Chapter 14

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

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

[250] The consuls here mentioned entered upon their office on the 1st of January, 109 B.C. The preparation for the campaign accordingly belongs to the latter part of the year 110. [251] 'An opponent of the popular party;' _adversus_ being used as a substantive, in the sense of _adversarius_; as an adjective, it is construed with the dative. [252] _Cum collega_, a short expression for _conjuncta cum collega_, 'everything else he considered as common between himself and his colleague, but to the Numidian war he alone directed his attention, as though it were his own exclusive business.' [253] _Praesidia_ is generally 'resources;' but here the same as _auxilia_, 'auxiliary troops.' [254] _Contusae_, from _contundere_, for _imminutae_, _debilitatae_, _fractae_.

44. Sed ubi in Africam venit, exercitus ei traditur a Sp. Albino pro consule iners, imbellis, neque periculi neque laboris patiens, lingua quam manu promptior, praedator[255] ex sociis et ipse praeda hostium, sine imperio et modestia habitus. Ita imperatori novo plus ex malis moribus sollicitudinis quam ex copia militum auxilii aut spei bonae accedebat. Statuit tamen Metellus, quamquam et aestivorum tempus[256] comitiorum mora imminuerat, et expectatione eventus civium animos intentos putabat, non prius bellum attingere quam majorum disciplina milites laborare coegisset. Nam Albinus, Auli fratris exercitusque clade perculsus, postquam decreverat non egredi provincia, quantum temporis aestivorum in imperio fuit,[257] plerumque milites stativis castris habebat, nisi quum odos[258] aut pabuli egestas locum mutare subegerat. Sed neque muniebantur ea, neque more militari vigiliae deducebantur; uti cuique libebat, ab signis aberat: lixae permixti cum militibus die noctuque vagabantur; palantes agros vastare, villas expugnare, pecoris et mancipiorum praedas certantes agere, eaque mutare cum mercatoribus[259] vino advectitio et aliis talibus; praeterea frumentum publice datum vendere, panem in dies mercari; postremo, quaecunque dici aut fingi queunt ignaviae luxuriaeque probra, ea in illo exercitu cuncta fuere et alia amplius.

[255] _Praedator_, belonging to _exercitus_, is the same as _praedas agens_, 'carrying off booty.' See Zumpt, S 102, note 2. [256] _Aestivorum tempus_ is the time suited for the campaign. To _aestivorum_ supply _castrorum_, 'a summer-camp,' and 'a campaign made in summer;' hence, also, 'a campaign' in general, inasmuch as warlike operations were but rarely carried on in winter. [257] _Albinus_, during a portion of the summer of the year 109 B. C., continued to command as proconsul, while the consul Metellus was detained at Rome by the election of the consuls for the year B. C. 108. [258] _Odos_ for _odor_. See Zumpt, S 7. [259] _Cum mercatoribus_, 'in intercourse with merchants.' The merchandise, in return for which another commodity is given, is expressed by the ablative. See Zumpt, S 456.

45. Sed in ea difficultate Metellum non minus quam in rebus hostilibus magnum et sapientem virum fuisse comperior; tanta temperantia inter ambitionem[260] saevitiamque moderatum: namque edicto primum adjumenta ignaviae sustulisse, ne quisquam in castris panem aut quem alium coctum cibum venderet, ne lixae exercitum sequerentur, ne miles gregarius in castris neve in agmine servum aut jumentum haberet; ceteris arte modum statuisse.[261] Praeterea transversis itineribus cotidie castra movere, juxta ac si hostes adessent, vallo atque fossa munire, vigilias crebras ponere et eas ipse cum legatis circumire, item in agmine in primis modo, modo in postremis, saepe in medio adesse, ne quisquam ordine egrederetur, uti cum signis frequentes incederent, miles cibum et arma portaret. Ita prohibendo a delictis magis quam vindicando exercitum brevi confirmavit.

[260] _Ambitio_, 'courting favour;' hence here in the sense of 'indulgence,' 'connivance,' these being the ordinary means to obtain the favour of the multitude. [261] _Ceteris arte modum statuisse_ still depends upon _comperior_, 'I learn (that is, we are informed) that for the rest (of the wants) he fixed the measure in a close (niggardly) manner;' for _arte_ is the adverb of _artus_, which is frequently, though not correctly, written _arcte_. It must not be confounded with _arte_ from _ars_. Sallust might have said, _ceteris (rebus) artum modum statuisse_.

46. Interea Jugurtha, ubi quae Metellus agebat ex nuntiis accepit, simul de innocentia ejus certior Romae factus, diffidere suis rebus ac tum demum veram deditionem facere conatus est. Igitur legatos ad consulem cum suppliciis[262] mittit, qui tantummodo ipsi liberisque vitam peterent, alia omnia dederent populo Romano. Sed Metello jam antea experimentis cognitum erat genus Numidarum infidum, ingenio mobili, novarum rerum avidum esse. Itaque legatos alium ab alio diversos aggreditur,[263] ac paulatim temptando, postquam opportunos sibi cognovit, multa pollicendo persuadet, uti Jugurtham maxime[264] vivum, sin id parum procedat, necatum sibi traderent; ceterum palam, quae ex voluntate forent,[265] regi nuntiari jubet. Deinde ipse paucis diebus intento atque infesto exercitu in Numidiam procedit, ubi contra belli faciem tuguria plena hominum, pecora cultoresque in agris erant; ex oppidis et mapalibus praefecti regis obvii procedebant, parati frumentum dare, commeatum portare, postremo omnia, quae imperarentur, facere. Neque Metellus idcirco minus, sed pariter ac si hostes adessent, munito agmine incedere, late explorare omnia, illa deditionis signa ostentui credere et insidiis locum temptari. Itaque ipse cum expeditis cohortibus, item funditorum et sagittariorum delecta manu apud primos erat, in postremo G. Marius legatus cum equitibus curabat, in utrumque latus auxiliarios equites tribunis legionum et praefectis cohortium dispertiverat, ut cum his permixti velites, quocunque accederent equitatus[266] hostium, propulsarent. Nam in Jugurtha tantus dolus tantaque peritia locorum et militiae erat, ut absens an praesens, pacem an bellum gerens perniciosior esset, in incerto haberetur.

[262] _Supplicia_ here, as elsewhere, are _supplices preces_, 'humble prayers,' or 'petitions.' Compare chap. 66. [263] 'He applies to the ambassadors one by one;' that is, he tries them one by one, _temptat singulos_. [264] _Maxime_, the same as _potissimum_. Compare chap. 35. [265] 'What would be in accordance with his wish;' namely, the granting of his request. [266] The plural _equitatus_ is rare; here it refers to different troops of cavalry, as in Caesar, _Bell. Civ._ i. 61. To _propulsarent_ supply _eos_. See Zumpt, S 766.

47. Erat haud longe ab eo itinere, quo Metellus pergebat, oppidum Numidarum, nomine Vaga, forum rerum venalium totius regni maxime celebratum,[267] ubi et incolere et mercari consueverant Italici generis multi mortales. Huc consul simul temptandi gratia, et si paterentur, opportunitate loci, praesidium imposuit;[268] praeterea imperavit frumentum et alia, quae bello usui forent, comportare,[269] ratus id quod res monebat, frequentiam negotiatorum et commeatum juvaturum exercitum et jam paratis rebus munimento fore. Inter haec negotia Jugurtha impensius modo[270] legatos supplices mittere, pacem orare, praeter suam liberorumque vitam omnia Metello dedere. Quos item, uti priores, consul illectos ad proditionem domum dimittebat, regi pacem quam postulabat neque abnuere neque polliceri et inter eas moras promissa legatorum exspectare.

[267] 'Most frequented;' for _celeber_, _bris_, _bre_, is commonly used of densely peopled or much frequented places. [268] Metellus placed a garrison in the city, partly to test the sentiments of the inhabitants, and partly on account of the advantages offered to him by the nature of the place, in case the inhabitants should not object to a garrison of the Romans. The common reading, _si paterentur opportunitates loci_, must be rejected, for the words _si paterentur_ must refer to the inhabitants of the place, and explain the preceding _temptandi gratia_. Another reading, _opportunitatis_, to which _gratia_ must be supplied by the mind, has the same meaning as _opportunitate_, the ablative of cause. [269] 'He believed that the great number of merchants (in the town) and the corn would be of use to the army, and protect the provisions (of the Roman army) already accumulated,' so that the Roman stores might be saved. [270] _Impensius modo_; that is, _praeter modum_, 'beyond measure,' 'immoderately;' literally, 'stronger than the measure observed in such matters.'

48. Jugurtha ubi Metelli dicta cum factis composuit ac se suis artibus temptari animadvertit, quippe cui verbis pax nuntiabatur, ceterum re bellum asperrimum erat, urbs maxima alienata, ager hostibus cognitus, animi popularium temptati, coactus rerum necessitudine statuit armis certare. Igitur explorato hostium itinere, in spem victoriae adductus ex opportunitate loci, quam maximas potest copias omnium generum parat ac per tramites occultos exercitum Metelli antevenit.[271] Erat in ea parte Numidiae, quam Adherbal in divisione possederat, flumen oriens a meridie, nomine Muthul; a quo aberat mons ferme milia passuum viginti tractu pari,[272] vastus ab natura et humano cultu. Sed ex eo medio quasi collis oriebatur, in immensum pertingens,[273] vestitus oleastro ac murtetis aliisque generibus arborum, quae humi arido atque arenoso[274] gignuntur. Media autem planities deserta penuria aquae, praeter flumini propinqua loca; ea consita arbustis, pecore atque cultoribus frequentabantur.

[271] _Exercitum antevenit_. See Zumpt, S 386, note. [272] 'In an equal direction;' that is, likewise extending from south to north. [273] In the midst of this range there arose another group, extending far and wide; and, as will be seen hereafter (chapter 49), in a transverse direction (_transverso itinere_) from the range to the river running parallel with it. _In immensum_, however, must be understood relatively of a very great extent, and not absolutely of an infinite extent. [274] 'On dry and sandy ground' is a very singular expression, and has been noticed as such by the Roman grammarians themselves; for _humi_ (on the ground) is otherwise used without an adjective as an adverb. The adjective is here put in the ablative, to denote the place where, and in the neuter gender, _humi_ being regarded as indeclinable. In ordinary language, it would be _in humo arida_.

49. Igitur in eo colle, quem transverso itinere porrectum docuimus, Jugurtha, extenuata suorum acie,[275] consedit, elephantis et parti copiarum pedestrium Bomilcarem praefecit eumque edocet, quae ageret; ipse propior montem[276] cum omni equitatu et peditibus delectis suos collocat. Dein singulas turmas et manipulos circumiens monet atque obtestatur, uti memores pristinae virtutis et victoriae sese regnumque suum ab Romanorum avaritia defendant; cum iis certamen fore, quos antea victos sub jugum miserint; ducem illis, non animum mutatum; quae ab imperatore decuerint,[277] omnia suis provisa, locum superiorem, ut prudentes cum imperitis, ne pauciores cum pluribus aut rudes cum bello melioribus manum consererent; proinde parati intentique essent signo dato Romanos invadere; illum diem aut omnes labores et victorias confirmaturum, aut maximarum aerumnarum initium fore. Ad hoc viritim, uti quemque ob militare facinus pecunia aut honore extulerat, commonefacere beneficii sui et eum ipsum aliis ostentare; postremo pro cujusque ingenio pollicendo, minitando, obtestando, alium alio modo excitare; quum interim Metellus, ignarus hostium, monte degrediens cum exercitu conspicitur,[278] primo dubius, quidnam insolita facies ostenderet (nam inter virgulta equi Numidaeque consederant, neque plane occultati humilitate arborum, et tamen incerti,[279] quidnam esset, cum natura loci tum dolo ipsi atque signa militaria obscurati); dein, brevi cognitis insidiis paulisper agmen constituit. Ibi commutatis ordinibus,[280] in dextero latere, quod proximum hostes erat, triplicibus subsidiis aciem instruxit, inter manipulos funditores et sagittarios dispertit, equitatum omnem in cornibus locat, ac pauca pro tempore milites hortatus aciem, sicuti instruxerat, transversis principiis[281] in planum deducit.

[275] 'The battle-line being long, but not deep.' [276] _Montem_, the same as _monti_. See Zumpt, S 411. [277] _Decuerint_. Sallust might have written _decuerit_ in the singular. Compare Zumpt, S 226. [278] _Quum interim Metellus--conspicitur_, is the apodosis. 'Then, in the meantime, Metellus appears.' Respecting this use of _quum_ with the present indicative, see Zumpt, S 580, 2; for the circumstance of _interim_ being used here, where we might expect _subito_, does not alter the case, and only expresses that Jugurtha was yet engaged in encouraging his army when Metellus became visible. [279] _Incerti_ is here used passively and personally, 'uncertain what it might be,' for _de quibus incertum erat, quidnam esset_; and the neuter _quidnam_ is used in the sense of the masculine plural, 'it was uncertain whether they were men, and what sort of men.' In like manner we have seen (chapter 18) _ignarus_ used passively. [280] 'With an alteration in the ranks,' those soldiers who had before marched by the side of one another now being placed behind one another, as the man who had till then been on the right wing of his detachment suddenly turned to the right, with his face towards the hill. On the right of the whole marching army, he now formed the front towards the enemy (_aciem_), and strengthened by a threefold reserve. [281] 'The _principia_ standing transversely' (to the direction in which till then the column had been). The march of the Roman army was from east to west; the enemy appeared on the right flank, and the Roman vanguard (_principia_) therefore turned round to face them (that is, turning its face to the north), and it is this direction which is expressed by _transversus_. _Principia_ is the vanguard, because in a Roman legion the ten companies of _principes_ formed the front line, while the _hastati_ constituted the second, and the _triarii_ the third. In this manner the _principes_ here faced the enemy, while the other divisions of the army drew up behind them as a reserve.

50. Sed ubi Numidas quietos neque colle degredi animadvertit, veritus ex anni tempore et inopia aquae, ne siti conficeretur exercitus, Rutilium legatum cum expeditis cohortibus et parte equitum praemisit ad flumen, uti locum castris antecaperet, existimans hostes crebro impetu et transversis proeliis[282] iter suum remoraturos, et quoniam armis diffiderent, lassitudinem et sitim militum temptaturos.[283] Deinde ipse pro re atque loco, sicuti monte descenderat, paulatim procedere, Marium post principia habere, ipse cum sinistrae alae equitibus esse, qui in agmine principes facti erant.[284] At Jugurtha, ubi extremum agmen Metelli primos suos praetergressum videt, praesidio quasi duum milium peditum montem occupat, qua Metellus descenderat, ne forte cedentibus adversariis receptui ac post munimento foret; dein repente signo dato hostes invadit. Numidae alii postremos caedere, pars a sinistra ac dextera temptare, infensi adesse atque instare, omnibus locis Romanorum ordines conturbare, quorum etiam qui firmioribus animis obvii hostibus fuerant, ludificati incerto proelio, ipsi modo eminus sauciabantur, neque contra feriundi aut conserendi manum copia erat; ante jam docti ab Jugurtha equites, ubicunque Romanorum turma insequi coeperat, non confertim neque in unum sese recipiebant, sed alius alio quam maxime diversi. Ita numero priores,[285] si ab persequendo hostes deterrere nequiverant, disjectos ab tergo aut lateribus circumveniebant; sin opportunior fugae collis quam campi fuerat, ea[286] vero consueti Numidarum equi facile inter virgulta evadere; nostros asperitas et insolentia loci retinebat.

[282] _Transversis proeliis_, 'by attacks on the flanks'--namely, if the Roman army should resume its march westward. [283] _Temptare lassitudinem militum_, the same as _lassos milites aggredi_. [284] The army was drawn up in battle array facing the north, so that, if it resumed its march westward, the part which formed the left wing became the head of the column (_agmen_). [285] _Priores_; that is, _superiores_, 'superior.' [286] _Ea_, 'on this road,' or 'there.' _Evadere_, 'to ascend.' _Vero_ in the apodosis renders it strong and emphatic. See Zumpt, S 716.

51. Ceterum facies totius negotii varia, incerta, foeda atque miserabilis; dispersi a suis pars cedere, alii insequi, neque signa neque ordines observare, ubi quemque periculum ceperat, ibi resistere ac propulsare, arma tela,[287] equi viri, hostes atque cives permixti, nihil consilio neque imperio agi, fors omnia regere: itaque multum diei processerat, quum etiamtum eventus in incerto erat. Denique omnibus labore et aestu languidis, Metellus ubi videt Numidas minus instare, paulatim milites in unum conducit, ordines restituit et cohortes legionarias quatuor adversum pedites hostium collocat. Eorum magna pars superioribus locis fessa consederat. Simul orare, hortari milites, ne deficerent, neu paterentur hostes fugientes vincere; neque illis[288] castra esse neque munimentum ullum, quo cedentes tenderent, in armis omnia sita. Sed ne Jugurtha quidem interea quietus erat; circumire, hortari, renovare proelium et ipse cum delectis temptare omnia, subvenire suis, hostibus dubiis instare, quos firmos cognoverat, eminus pugnando retinere.

[287] Respecting the omission of _et_, see Zumpt, S 782. _Arma_ and _tela_ are the two kinds of arms, the one being used in a close contest, and the other at a distance; the use of either of them depended on chance (_fors regebat_). _Itaque_ in the next clause is the same as et _ita_, and not the conjunction _itaque = igitur_. [288] They had no camp, no fortifications into which they could retreat. _Illis_ refers to the Romans addressed, and is rendered by the emphatic they; instead of _illis_, the speaker might have used _ipsis_ whereby he would have included himself, whereas now he is speaking only of the soldiers. Compare Zumpt, S 702.

52. Eo modo inter se duo imperatores, summi viri certabant, ipsi pares, ceterum opibus disparibus. Nam Metello virtus militum erat, locus adversus, Jugurthae alia omnia praeter milites opportuna. Denique Romani, ubi intelligunt neque sibi perfugium esse neque ab hoste copiam pugnandi fieri (et jam diei[289] vesper erat) adverse colle, sicuti praeceptum fuerat, evadunt. Amisso loco Numidae fusi fugatique; pauci interiere, plerosque velocitas et regio hostibus ignara tutata sunt.[290] Interea Bomilcar, quem elephantis et parti copiarum pedestrium praefectum ab Jugurtha supra diximus, ubi cum Rutilius praetergressus est, paulatim suos in aequum locum deducit ac, dum legatus ad flumen, quo praemissus erat, festinans pergit, quietus, uti res postulabat, aciem exornat, neque remittit, quid ubique hostis ageret,[291] explorare. Postquam Rutilium consedisse jam et animo vacuum accepit, simulque ex Jugurthae proelio clamorem augeri, veritus, ne legatus cognita re laborantibus suis auxilio foret, aciem, quam diffidens virtuti militum arte statuerat,[292] quo hostium itineri officeret, latius porrigit, eoque modo ad Rutilii castra procedit.

[289] _Diei_; other editions have _die_, an obsolete form of the fifth declension. _Adverso colle evadunt_, 'they worked their way up the opposite hill.' The author might have said _in adversum collem,_ 'they ascended it.' [290] The neuter predicate _tutata sunt_ here refers to two feminine nouns, instead of _tutatae sunt_; but it is quite in accordance with the custom of Sallust. See Zumpt, S 377. [291] 'What the enemy were doing in every place;' for _ubique_ signifies 'in every place;' not absolutely, but in every one of the places where anything was done by the enemy. _Ubique_ stands to _ubivis_ in the same relation as _quisque_ to _quivis_. Compare Zumpt, S 710. [292] 'He had drawn up his corps close together.' About _arte_, see _Cat._, chap. 59, and p. 110, note 4 [note 261].