The Jugurthine War (Sallust)

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	The Jugurthine War Author: Sallust	Translator: John Selby Watson
100	Dein Marius , uti coeperat , in hiberna pergit : nam 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 , in sinistra parte Manlius cum funditoribus et sagittariis , praeterea cohortis Ligurum curabat . Primos et extremos cum expeditis manipulis tribunos locauerat . Perfugae , minime cari et regionum scientissimi , hostium iter explorabant . Simul consul quasi nullo imposito omnia prouidere , apud omnis adesse , laudare et increpare merentis . Ipse armatus intentusque , item milites cogebat . Neque secus atque iter facere , castra munire , excubitum in porta cohortis ex legionibus , pro castris equites auxiliarios mittere , praeterea alios super vallum in munimentis locare , vigilias ipse circumire , non tam diffidentia futurum quae imperauisset , quam uti militibus exaequatus cum imperatore labor volentibus esset . Et sane Marius illoque aliisque temporibus Iugurthini belli pudore magis quam malo exercitum coercebat . Quod multi per ambitionem fieri aiebant : a pueritia consuetam duritiam et alia , quae ceteri miserias vocant , voluptati habuisse ; nisi tamen res publica pariter atque saevissimo imperio bene atque decore gesta .	Marius now continued the route, which he had commenced, toward his winter quarters, which, for the convenience of getting provisions, he had determined to fix in the towns on the coast. He was not, however, rendered careless or presumptuous by his victory, but marched with his army in form of a square, just as if he were in sight of the enemy. Sylla, with his cavalry, was on the right; Aulus Manlius, with the slingers and archers, and Ligurian cohorts, had the command on the left; the tribunes, with the light-armed infantry, the consul had placed in the front and rear. The deserters, whose lives were of little value, and who were well acquainted with the country, observed the route of the enemy. Marius himself, too, as if no other were placed in charge, attended to every thing, went through the whole of the troops, and praised or blamed them according to their desert. He was always armed and on the alert, and obliged his men to imitate his example. He fortified his camp with the same caution with which he marched; stationing cohorts of the legions to watch the gates, and the auxiliary cavalry in front, and others upon the rampart and lines. He went round the posts in person, not from suspicion that his orders would not be observed, but that the labor of the soldiers, shared equally by their general, might be endured by them with cheerfulness. Indeed, Marius, as well at this as at other periods of the war, kept his men to their duty rather by the dread of shame than of severity; a course which many said was adopted from desire of popularity, but some thought it was because he took pleasure in toils to which he had been accustomed from his youth, and in exertions which other men call perfect miseries. The public interest, however, was served with as much efficiency and honor as it could have been under the most rigorous command.
101	Igitur quarto denique die haud longe ab oppido Cirta undique simul speculatores citi sese ostendunt , qua re hostis adesse intellegitur . Sed quia diuersi redeuntes alius ab alia parte atque omnes idem significabant , consul incertus , quonam modo aciem instrueret , nullo ordine commutato aduersum omnia paratus ibidem opperitur . Ita Iugurtham spes frustrata , qui copias in quattuor partis distribuerat , ratus ex omnibus aeque aliquos ab tergo hostibus venturos . Interim Sulla , quem primum hostes attigerant , cohortatus suos turmatim et quam maxime confertis equis ipse aliique Mauros invadunt , ceteri in loco manentes ab iaculis eminus emissis corpora tegere et , si qui in manus venerant , obtruncare . Dum eo modo equites proeliantur , Bocchus cum peditibus , quos Volux , filius eius , adduxerat neque in priore pugna , in itinere morati , affuerant , postremam Romanorum aciem invadunt . Tum Marius apud primos agebat , quod ibi Iugurtha cum plurimis erat . Dein Numida cognito Bocchi adventu clam cum paucis ad pedites conuertit . Ibi Latine — nam apud Numantiam loqui didicerat — exclamat nostros frustra pugnare , paulo ante Marium sua manu interfectum , simul gladium sanguine oblitum ostentans , quem in pugna satis impigre occiso pedite nostro cruentauerat . Quod ubi milites accepere , magis atrocitate rei quam fide nuntii terrentur , simulque barbari animos tollere et in perculsos Romanos acrius incedere . Iamque paulum a fuga aberant , cum Sulla profligatis iis , quos aduersum ierat , rediens ab latere Mauris incurrit . Bocchus statim auertitur . At Iugurtha , dum sustentare suos et prope iam adeptam victoriam retinere cupit , circumventus ab equitibus , dextra sinistraque omnibus occisis solus inter tela hostium vitabundus erumpit . Atque interim Marius fugatis equitibus accurrit auxilio suis , quos pelli iam acceperat . Denique hostes iam undique fusi . Tum spectaculum horribile in campis patentibus : sequi fugere , occidi capi ; equi atque viri afflicti , ac multi uulneribus acceptis neque fugere posse neque quietem pati , niti modo ac statim concidere ; postremo omnia , qua visus erat , constrata telis armis cadaueribus , et inter ea humus infecta sanguine .	At length, on the fourth day of his march, when he was not far from the town of Cirta, his scouts suddenly made their appearance from all quarters at once; a circumstance by which the enemy was known to be at hand. But as they came in from different points, and all gave the same account, the consul, doubting in what form to draw up his army, made no alteration in it, but halted where he was, being already prepared for every contingency. Jugurtha's expectations, in consequence, disappointed him; for he had divided his force into four bodies, trusting that one of them, assuredly, would surprise the Romans in the rear. Sylla, meanwhile, with whom they first came in contact, having cheered on his men, charged the Moors, in person and with his officers, with troop after troop of cavalry, in the closest order possible; while the rest of his force, retaining their position, protected themselves against the darts thrown from a distance, and killed such of the enemy as fell into their hands. While the cavalry was thus engaged, Bocchus, with his infantry, which his son Volux had brought up, and which, from delay on their march, had not been present in the former battle, assailed the Romans in the rear. Marius was at that moment occupied in front, as Jugurtha was there with his largest force, The Numidian king, hearing of the arrival of Bocchus, wheeled secretly about, with a few of his followers, to the infantry, and exclaimed in Latin, which he had learned to speak at Numantia, "that our men were struggling in vain; for that he had just slain Marius with his own hand;" showing, at the same time, his sword besmeared with blood, which he had, indeed, sufficiently stained by vigorously cutting down our infantry. When the soldiers heard this, they felt a shock, though rather at the horror of such an event, than from belief in him who asserted it; the barbarians, on the other hand, assumed fresh courage, and advanced with greater fury on the disheartened Romans, who were just on the point of taking to flight, when Sylla, having routed those to whom he had been opposed, fell upon the Moors in the flank. Bocchus instantly fled. Jugurtha, anxious to support his men, and to secure a victory so nearly won, was surrounded by our cavalry, and all his attendants, right and left, being slain, had to force a way alone, with great difficulty, through the weapons of the enemy. Marius, at the same time, having put to flight the cavalry, came up to support such of his men as he had understood to be giving ground. At last the enemy were defeated in every quarter. The spectacle on the open plains was then frightful; some were pursuing, others fleeing; some were being slain, others captured; men and horses were dashed to the earth; many, who were wounded, could neither flee nor remain at rest, attempting to rise, and instantly falling back; and the whole field, as far as the eye could reach, was strewed with arms and dead bodies, and the intermediate spaces saturated with blood.
102	Post ea loci consul haud dubie iam victor pervenit in oppidum Cirtam , quo initio profectus intenderat . Eo post diem quintum , quam iterum barbari male pugnauerant , legati a Boccho veniunt , qui regis verbis ab Mario petiuere , duos quam fidissimos ad eum mitteret , velle de suo et de populi Romani commodo cum iis disserere . Ille statim L . Sullam et A . Manlium ire iubet . Qui quamquam acciti ibant , tamen placuit verba apud regem facere , ut ingenium aut auersum flecterent aut cupidum pacis vehementius accenderent . Itaque Sulla , cuius facundiae , non aetati a Manlio concessum , pauca verba huiusce modi locutus : " Rex Bocche , magna laetitia nobis est , cum te talem virum di monuere , uti aliquando pacem quam bellum malles neu te optimum cum pessimo omnium Iugurtha miscendo commaculares , simul nobis demeres acerbam necessitudinem , pariter te errantem atque illum sceleratissimum persequi . Ad hoc populo Romano iam a principio imperi melius visum amicos quam seruos quaerere , tutiusque rati volentibus quam coactis imperitare . Tibi vero nulla opportunior nostra amicitia , primum quia procul absumus , in quo offensae minimum , gratia par ac si prope adessemus ; dein quia parentis 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 , quam mala perpessus es . Sed quoniam humanarum rerum fortuna atque , uti coepisti , perge . licet placuit et vim et gratiam nostram te experiri , nunc , quando per illam licet , festina atque , uti coepisti , perge . multa atque opportuna habes , quo facilius errata officiis superes . Postremo hoc in pectus tuum demitte , numquam 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 Iugurtham expulerit , iure belli suam factam ; eam vastari a Mario pati nequiuisse . Praeterea missis antea Romam legatis repulsum ab amicitia . Ceterum uetera omittere ac tum , si per Marium liceret , legatos ad senatum missurum . Dein copia facta animus barbari ab amicis flexus , quos Iugurtha , cognita legatione Sullae et Manli metuens id , quod parabatur , donis corruperat .	At length the consul, now indisputably victor, arrived at the town of Cirta, whither he had at first intended to go. To this place, on the fifth day after the second defeat of the barbarians, came messengers from Bocchus, who, in the king's name, requested of Marius to send him two persons in whom he had full confidence, as he wished to confer with them on matters concerning both the interest of the Roman people and his own. Marius immediately dispatched Sylla and Aulus Manlius; who, though they went at the king's invitation, thought proper, notwithstanding, to address him first, in the hope of altering his sentiments, if he were unfavorable to peace, or of strengthening his inclination, if he were disposed to it. Sylla, therefore, to whose superiority, not in years but in eloquence, Manlius yielded precedence, spoke to Bocchus briefly as follows: "It gives us great pleasure, King Bocchus, that the gods have at length induced a man, so eminent as yourself, to prefer peace to war, and no longer to stain your own excellent character by an alliance with Jugurtha, the most infamous of mankind; and to relieve us, at the same time, from the disagreeable necessity of visiting with the same punishment your errors and his crimes. Besides, the Roman people, even from the very infancy of their state, have thought it better to seek friends than slaves, thinking it safer to rule over willing than forced subjects. But to you no friendship can be more suitable than ours; for, in the first place, we are at a distance from you, on which account there will be the less chance of misunderstanding between us, while our good feeling for you will be as strong as if we were near; and, secondly, because, though we have subjects in abundance, yet neither we, nor any other nation, can ever have a sufficiency of friends. Would that such had been your inclination from the first; for then you would assuredly, before this time, have received from the Roman people more benefits than you have now suffered evils. But since Fortune has the chief control in human affairs, and it has pleased her that you should experience our force as well as our favor, now, when she gives you this fair opportunity, embrace it without delay, and complete the course which you have begun. You have many and excellent means of atoning, with great ease, for past errors by future services. Impress this, however, deeply on your mind, that the Roman people are never outdone in acts of kindness; of their power in war you have already sufficient knowledge." To this address Bocchus made a temperate and courteous reply, offering a few observations, at the same time, in extenuation of his error; and saying " that he had taken arms, not with any hostile feeling, but to defend his own dominions, as part of Numidia, out of which he had forcibly driven Jugurtha, was his by right of conquest, and he could not allow it to be laid waste by Marius; that when he formerly sent embassadors to the Romans, he was refused their friendship; but that he would say nothing more of the past, and would, if Marius gave him permission, send another embassy to the senate." But no sooner was this permission granted, than the purpose of the barbarian was altered by some of his friends, whom Jugurtha, hearing of the mission of Sylla and Manlius, and fearful of what was intended by it, had corrupted with bribes.
103	Marius interea exercitu in hibernaculis composito cum expeditis cohortibus et parte equitatus proficiscitur in loca sola obsessum turrim regiam , quo Iugurtha perfugas omnis praesidium imposuerat . Tum rursus Bocchus , seu reputando quae sibi duobus proeliis venerant , seu admonitus ab aliis amicis , quos incorruptos Iugurtha reliquerat , ex omni copia necessariorum quinque delegit , quorum et fides cognita et ingenia validissima erant . Eos ad Marium ac deinde , si placeat , Romam legatos ire iubet , agendarum rerum et quocumque modo belli componendi licentiam ipsis permittit . Illi mature ad hiberna Romanorum proficiscuntur , deinde in itinere a Gaetulis latronibus circumventi spoliatique pauidi sine decore ad Sullam profugiunt , quem consul in expeditionem proficiscens pro praetore reliquerat . Eos ille non pro uanis hostibus , uti meriti erant , sed accurate ac liberaliter habuit . Qua re barbari et famam Romanorum auaritiae falsam et Sullam ob munificentiam in sese amicum rati . Nam etiam tum largitio multis ignota erat ; munificus nemo putabatur nisi pariter volens ; dona omnia in benignitate habebantur . Igitur quaestori mandata Bocchi patefaciunt ; simul ab eo petunt , uti fautor consultorque sibi assit ; copias fidem magnitudinem regis sui et alia , quae aut utilia aut beneuolentiae esse credebant , oratione extollunt . Dein Sulla omnia pollicito docti , quo modo apud Marium , item apud senatum verba facerent , circiter dies quadraginta ibidem opperiuntur .	Marius, in the mean time, having settled his army in winter quarters, set out, with the light-armed cohorts and part of the cavalry, into a desert part of the country, to besiege a fortress of Jugurtha's, in which he had placed a garrison consisting wholly of Roman deserters. And now again Bocchus, either from reflecting on what he had suffered in the two engagements, or from being admonished by such of his friends as Jugurtha had not corrupted, selected, out of the whole number of his adherents, five persons of approved integrity and eminent abilities, whom he directed to go, in the first place, to Marius, and afterward to proceed, if Marius gave his consent, as embassadors to Rome, granting them full powers to treat concerning his affairs, and to conclude the war upon any terms whatsoever. These five immediately set out for the Roman winter-quarters, but being beset and spoiled by Getulian robbers on the way, fled, in alarm and ill plight, to Sylla, whom the consul, when he went on his expedition, had left as pro-prætor with the army. Sylla received them, not, as they had deserved, like faithless enemies, but with the greatest ceremony and munificence; from which the barbarians concluded that what was said of Roman avarice was false, and that Sylla, from his generosity, must be their friend. For interested bounty, in those days, was still unknown to many; by whom every man who was liberal was also thought benevolent, and all presents were considered to proceed from kindness. They therefore disclosed to the quæstor their commission from Bocchus, and asked him to be their patron and adviser; extolling, at the same time, the power, integrity, and grandeur of their monarch, and adding whatever they thought likely to promote their objects, or to procure the favor of Sylla. Sylla promised them all that they requested; and, being instructed how to address Marius and the senate, they tarried in the camp about forty days.
104	Marius postquam infecto quo intenderat negotio Cirtam redit et de adventu legatorum certior factus est , illosque et Sullam venire iubet , item L . Bellienum praetorem Vtica , praeterea omnis undique senatorii ordinis , quibuscum mandata Bocchi cognoscit . legatis potestas Romam eundi fit , et ab consule interea indutiae postulabantur . Ea Sullae et plerisque placuere ; pauci ferocius decernunt , scilicet ignari humanarum rerum , quae fluxae et mobiles semper in aduersa mutantur . Ceterum Mauri impetratis omnibus rebus tres Romam profecti duce Cn . Octauio Rusone , qui quaestor stipendium in Africam portauerat , duo ad regem redeunt . Ex iis Bocchus cum cetera tum maxime benignitatem et studium Sullae libens accepit . Romaeque legatis eius , postquam errasse regem et Iugurthae scelere lapsum deprecati sunt , amicitiam et foedus petentibus hoc modo respondetur : " Senatus et populus Romanus benefici et iniuriae memor esse solet . Ceterum Boccho , quoniam paenitet , delicta gratiae facit : foedus et amicitia dabuntur , cum meruerit ."	When Marius, having failed in the object of his expedition, returned to Cirta, and was informed of the arrival of the embassadors, he desired both them and Sylla to come to him, together with Lucius Bellienus, the prætor from Utica, and all that were of senatorial rank in any part of the country, with whom he discussed the instructions of Bocchus to his embassadors; to whom permission to proceed to Rome was granted by the consul. In the mean time a truce was asked, a request to which assent was readily expressed by Sylla and the majority; the few, who advocated harsher measures, were men inexperienced in human affairs, which, unstable and fluctuating, are always verging to opposite extremes. The Moors having obtained all that they desired, three of them started for Rome with Cneius Octavius Rufus, who, as quæstor, had brought pay for the army to Africa; the other two returned to Bocchus, who heard from them, with great pleasure, their account both of other particulars, and especially of the courtesy and attention of Sylla. To his three embassadors that went to Rome, when, after a deprecatory acknowledgment that their king had been in error, and had been led astray by the treachery of Jugurtha, they solicited for him friendship and alliance, the following answer was given: "The senate and people of Rome are wont to be mindful of both services and injuries; they pardon Bocchus, since he repents of his fault, and will grant him their alliance and friendship when he shall have deserved them."
105	Quis rebus cognitis Bocchus per litteras a Mario petiuit , uti Sullam ad se mitteret , cuius arbitratu communibus negotiis consuleretur . Is missus cum praesidio equitum atque funditorum Baliarium. Praeterea iere sagittarii et cohors Paeligna cum uelitaribus armis , itineris properandi causa , neque his secus atque aliis armis aduersum tela hostium , quod ea levia sunt , muniti . Sed in itinere quinto denique die Volux , filius Bocchi , repente in campis patentibus cum mille non amplius 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 ; timor aliquantus , sed spes amplior , quippe victoribus et aduersum eos , quos saepe vicerant . Interim equites exploratum praemissi rem , uti erat , quietam nuntiant .	When this reply was communicated to Bocchus, he requested Marius, by letter, to send Sylla to him, that, at his discretion, measures might be adopted for their common interest. Sylla was accordingly dispatched, attended with a guard of cavalry, infantry, and Balearic slingers, besides some archers and a Pelignian cohort, who, for the sake of expedition, were furnished with light arms, which, however, protected them, as efficiently as any others, against the light darts of the enemy. As he was on his march, on the fifth day after he set out, Volux, the son of Bocchus, suddenly appeared on the open plain with a body of cavalry, which amounted in reality to not more than a thousand, but which, as they approached in confusion and disorder, presented to Sylla and the rest the appearance of a greater number, and excited apprehensions of hostility. Every one, therefore, prepared himself for action, trying and presenting his arms and weapons; some fear was felt among them, but greater hope, as they were now conquerors, and were only meeting those whom they had often overcome. After a while, however, a party of horse sent forward to reconnoiter, reported, as was the case, that nothing but peace was intended.
106	volux adveniens quaestorem appellat dicitque se a patre Boccho obviam illis simul et praesidio missum . Deinde eum et proximum diem sine metu coniuncti eunt . Post ubi castra locata et diei uesper erat , repente Maurus incerto uultu pauens ad Sullam accurrit dicitque sibi ex speculatoribus cognitum Iugurtham haud procul abesse . Simul , uti noctu clam secum profugeret , rogat atque hortatur . Ille animo feroci negat se totiens fusum Numidam pertimescere : virtuti suorum satis credere ; etiam si certa pestis adesset , mansurum potius , quam , proditis quos ducebat . Turpi fuga incertae ac forsitan post paulo morbo interiturae vitae parceret . Ceterum ab eodem monitus , uti noctu proficisceretur , consilium approbat ; ac statim milites cenatos esse in castris ignisque quam creberrimos fieri , dein prima vigilia silentio egredi iubet . Iamque nocturno itinere fessis omnibus Sulla pariter cum ortu solis castra metabatur , cum equites Mauri nuntiant Iugurtham circiter duum milium interuallo ante 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 .	Volux, coming forward, addressed himself to Sylla, saying that he was sent by Bocchus his father to meet and escort him. The two parties accordingly formed a junction, and prosecuted their journey, on that day and the following, without any alarm. But when they had pitched their camp, and evening had set in, Volux came running, with looks of perplexity, to Sylla, and said that he had learned from his scouts that Jugurtha was at hand, entreating and urging him, at the same time, to escape with him privately in the night. Sylla boldly replied, " that he had no fear of Jugurtha, an enemy so often defeated; that he had the utmost confidence in the valor of his troops; and that, even if certain destruction were at hand, he would rather keep his ground, than save, by deserting his followers, a life at best uncertain, and perhaps soon to be lost by disease." Being pressed, however, by Volux, to set forward in the night, he approved of the suggestion, and immediately ordered his men to dispatch their supper, to light as many fires as possible in the camp, and to set out in silence at the first watch. When they were all fatigued with their march during the night, and Sylla was preparing, at sunrise, to pitch his camp, the Moorish cavalry announced that Jugurtha was encamped about two miles in advance. At this report, great dismay fell upon our men; for they believed themselves betrayed by Volux, and led into an ambuscade. Some exclaimed that they ought to take vengeance on him at once, and not suffer such perfidy to remain unpunished.
107	At Sulla , quamquam eadem existimabat , tamen ab iniuria Maurum prohibet . Suos hortatur , uti fortem animum gererent : saepe antea a paucis strenuis aduersum multitudinem bene pugnatum ; quanto sibi in proelio minus pepercissent , tanto tutiores fore ; nec quemquam decere , qui manus armauerit , ab inermis pedibus auxilium petere , in maximo metu nudum et caecum corpus ad hostis vertere . Dein Volucem , quoniam histilia faceret , Iouem maximum obtestatus , ut sceleris atque perfidiae Bocchi testis adesset , ex castris abire iubet . Ille lacrimans orare , ne ea crederet : nihil dolo factum , ac magis calliditate Iugurthae , cui videlicet speculanti iter suum cognitum esset . Ceterum quoniam neque ingentem multitudinem haberet et spes opesque eius ex patre suo penderent , credere illum nihil palam ausurum , cum ipse filius testis adesset . Qua re optimum factu videri per media eius castra palam transire ; sese vel praemissis vel ibidem relictis Mauris solum cum Sulla iturum . Ea res , uti in tali negotio , probata ; ac statim profecti , quia de improuiso acciderant , dubio atque haesitante Iugurtha incolumes transeunt . Deinde paucis diebus , quo ire intenderant , perventum est .	But Sylla, though he had similar thoughts, protected the Moor from violence; exhorting his soldiers to keep up their spirits; and saying, "that a handful of brave men had often fought successfully against a multitude; that the less anxious they were to save their lives in battle, the greater would be their security; and that no man, who had arms in his hands, ought to trust for safety to his unarmed heels, or to turn to the enemy, in however great danger, the defenseless and blind parts of his body." Having then called almighty Jupiter to witness the guilt and perfidy of Bocchus, he ordered Volux, as being an instrument of his father's hostility, to quit the camp. Volux, with tears in his eyes, entreated him to entertain no such suspicions; declaring " that nothing in the affair had been caused by treachery on his part, but all by the subtilty of Jugurtha, to whom his line of march had become known through his scouts. But as Jugurtha had no great force with him, and as his hopes and resources were dependent on his father Bocchus, he assuredly would not attempt any open violence, when the son of Bocchus would himself be a witness of it. He thought it best for Sylla, therefore, to march boldly through the middle of his camp, and that as for himself, he would either send forward his Moors, or leave them where they were, and accompany Sylla alone." This course, under such circumstances, was adopted; they set forward without delay, and, as they came upon Jugurtha unexpectedly, while he was in doubt and hesitation how to act, they passed without molestation. In a few days afterward, they arrived at the place to which their march was directed.
108	Ibi cum Boccho Numida quidam Aspar nomine multum et familiariter agebat , praemissus ab Iugurtha , postquam Sullam accitum audierat , orator et subdole speculatum Bocchi consilia ; praeterea Dabar , Massugradae filius , ex gente Masinissae , ceterum materno genere impar — nam pater eius ex concubina ortus erat —, Mauro ob ingeni multa bona carus acceptusque . Quem Bocchus fidum esse Romanis multis ante tempestatibus expertus ilico ad Sullam nuntiatum mittit : paratum sese facere quae populus Romanus vellet ; colloquio diem locum tempus ipse deligeret , neu Iugurthae legatum pertimesceret ; consulto sese omnia illo integra habere , quo res communis licentius gereretur ; nam ab insidiis eius aliter caueri nequiuisse . Sed ego comperior Bocchum magis Punica fide quam ob ea , quae praedicabat , simul Romanos et Numidam spe pacis attinuisse multumque cum animo suo voluere solitum , Iugurtham Romanis an illi Sullam traderet ; libidinem aduersum nos , metum pro nobis suasisse .	There was, at this time, in constant and familiar intercourse with Bocchus, a Numidian named Aspar, who had been sent to him by Jugurtha, when he heard of Sylla's intended interview, in the character of embassador, but secretly to be a spy on the Mauretanian king's proceedings. There was also with him a certain Dabar, son of Massugrada, one of the family of Masinissa, but of inferior birth on the maternal side, as his father was the son of a concubine. Dabar, for his many intellectual endowments, was liked and esteemed by Bocchus, who, having found him faithful on many former occasions, sent him forthwith to Sylla, to say "that he was ready to do whatever the Romans desired; that Sylla himself should appoint the place, day, and hour, for a conference; that he kept all points, which he had settled with him before, inviolate ; and that he was not to fear the presence of Jugurtha's embassador as any restraint on the discussion of their common interests, since, without admitting him, he could have no security against Jugurtha's treachery." I find, however, that it was rather from African duplicity than from the motives which he professed, that Bocchus thus allured both the Romans and Jugurtha with the hopes of peace; that he frequently debated with himself whether he should deliver Jugurtha to the Romans, or Sylla to Jugurtha; and that his inclination swayed him against us, but his fears in our favor.