Chapter 20

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.