Chapter 17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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