumpt, S 550.
[532] _Multus adesse_, 'he was present in many places,' multiplying, as
it were, his own person. Compare chap. 84.
97. At Jugurtha, postquam oppidum Capsam aliosque locos munitos et sibi
utiles, simul et magnam pecuniam amiserat, ad Bocchum nuntios mittit,
quam primum in Numidiam copias adduceret, proelii faciundi tempus adesse.
Quem ubi cunctari accepit et dubium belli atque pacis rationes
trahere,[533] rursus, uti antea, proximos ejus donis corrumpit, ipsique
Mauro pollicetur Numidiae partem tertiam, si aut Romani Africa expulsi,
aut integris suis finibus bellum compositum foret. Eo praemio illectus
Boechus cum magna multitudine Jugurtham accedit. Ita amborum exercitu
conjuncto, Marium jam in hiberna proficiscentem, vix decima parte
die[534] reliqua, invadunt, rati noctem, quae jam aderat, et victis sibi
munimento fore et, si vicissent, nullo impedimento,[535] quia locorum
scientes erant, contra Romania utrumque casum in tenebris difficiliorem
fore. Igitur simul consul ex multis de hostium adventu cognovit, et ipsi
hostes aderant[536] et, priusquam exercitus aut instrui aut sarcinas
colligere, denique antequam signum[537] aut imperium ullum accipere
quivit, equites Mauri atque Gaetuli, non acie neque ullo more proelii,
sed catervatim, uti quosque fors conglobaverat, in nostros concurrunt;
qui omnes trepidi improviso metu, ac tamen virtutis memores, aut arma
capiebant aut capientes alios ab hostibus defensabant, pars equos
ascendere, obviam ire hostibus, pugna latrocinio[538] magis quam proelio
similis fieri, sine signis, sine ordinibus equites peditesque permixti;
caedere alios, alios obtruncare;[539] multos, contra adversos acerrime
pugnantes, ab tergo circumvenire; neque virtus neque arma satis tegere,
quod hostes numero plures et undique circumfusi erant; denique Romani
veteres novique et ob ea[540] scientes belli, si quos locus aut casus
conjunxerat, orbes facere, atque ita ab omnibus partibus simul tecti et
instructi hostium vim sustentabant.
[533] _Rationes trahere_ implies slow and careful deliberation, as in
chaps. 34 and 93.
[534] _Die_ for _diei_. See page 115, note 3 [note 289].
[535] 'The night would not he an obstacle to them' (in their pursuit).
_Nullo_ obsolete for _nulli_. See Zumpt, S 140.
[536] _Simul cognovit_--_et hostes aderant_, 'he at once learned--and the
enemy was there;' that is, between the receiving of the information
and the actual attack of the enemy there was no interval. _Sarcinas
colligere_; the baggage was laid down before an engagement, and put
together in a heap, as in Caes. _Bell_. _Gall_. vii. 18.
[537] _Signum_ here is 'the watchword,' which is given out by the
general, and is communicated among the soldiers by one man telling
another. Sometimes _signum_ is the signal given by a _cornu_ or
_tuba_. To make the former known throughout an army required some
time, but not so the latter. _Signa_ afterwards are the standards of
the maniples, cohorts, and legions.
[538] _Latrocinium_, 'a predatory attack,' as opposed to a regular
battle.
[539] _Obtruncare_ in opposition to _caedere_ (cut down) signifies 'to
mutilate by cutting off a limb or limbs.' The word _multos_ is chosen
here only for variety's sake, instead of _alios_.
[540] The words _veteres novique_ express a whole sentence: 'as old
and new soldiers were united in the several divisions (maniples and
cohorts) of the army;' and it is to this meaning that _ob ea_ (for
this reason) refers. The scattered Romans, as old and new soldiers
were everywhere mixed together, profited by the experience of the
old ones, and formed dense circles (we should say _squares_), which
was, in fact, the only safe means of warding off the attack of a
superior enemy.
98. Neque in eo tam aspero negotio Marius territus aut magis quam antea
demisso animo fuit, sed cum turma sua, quam ex fortissimis magis quam
familiarissimis paraverat, vagari passim, ac modo laborantibus suis
succurrere, modo hostes, ubi confertissimi obstiterant, invadere; manu
consulere militibus, quoniam imperare, conturbatis omnibus, non poterat.
Jamque dies consumptus erat, quum tamen barbari nihil remittere,[541]
atque, uti reges praeceperant, noctem pro se rati, acrius instare. Tum
Marius ex copia rerum consilium trahit, atque, uti suis receptui locus
esset, colles duos propinquos inter se occupat, quorum in uno, castris
parum amplo, fons aquae magnus erat, alter usui opportunus, quia magna
parte editus et praeceps pauca munimenta quaerebat.[542] Ceterum apud
aquam Sullam cum equitibus noctem agitare jubet; ipse paulatim dispersos
milites, neque minus hostibus conturbatis,[543] in unum contrahit, dein
cunctos pleno gradu[544] in collem subducit. Ita reges loci difficultate
coacti proelio deterrentur, neque tamen suos longius abire sinunt, sed,
utroque colle multitudine circumdato, effusi consedere. Dein crebris
ignibus factis, plerumque noctis barbari more suo laetari, exultare,
strepere vocibus, et ipsi duces feroces, quia non fugere, ut pro[545]
victoribus egere. Sed ea cuncta Romanis ex tenebris et editioribus locis
facilia visa magnoque hortamento erant.
[541] _Quam tamen_--_nihil remittere_, 'while the barbarians nevertheless
did not leave off.' For _quum_ with the historical infinitive, see
Zumpt, S 582. _Pro se_, 'favourable to them.'
[542] Marius occupies two hills close by each other, the one only to
have the command of water, but the other to pitch his camp on, as
it required only to be slightly fortified. _Quaerebat_ for
_requirebat_, which is more common in this sense.
[543] 'As the enemy also had fallen into no less confusion;' so that
_neque_, being properly used for _et non_, must here be taken for
_etiam non_ or _ne_--_quidem_.
[544] _Pleno gradu_, 'at a quick pace,' which, however, is not running.
This retreat up the hill is, after all, a proof that the Romans had
been worsted in the attack.
[545] _Fugere, ut pro_, is the reading of the manuscripts, 'as they did
not flee, they acted as though they were the victors.' _Ut pro_
signifies 'both as victors and as if they were,' the _ut_ and _pro_
signifying nearly the same thing.
99. Plurimum vero Marius imperitia hostium confirmatus, quam maximum
silentium haberi jubet, ne signa quidem, uti per vigilias solebant,
canere,[546] deinde, ubi lux adventabat, defessis jam hostibus et paulo
ante somno captis, de improviso vigiles, item cohortium, turmarum,
legionum tubicines simul omnes signa canere, milites clamorem tollere
atque portis erumpere. Mauri atque Gaetuli, ignoto et horribili sonitu
repente exciti, neque fugere neque arma capere neque omnino facere aut
providere quicquam poterant; ita cunctos strepitu, clamore, nullo
subveniente, nostris instantibus, tumultu, terrore, formido quasi
vecordia ceperat.[547] Denique omnes fusi fugatique; arma et signa
militaria pleraque capta, pluresque eo proelio quam omnibus superioribus
interempti. Nam somno et metu insolito impedita fuga.
[546] 'Not even the signals were to be sounded, which were usually
heard at the different night watches.' The night was divided by
the Romans into four watches (_vigiliae_), the beginning of which was
announced by a horn (_buccina_). _Canere_ is here used
intransitively, 'to sound,' as in _Cat_. chap. 59 Below, it is used
transitively, in the sense of 'to blow,' or 'give a signal.'
[547] The description of the consternation among the barbarians is in
some parts very minute. _Formido_ is the highest degree of fear
(_timor_), which almost makes people mad, whence the addition _quasi
vecordia_.
100. Dein Marius, uti coeperat, in hiberna proficiscitur, quae propter
commeatum in oppidis maritimis agere decreverat. Neque tamen victoria
socors aut insolens factus, sed pariter atque in conspectu hostium
quadrato agmine incedere; Sulla cum equitatu apud dextimos,[548] in
sinistra parte A. Manlius cum funditoribus et sagittariis, praeterea
cohortes Ligurum curabat; primos et extremos cum expeditis manipulis
tribunes locaverat. Perfugae, minime cari[549] et regionum scientissimi,
hostium iter explorabant. Simul consul, quasi nullo imposito,[550] omnia
providere, apud omnes adesse, laudare et increpare merentes. Ipse armatus
intentusque, item milites cogebat;[551] neque secus, atque iter facere,
castra munire,[552] excubitum in porta[553] cohortes ex legionibus, pro
castris equites auxiliarios mittere, praeterea alios super vallum in
munimentis locare, vigilias ipse circumire, non tam diffidentia futurum,
quae[554] imperavisset, quam uti militibus exaequatus cum imperatore
labos volentibus esset.[555] Et sane Marius illoque aliisque temporibus
Jugurthini belli pudore magis quam malo[556] exercitum coercebat; quod
multi per ambitionem fieri aiebant, pars quod a pueritia consuetam
duritiam et alia, quae ceteri miserias vocant, voluptati habuisset; nisi
tamen[557] res publica pariter ac saevissimo imperio bene atque decore
gesta.
[548] The superlative _dextimus_ does not differ in meaning from the
positive _dexter_. See Zumpt, S 114, note 1.
[549] _Minime cari_; that is, _maxime viles_, 'who were most
indifferent,' or 'valueless to him,' whose lives he was least
inclined to spare.
[550] 'As if he had not placed (there) any commander.' _Imponere_, used
absolutely, 'to appoint;' namely, in the place spoken of. _Nullo_ for
_nemine_, the ablative as well as the genitive of _nemo_ not being in
use.
[551] _Cogebat_; supply _armatos intentosque esse_.
[552] Construe _neque secus castra munire, atque iter facere_; that is,
his care in securing the camp was as great as that which he displayed
in marching.
[553] The singular _in porta_ is here used because the author is speaking
especially of that gate which faced the enemy (the _porta praetoria_
opposite the _porta decumana_). At this gate a strong body of
outposts (_excubitores_) was stationed, consisting of the most
trustworthy soldiers.
[554] _Futurum, quae imperavisset_, an old-fashioned mode of speaking
for _futura esse, quae_. Besides this passage, there is no other
certain instance of such an expression in the classical writers of
Rome; but the grammarian Gellius has proved, by many examples, that
in the earlier times it was by no means uncommon.
[555] 'Than that the exertion, if equally shared with them (soldiers)
by the commander, should be agreeable to the soldiers.' _Aliquid
mihi est volenti_. See p. 139, note 1 [note 441].
[556] _Malum_ is here the same as 'punishment,' or _poena_.
[557] _Nisi tamen_ introduces a modification or limitation of the doubt
expressed before respecting the real motive of Marius's indulgence.
Compare p. 92, note 2 [note 153].
101. Igitur quarto denique die haud longe ab oppido Cirta undique simul
speculatores citi sese ostendunt, qua re hostes adesse intellegitur.[558]
Sed quia diversi redeuntes alius ab alia parte atque omnes idem
significabant, consul incertus, quonam modo aciem instrueret, nullo
ordine commutato, adversum omnia paratus, ibidem opperitur. Ita Jugurtham
spes frustrata, qui copias in quatuor paries distribuerat, ratus ex
omnibus aeque[559] aliquos ab tergo hostibus venturos. Interim Sulla,
quem primum hostes attigerant, cohortatus suos, turmatim et quam maxime
confertis equis ipse aliique Mauros invadunt,[560] ceteri in loco
manentes ab jaculis eminus emissis corpora tegere et, si qui in manus
venerant, obtruncare. Dum eo modo equites proeliantur, Bocchus cum
peditibus, quos Volux filius ejus adduxerat, neque in priore pugna, in
itinere morati, affuerant,[561] postremam Romanorum aciem invadunt. Tum
Marius apud primos agebat, quod ibi Jugurtha cum plurimis erat.
Dein Numida, cognito Bocchi adventu, clam cum paucis ad pedites
convertit;[562] ibi Latine (nam apud Numantiam loqui didicerat) exclamat:
'nostros frustra pugnare paulo ante Marium sua manu interfectum;' simul
gladium sanguine oblitum ostendere, quem in pugna satis impigre occiso
pedite nostro cruentaverat. Quod ibi milites accepere, magis atrocitate
rei quam fide nuntii terrentur, simulque barbari animos tollere et in
perculsos Romanos acrius incedere. Jamque paulum ab fuga aberant, quum
Sulla, profligatis iis, quos adversum[563] ierat, rediens ab latere
Mauris incurrit. Bocchus statim avertitur. At Jugurtha, dum sustentare
suos et prope jam adeptam victoriam retinere cupit circumventus ab
equitibus, dextra sinistra omnibus[564] occisis, solus inter tela hostium
vitabundus[565] erumpit. Atque interim Marius fugatis equitibus accurrit
auxilio suis, quos pelli jam acceperat. Denique hostes jam undique fusi.
Tum spectaculum horribile in campis patentibus: sequi fugere, occidi
capi; equi atque viri afflicti, ac multi vulneribus acceptis neque fugere
posse neque quietem pati, niti modo, ac statim concidere; postremo omnia,
qua visus erat, constrata telis, armis, cadaveribus, et inter ea humus
infecta sanguine.[566]
[558] _Hostes adesse intellegitur_ is a nominative with the infinitive,
for _intellegunt hostem adesse_. See Zumpt, S 607. It is, however,
not impossible that _hostis_ may be the accusative plural for
_hostes_.
[559] _Aeque_, 'equally;' for Jugurtha hoped that at any rate one of his
detachments would attack the Romans in the rear; but as he did not
know to which part the Romans would direct their front, each of his
detachments might equally reach a position in the rear of the Romans.
[560] The meaning is--Sulla caused the cavalry which he commanded on the
right wing, on the whole, to keep quiet, and only to repel individual
enemies that might approach; but he himself and other commanders
alternately gallopped forth with single turmae forming close bodies,
and attacked the enemy.
[561] _Neque--affuerant_, without repeating the relative pronoun, which,
being the subject, should be in the nominative, for _sed--qui non
affuerant_, or _neque ii--affuerant_. The omission is singular, but
not without other examples. See Zumpt, S 806. The _prior pugna_ is
the one described in chaps. 97-99.
[562] 'He rode secretly, with few companions,' to another place, where
the Mauretanian infantry were attacking the rear of the Romans.
_Convertit_ for _convertit se_. See Zumpt, S 145.
[563] Respecting the position of _quos adversum_, instead of _adversum
quos_, see Zumpt, S 324.
[564] That is, _ipsius comitibus_.
[565] 'By making a skilful movement with his body,' _dum corpore evitat
tela_.
[566] A very graphic description of a field of battle after the fighting
is over. _Afflicti_, 'thrust down to the ground,' implying the notion
of persons being severely wounded. _Niti_, 'to attempt to rise.'
_Qua visus erat_, 'as far as one could see.'
102. Post ea loci[567] consul haud dubie jam victor pervenit in oppidum
Cirtam, quo initio profectus intenderat.[568] Eo post diem quintum quam
iterum barbari male pugnaverant, legati a Boccho veniunt, qui regis
verbis ab Mario petivere, duos quam fidissimos ad eum mitteret, velle de
suo et de populi Romani commodo[569] cum iis disserere. Ille statim L.
Sullam et A. Manlium ire jubet. Qui quamquam acciti ibant, tamen
placuit[570] verba apud regem facere, uti ingenium aut aversum flecterent
aut cupidum pacis vehementius accenderent. Itaque Sulla, cujus facundiae,
non aetati, a Manlio concessum, pauca verba hujuscemodi locutus:
'Rex Bocche, magna nobis laetitia est, quum te talem virum di monuere,
uti aliquando pacem quam bellum malles, neu te optimum cum pessimo omnium
Jugurtha miscendo commaculares, simul nobis demeres acerbam
necessitudinem, pariter te errantem atque illum sceleratissimum persequi.
Ad hoc populo Romano jam a principio melius visum amicos quam servos
quaerere; tutiusque rati[571] volentibus quam coactis imperitare. Tibi
vero nulla opportunior nostra amicitia, primum, quod procul absumus, in
quo offensae minimum, gratia par ac si prope adessemus; dein quod
parentes abunde habemus, amicorum neque nobis neque cuiquam omnium satis
fuit. Atque hoc utinam a principio tibi placuisset: profecto ex populo
Romano ad hoc tempus multo plura bona accepisses, quarn mala perpessus
es.[572] Sed quoniam humanarum rerum fortuna pleraque regit, cui scilicet
placuisse[573] et vim et gratiam nostram te experiri, nunc, quando per
illam licet, festina atque, uti coepisti, perge. Multa atque opportuna
habes,[574] quo facilius errata officiis superes. Postremo hoc in pectus
tuum demitte,[575] nunquam populum Romanum beneficiis victum esse; nam
bello quid valeat, tute scis.'
Ad ea Bocchus placide et benigne; simul pauca pro delicto suo verba
facit: 'Se non hostili animo, sed ob regnum tutandum arma cepisse; nam
Numidiae partem, unde vi Jugurtham expulerit,[576] jure belli suam
factam; eam vastari a Mario pati nequivisse; praeterea missis antea Romam
legatis, repulsum ab amicitia. Ceterum vetera omittere ac tum,[577] si
per Marium liceret, legates ad senatum missurum.' Dein, copia facta,[578]
animus barbari ab amicis flexus, quos Jugurtha, cognita legatione Sullae
et Manlii, metuens id, quod parabatur, donis corruperat.
[567] _Post ea loci_, 'afterwards.'
[568] 'Whither he had at first directed his march. '_Profectus_ might
have been omitted, but its meaning is, 'having once set out on his
march.'
[569] 'About what was useful to him and to the Roman people.'
[570] _Placuit_; supply _eos_, which might also have been expressed by
the relative pronoun, _quos placuit_. See Zumpt, S 804. The
ambassadors, having been summoned by the king himself to hear his
proposals, were not under the necessity of addressing him; but they
probably had orders to speak first, in order that, if he were not
favourably inclined towards the Romans, they might try to win him
over, or if he were favourably disposed, to strengthen him in his
designs.
[571] _Rati_; namely, _Romani_, which must be taken out of _populo
Romano_.
[572] The manuscripts have _esses_, which can be explained only by an
amalgamation of the two clauses, and might be conceived as a form
of politeness which is not contained in _perpessus es_.
[573] The infinitive _placuisse_ depends on _scilicet_, which is here
quite the same as _scire licet_, as in chaps. 4 and 113. In ordinary
language, _scilicet_ is a mere adverb, 'evidently,' 'forsooth.'
[574] 'You have many opportunities;' consequently the same as _magnam
opportunitatem_. See Zumpt, S 756.
[575] _Demittere in pectus_, 'to impress uponone's mind,' _sibi
persuadere_.
[576] This is a diplomatic falsehood, as hitherto Bocchus had committed
no act of hostility towards Jugurtha, and had occupied no part of
Numidia against his will; but it may be that Jugurtha had promised
to give up to him a part of Numidia, if he should succeed in
recovering the whole. That Bocchus actually wished to have a part
of Numidia, is clear from his negotiation with Sulla, chap. 111.
[577] _Tum_, 'now.' See Zumpt, S 732.
[578] Namely, _legates mittendi_, 'after he had obtained permission to
despatch an embassy to Rome.'
103. Marius interea, exercitu in hibernaculis[579] composito, cum
expeditis cohortibus et parte equitatus proficiscitur in loca sola,
obsessum turrim[580] regiam, quo Jugurtha perfugas omnes praesidium
imposuerat. Tum rursus Bocchus, seu reputando, quae sibi duobus proeliis
venerant,[581] seu admonitus ab aliis amicis, quos incorruptos Jugurtha
reliquerat,[582] ex omni copia necessariorum quinque delegit, quorum et
fides cognita et ingenia validissima erant. Eos ad Marium, ac dein, si
placeat, Romam legates ire jubet, agendarum rerum et quocunque modo belli
componendi licentiam ipsis permittit. Illi mature ad hiberna Romanorum
proficiscuntur, deinde in itinere a Gaetulis latronibus circumventi
spoliatique, pavidi, sine decore ad Sullam profugiunt, quem consul in
expeditionem proficiscens pro praetore reliquerat.[583] Eos ille non pro
vanis hostibus,[584] uti meriti erant, sed accurate ac liberaliter
habuit; qua re barbari et famam Romanorum avaritiae falsam et Sullam ob
munificentiam in sese amicum rati. Nam etiamtum largitio multis ignota
erat; munificus nemo putabatur nisi pariter volens,[585] dona omnia in
benignitate habebantur.[586] Igitur quaestori mandata Bocchi patefaciunt;
simul ab eo petunt, uti fautor consultorque sibi adsit; copias, fidem,
magnitudinem regis sui et alia, quae aut utilia aut benevolentiae[587]
esse credebant, oratione extollunt; dein Sulla omnia pollicito, docti,
quo modo apud Marium, item apud senatum verba facerent, circiter dies
quadraginta ibidem opperiuntur.
[579] _Hibernacula_, 'a winter-camp;' the same as _hiberna_,
'winter-quarters;' for in chap. 100 it was stated that Marius ordered
quarters to be taken in the maritime towns. It is, however, doubtful
whether he placed the whole army in those towns, or whether he
ordered a portion to spend the winter in barracks, or leathern tents
made for the purpose. If the latter--_in hibernaculis_ is used in its
proper sense.
[580] _Turrim_ is here the same as _castellum_. _Perfugae omnes_ are not
'all the deserters,' but 'nothing but deserters,' or 'all deserters;'
for all the soldiers of the garrison consisted of deserters.
[581] _Venerant_ has the meaning of _evenerant_. Respecting _sibi_ for
_ipsi_, see p. 121, note 2 [note 320].
[582] _Reliquerat_, not 'he had left them behind,' which is the usual
meaning of _relinquo_, but 'he had left them unbribed:' that is, he
had neglected to bribe them.
[583] That is, he had given him the praetorian imperium during his
absence, and thereby appointed him independent commander.
[584] 'He did not treat them as untrustworthy enemies;' for they
were still enemies engaged in war with the Roman people, no peace
having yet been concluded. The epithet _vani_ belongs to them,
because their master had hitherto shown himself irresolute, sometimes
suing for peace, and sometimes carrying on war. _Accurate_, 'with
care,' 'with respect.'
[585] _Volens_ expresses a hearty inclination to do that which one does.
[586] 'Were considered as acts of kindness,' as parts or proofs of a
kindly disposition.
[587] _Benevolentiae sunt_, 'are calculated to produce good-will' towards
the king.
104. Marius postquam confecto negotio, quo intenderat, Cirtam redit, de
adventu legatorum certior factus, illosque et Sullam venire jubet,[588]
item L. Bellienum praetorum Utica, praeterea omnes undique senatorii
ordinis, quibuscum mandata Bocchi cognoscit. Legatis potestas eundi Romam
fit ab consule; interea induciae postulabantur. Ea[589] Sullae et
plerisque placuere; pauci ferocius decernunt, scilicet ignari humanarum
rerum, quae fluxae et mobiles semper in adversa mutantur.[590] Ceterum
Mauri, impetratis omnibus, tres Romam profecti cum Gn. Octavio Rufo,[591]
qui quaestor stipendium in Africam portaverat; duo ad regem redeunt. Ex
his Bocchus quum cetera, tum maxime benignitatem et studium Sullae libens
accepit. Romae legatis ejus, postquam errasse regem et Jugurthae scelere
lapsura deprecati sunt,[592] amicitiam et foedus petentibus hoc modo
respondetur:
'Senatus et populus Romanus beneficii et injuriae memor esse solet.
Ceterum Boccho, quoniam poenitet, delicti gratiam facit;[593] foedus et
amicitia dabantur, quum meruerit.'
[588] Sulla undoubtedly had his quarters near the Mauretanian frontier;
that is, in the extreme west; as the ambassador of Bocchus fled to
him. Marius summoned him to his head-quarters, Cirta, whither he also
summoned the praetor Bellienus from Utica. This praetor was no doubt
propraetor of the province of Africa, sent thither from Rome to
undertake the regular administration, but he was at the same time
placed at the disposal of the consul Marius; for as a propraetor had
the _jus praetorem_ in his province, he was sometimes simply called
praetor; thus Verres is often called praetor of Sicily. All the other
military commanders who happened to be in the province, and were of
senatorial rank, were likewise summoned to Cirta, in order to give
weight and dignity to the preliminary negotiations for peace, for its
real conclusion rested with the senate.
[589] _Ea_, the neuter plural, though referring to _induciae_.
[590] Namely, when previously they have been successful, as had hitherto
been the case with the Roman war.
[591] The manuscripts have _Rufone_, which unusual name must be
corrected either into _Rufo_ or _Rusone_. We prefer _Rufo_, because
Suetonius, in his life of Octavianus, mentions the _Octavii Rufi_ as
a senatorial family of the time here spoken of.
[592] _Deprecati sunt_; that is, _deprecantes dixerunt_; for _deprecari_
properly signifies 'to avert something by prayers.'
[593] _Gratiam facere_, 'to grant pardon for something.' To _quoniam
poenitet_ we must supply _eum_.
105. Quis rebus cognitis Bocchus per litteras a Mario petivit, uti Sullam
ad se mitteret, cujus arbitratu de communibus negotiis consuleretur.[594]
Is missus cum praesidio equitum atque peditum, funditorum Balearium;[595]
praeterea iere sagittarii et cohors Peligna cum velitaribus armis,
itineris properandi causa, neque his secus atque aliis armis adversum
tela hostium, quod ea levia sunt, muniti. Sed in itinere quinto denique
die Volux filius Bocchi, repente in campis patentibus cum mille non
amplius[596] equitibus sese ostendit, qui temere et effuse euntes Sullae
aliisque omnibus et numerum ampliorem vero et hostilem metum efficiebant.
Igitur se quisque expedire, arma atque tela temptare, intendere,[597]
timor aliquantus, sed spes amplior, quippe victoribus, et adversum eos,
quos saepe vicerant. Interim equites exploratum praemissi rem uti
erat[598] quietam nuntiant.
[594] 'By whose decision a final determination might be come to
respecting the common affairs.' Respecting the ablative _arbitratu_,
see Zumpt, S 190.
[595] The infantry which, besides an escort of Roman cavalry, was
sent to accompany Sulla, consisted of light-armed troops, who were
prepared both to march through uncultivated districts, and to fight
with the barbarians. Roman infantry could not have kept up with
the cavalry. The inhabitants of the Balearian Islands (Majorca,
Minorca, and Iviza) were celebrated in antiquity as slingers; and
as _socii_ of the Romans, they furnished slingers for the Roman
armies. Their weapon was a leathern sling, by which leaden balls
were thrown, with great skill and accuracy, at a distance of 500
paces. The _Pelignians_ are a people of central Italy, not far from
the Adriatic, with two important towns, Corfinium and Sulmo. All
the Italian nations which had then not yet received the Roman
franchise furnished their auxiliary cohorts of 400, 500, or 800 men
to the Roman army. Whether the Pelignians always bore _arma
velitaria_ (a round shield, a short sword, and a light javelin), or
whether they did so only on this occasion, is doubtful; but it seems
that this was their proper armour.
[596] _Non amplius_. See Zumpt, S 485.
[597] 'They tried (tested) their arms and darts, and directed them
against the supposed enemy,' but without making actual use of them.
[598] 'As was in reality the case;' namely, that the approaching cavalry
had no hostile intentions.
106. Volux adveniens quaestorem appellat dicitque se a patre Boccho
obviam illis simul et praesidio missum. Deinde eum et proximum diem sine
metu conjuncti eunt. Post ubi castra locata et diei vesper erat; repente
Maurus incerto vultu, pavens ad Sullam accurrit dicitque sibi ex
speculatoribus cognitum, Jugurtham haud procul abesse; simul, uti noctu
clam secum profugeret, rogat atque hortatur. Ille animo feroci negat se
toties fusum Numidam pertimescere; virtuti suorum satis credere;[599]
etiamsi certa pestis adesset, mansurum potius quam proditis, quos
ducebat, turpi fuga incertae ac forsitan post paulo morbo interiturae
vitae parceret.[600] Ceterum ab eodem monitus, uti noctu
proficiscerentur, consilium approbat, ac statim milites coenatos esse, in
castris ignes quam creberrimos fieri, dein prima vigilia silentio egredi
jubet. Jamque nocturno itinere fessis omnibus Sulla pariter cum ortu
solis castra metabatur, quum equites Mauri nuntiant Jugurtham circiter
duum milium intervallo ante eos[601] consedisse. Quod postquam auditum
est, tum vero ingens metus nostros invadit; credere se proditos a Voluce
et insidiis circumventos. Ac fuere, qui dicerent manu vindicandum neque
apud illum tantum scelus inultum relinquendum.
[599] To this and the following infinitive we must supply _dicit_, which
is to be taken out of the preceding _negat_. See Zumpt, S 774.
[600] _Mansurum potius, quam--vitae parceret_ is correctly said, though
it might also be _quam vitae parsurum_. See Zumpt, S 603, 2. The
indicative _quos ducebat_ is a remark of the historian; _quos
duceret_ would be a remark of the speaker, which would here have been
the regular form. _Coenatos esse_, 'they were to have finished
dining.' See Zumpt, S 148.
[601] _Ante eos_, 'before them;' that is, on the road along which they
had to march.
107. At Sulla, quamquam eadem existimabat, tamen ab injuria Maurum
prohibet;[602] suos hortatur, uti fortem animum gererent; saepe ante
paucis strenuis[603] adversum multitudinem bene pugnatum; quanto sibi in
proelio minus pepercissent, tanto tutiores fore, nec quemquam decere, qui
manus armaverit, ab inermis[604] pedibus auxilium petere, in maximo metu
nudum et caecum corpus ad hostes vertere. Deinde Volucem, quoniam
hostilia faceret, Jovem maximum obtestatus, ut sceleris atque perfidiae
Bocchi testis adesset, ex castris abire jubet. Ille lacrimans orare, ne
ea crederet; nihil dolo factum, ac magis calliditate Jugurthae, cui
videlicet speculanti iter suum cognitum esset. Ceterum, quoniam neque
ingentem multitudinem haberet et spes opesque ejus ex patre suo
penderent, credere illum nihil palam ausurum, quum ipse filius testis
adesset; quare optimum factu[605] videri per media ejus castra palam
transire; sese vel praemissis vet ibidem relictis Mauris solum cum Sulla
iturum. Ea res ut in tali negotio[606] probata; ac statim profecti, quia
de improviso acciderant,[607] dubio atque haesitante Jugurtha, incolumes
transeunt. Deinde paucis diebus, quo ire intenderant, perventum est.
[602] 'He protects the Mauretanian against violence.'
[603] A dative. See Zumpt, S 419.
[604] The same as _inermibus_. See Zumpt, S 101. _Nudum et caecum
corpus_, 'the undefended part of the body, and not provided with
eyes;' that is, the back, which a person ought not to turn towards
the enemy, if he wants to be safe.
[605] 'It seemed to him to be the most advisable.' Instead of _factu_,
other editions have _factum_, 'it seemed to him to be the best
thing.'
[606] 'As the matter stood,' a limitation suggesting that, under other
circumstances, that dangerous way would not have been chosen.
[607] 'As they had come upon him unexpectedly;' for Jugurtha had
not imagined that the Romans would thus, without negotiation, pass
through his lines.
108. Ibi cum Boccho Numida quidam, Aspar nomine, multum et familiariter
agebat, praemissus ab Jugurtha, postquam Sullam accitum audierat,
orator[608] et subdole speculatum Bocchi consilia; praeterea Dabar,
Massugradae filius, ex gente Masinissae, ceterum materno genere impar
(nam pater ejus ex concubina ortus erat), Mauro ob ingenii multa bona
carus acceptusque. Quem Bocchus fidum esse Romanis multis ante
tempestatibus expertus illico ad Sullam nuntiatum mittit paratum sese
facere, quae populus Romanus vellet; colloquio diem, locum, tempus ipse
delegeret; consulta sese omnia cum illo integra habere;[609] neu
Jugurthae legatum pertimesceret, quo res communis licentius
gereretur;[610] nam ab insidiis ejus aliter caveri[611] nequivisse. Sed
ego comperior Bocchum magis Punica fide[612] quam ob ea, quae
praedicabat, simul Romanos et Numidam spe pacis attinuisse multumque cum
animo suo volvere solitum, Jugurtham Romanis an illi Sullam traderet;
libidinem[613] adversum nos, metum pro nobis suasisse.
[608] 'As ambassador with a public commission,' though at the same time
he privately acted the part of a spy.
[609] 'That he kept firmly and unalterably everything which had been
previously determined upon with Sulla.'
[610] 'In order that the common business might be conducted the more
carelessly.' The laying aside of fear in the presence of Jugurtha's
ambassador was to induce Sulla to carry on the negotiations for peace
more openly, frankly, and incautiously, since, under the influence of
fear, he would have been cautious and mistrustful. _Non pertimescere_
are joined together as one idea, somewhat in the sense of
_contemnere_, 'he should disregard' the ambassador, and accordingly
act with Bocchus more confidentially.
[611] The infinitive of the impersonal passive _cavetur ab insidiis_,
'precaution is taken against snares.'
[612] _Punica fides_ is proverbially the same as _mala fides_, the
Carthaginians being generally regarded by the Romans as perfidious
double-dealers. _Attinere_ is the same as _morari_, 'to detain.'
[613] 'His inclination.'
109. Igitur Sulla respondit, pauca coram Aspare locuturum, cetera occulte
aut nullo aut quam paucissimis praesentibus; simul edocet, quae sibi
responderentur. Postquam sicuti voluerat congressi, dicit se missum a
consule venisse quaesitum ab eo, pacem an bellum agitaturus foret. Tum
rex, uti praeceptum fuerat, post diem decimum redire jubet, ac nihil
etiamnunc[614] decrevisse, sed illo die responsurum. Dein ambo in sua
castra digressi. Sed ubi plerumque noctis processit, Sulla a Boccho
occulte accersitur; ab utroque tantummodo fidi interpretes adhibentur,
praeterea Dabar internuntius, sanctus vir et ex sententia ambobus.[615]
Ac statim sic rex incipit:
[614] 'And _says_ (which must be taken from the preceding _jubet_) that
as yet he had determined upon nothing.' As past time is here
spoken of, it should properly not be _etiamnunc_, but _etiamtunc_;
and it is doubtful as to whether the reading of some manuscripts _tum
etiam_ ought not to be received into the text. If _etiamnunc_ is
correct, we must explain it by supposing that the historian abandons
the character of a narrator of past events, and transfers himself to
the present.
[615] 'A conscientious (trustworthy) man, and acceptable to both' (Sulla
and Bocchus).
110. 'Nunquam ego ratus sum fore, uti rex maximus in hac terra et omnium,
quos novi, privato homini[616] gratiam deberem. Et mehercule, Sulla, ante
te cognitum multis orantibus, aliis ultro egomet opem tuli, nullius
indigui.[617] Id imminutum, quod ceteri dolere solent, ego laetor; fuerit
mihi eguisse[618] aliquando amicitiae tuae, qua apud animum meum nihil
carius habeo. Id adeo experiri licet:[619] arma, viros, pecuniam,
postremo quidquid animo libet, sume, utere; et quoad vives, nunquam tibi
redditam gratiam putaveris; semper apud me integra[620] erit; denique
nihil me sciente frustra voles. Nam, ut ego aestimo, regem armis quam
munificentia vinci minus flagitiosum est.[621] Ceterum de re publica
vestra, cujus curator huc missus es, paucis accipe. Bellum ego populo
Romano neque feci neque factum umquam volui:[622] fines meos adversum
armatos armis tutatus sum. Id omitto, quando vobis ita placet; gerite
quod vultis cum Jugurtha bellum. Ego flumen Mulucham, quod inter me et
Micipsam fuit, non egrediar neque id intrare Jugurtham sinam. Praeterea
si quid meque vobisque dignum petiveris, haud repulsus abibis.[623]
[616] The king calls the quaestor Sulla a private person, being
unwilling, as a king, to allow any one a public character who is not,
like himself, a king. But in the opinion of the Romans, the quaestor
Sulla was by no means a private person.
[617] 'I have assisted many at their request, and others of my own accord
(unasked), while I myself was in need of no man's assistance.'
[618] _Fuerit mihi eguisse_, the concessive mood: 'granting that it was
the case that I needed,' might also have been expressed simly by
_eguerim_.
[619] 'This you may try at once.' For this meaning of _adeo_, whereby
that which precedes is confirmed by the result, see Zumpt, S 281.
[620] 'Unimpaired,' 'in the same condition.'
[621] We should express the same idea rather thus: _regem munificentia
vinci flagitiosius est, quam armis_.
[622] About _factum volui_, see Zumpt, S 611.
[623] 'Your wish will not be refused by me.' Bocchus no doubt here
alludes to the surrender of Jugurtha, but he is yet doubtful as to
whether it is worthy of himself.
111. Ad ea Sulla pro se breviter et modice, de pace et de communibus
rebus multis disseruit. Denique regi patefecit, 'quod polliceatur,
senatum et populum Romanum, quoniam amplius armis valuissent, non in
gratiam habituros;[624] faciundum aliquid, quod illorum magis quam sua
rettulisse videretur; id adeo in promptu esse, quoniam Jugurthae copiam
haberet; quem si Romanis tradidisset, fore, ut illi plurimum deberetur;
amicitiam, foedus, Numidiae partem, quam nunc peteret, tunc ultro
adventuram.'[625] Rex primo negitare;[626] affinitatem, cognationem,
praeterea foedus intervenisse; ad hoc metuere, ne fluxa fide usus
popularium animos averteret, quis et Jugurtha carus et Romani invisi
erant. Denique saepius fatigatus lenitur et ex voluntate Sullae omnia se
facturum promittit. Ceterum ad simulandam pacem, cujus Numida defessus
bello avidissimus, quae utilia visa, constituunt. Ita composito dolo
digrediuntur.
[624] 'What he promised them, they would not consider as a favour (as a
thing for which they owed him gratitude); that he must do something
beyond, something that might appear to be their interest more than
his.'
[625] 'Would then come to him,' implying an advantage gained without
exertion.
[626] _Negitare_, a rare word, but very expressive; for the simple
_negare_, in a case like this, is stronger than a repeated assertion
that you cannot, or will not, do a certain thing. The _affinitas_
(connexion by marriage) refers to what is mentioned chap. 80, a
daughter of Bocchus being married to Jugurtha. Respecting their
cognatio_ (relation by blood) nothing is known, but there must have
been a family connexion between the neighbouring kings.
_Intervenisse_--that is, _factum esse_--referring especially to
_foedus_.
112. At rex postero die Asparem Jugurthae legatum appellat dicitque sibi
per Dabarem ex Sulla cognitum, posse condicionibus bellum poni;[627]
quamobrem regis sui sententiam exquireret. Ille laetus in castra
Jugurthae venit; dein ab illo cuncta edoctus, properato itinere post diem
octavum redit ad Bocchum et ei denuntiat, 'Jugurtham cupere omnia, quae
imperarentur, facere, sed Mario parum confidere; saepe antea cum
imperatoribus Romanis pacem conventam[628] frustra fuisse. Ceterum
Bocchus si ambobus consultum et ratam pacem vellet, daret operam, ut una
ab omnibus quasi de pace in colloquium veniretur, ibique sibi Sullam
traderet; quum talem virum in potestatem habuisset,[629] tum fore, uti
jussu senatus populique Romani foedus fieret, neque hominem nobilem non
sua ignavia sed ob rem publicam[630] in hostium potestate relictum iri.'
[627] 'That the war could be brought to a close by mutual concessions.'
[628] _Pax conventa_, 'the peace which is agreed upon.' Observe the
rare use of the passive participle; for _convenire_ is commonly
intransitive--as _pax convenit_, a 'peace is concluded.'
[629] _In potestatem habere_ is ungrammatical for _in potestate habere_,
but is found now and then. See Zumpt, S 316.
[630] The expression is somewhat contorted; for the inserted clause
_non sua ignavia sed ob rem publicam_ should have a verb of its own,
which, however, would be a part of the leading verb--namely, _qui
in hostium potestate esset_.
113. Haec Maurus secum ipse diu volvens tandem promisit, ceterum dolo an
vere cunctatus, parum comperimus. Sed plerumque regiae voluntates, ut
vehementes, sic mobiles, saepe ipsae sibi adversae.[631] Postea tempore
et loco constituto, in colloquium uti de pace veniretur, Bocchus Sullam
modo, modo Jugurthae legatum appellare, benigne habere, idem ambobus
polliceri. Illi pariter laeti ac spei bonae pleni esse. Sed nocte ea,
quae proxima fuit ante diem colloquio decretum, Maurus adhibitis amicis
ac statim, immutata voluntate, remotis ceteris,[632] dicitur secum ipse
multa agitavisse, vultu [633] corporis pariter atque animo varius, quae
scilicet tacente ipso occulta pectoris patefecisse. Tamen postremo Sullam
accersi jubet et ex ejus sententia Numidae insidias tendit. Deinde, ubi
dies advenit et ei nuntiatum est Jugurtham haud procul abesse, cum paucis
amicis et quaestore nostro quasi obvius honoris causa procedit in tumulum
facillimum visu insidiantibus. Eodem Numida cum plerisque necessariis
suis inermis, uti dictum erat,[634] accedit ac statim, signo dato,
undique simul ex insidiis invaditur. Ceteri obtruncati; Jugurtha Sullae
vinctus traditur, et ab eo ad Marium deductus est.[635]
[631] 'In contradiction with themselves,' 'contradictory.'
[632] 'The king first summoned his councillors, then dismissed them
immediately, and for a long time meditated by himself.' _Ceteris_
refers to the preceding _amicis_, but is used instead of _iis_, to
form antithesis to himself: 'after the removal of all the rest, he
deliberated by himself.'
[633] _Vultus_, chiefly 'the look of the eyes,' but also 'the features of
the countenance,' by which the inward emotions are manifested;
hence Sallust here, by the addition of _corporis_, opposes the
outward expression to the emotions of the mind: 'He changed (varied)
in the expression of his bodily features as much as in his
sentiments.' _Quae scilicet patefecisse_, 'which, as could be seen,
revealed his mental emotions.' _Quae_ is the neuter plural, and
_scilicet_ contains the leading verb.
[634] That is, _ut praeceptum erat_, and not _dictum_ in the sense of
_edictum_; for according to the deceitful agreement, the _condiciones
pacis_ were to be determined peaceably.
[635] Sallust passes very rapidly over the catastrophe of a king who
had worn out, by simulation and war, the Roman armies for six
years. He was taken prisoner in B.C. 106, when Marius was no
longer consul, but yet remained in Africa as proconsul. Sulla
considered the capture of Jugurtha to be an event so important, and
to himself so glorious, that he had it engraved on his sealing ring.
114. Per idem tempus[636] adversura Gallos ab ducibus nostris Q. Caepione
et Gn. Manlio male pugnatum; quo metu Italia omnis contremuerat.
Illique[637] et inde usque ad nostram memoriam Romani sic habuere, alia
omnia virtuti suae prona esse: cum Gallis pro salute, non pro gloria,
certare.[638] Sed postquam bellum in Numidia confectum et Jugurtham
Romam vinctum adduci nuntiatum est, Marius consul absens factus et ei
decreta provincia Gallia; isque Kalendis Januariis[639] magna gloria
consul triumphavit. Ea tempestate spes atque opes civitatis in illo
sitae.
[636] 'During the same time;' that is, the time during which Marius,
as proconsul, was still in Africa, occupied no doubt with the
regulation of the affairs which, owing to the long war, had fallen
into disorder. Bocchus received a part of western Numidia, as far as
the river Ampsaga; and Numidia was divided between Hiempsal
and Hiarbas, two princes of the family of Masinissa. These and
other matters detained Marius in Africa during the year B.C. 105,
in which the Romans under the consul Gn. Manlius and the proconsul
Q. Caepio, suffered a great defeat from the Cimbri, on the
river Rhodanus. This led to the second consulship of Marius, in
B.C. 104. The people whom Sallust here calls Gauls (_Galli_) are
the Cimbri and Teutones, German tribes coming from the countries
about the Elbe. This mistake must be accounted for by the general
difficulty of distinguishing Celtic (Gallic) from Germanic tribes,
and also by the circumstance that the Cimbri had for many years been
wandering about in Gaul.
[637] _Illique_; that is, the Romans then living, as opposed to those in
the time of Sallust. _Sic habuere_, 'entertained this opinion.'
[638] _Certare_; supply _se_; unless we read _certari_, to which it is
easier to supply a _se_.
[639] On the 1st of January B.C. 104. We may here observe, that
Jugurtha, after he had adorned the triumphal procession at Rome,
was put to death in the public prison near the Forum--which is
described by Sallust, _Cat._ 55--at the same hour in which Marius
offered up his thanksgiving to Jupiter Optimus Maximus in the
Capitol.