The Jugurthine War (Sallust)

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	The Jugurthine War Author: Sallust	Translator: John Selby Watson
55	Interim Romae gaudium ingens ortum cognitis Metelli rebus , ut seque et exercitum more maiorum gereret , in aduerso loco victor tamen virtute fuisset , hostium agro potiretur , Iugurtham magnificum ex Albini socordia spem salutis in solitudine aut fuga coegisset habere . Itaque senatus ob ea feliciter acta dis immortalibus supplicia decernere ; civitas , trepida antea et sollicita de belli eventu , laeta agere ; de Metello fama praeclara esse . Igitur eo intentior ad victoriam niti , omnibus modis festinare , cauere tamen , necubi hosti opportunus fieret , meminisse post gloriam invidiam sequi . Ita , quo clarior erat , eo magis anxius erat , neque post insidias Iugurthae effuso exercitu praedari ; ubi frumento aut pabulo opus erat , cohortes cum omni equitatu praesidium agitabant ; exercitus partem ipse , relicuos Marius ducebat . Sed igni magis quam praeda ager vastabatur . Duobus locis haud longe inter se castra faciebant ; ubi vi opus erat , cuncti aderant ; ceterum , quo fuga atque formido latius cresceret , diuersi agebant . Eo tempore Iugurtha per collis sequi , tempus aut locum pugnae quaerere , qua venturum hostem audierat , pabulum et aquarum fontis , quorum penuria erat , corrumpere , modo se Metello interdum Mario ostendere , postremos in agmine temptare ac statim in collis regredi , rursus aliis , post aliis minitari , neque proelium facere neque otium pati , tantummodo hostem ab incepto retinere .	In the mean time great joy appeared at Rome when the proceedings of Metellus were reported, and when it was known how he was conducting himself and his army conformably to the ancient discipline; how, on adverse ground, he had gained a victory by his valor; how he was securing possession of the enemy's territory; and how he had driven Jugurtha, when elated by the weakness of Aulus, to depend for safety on the desert or on flight. For these successes, accordingly, the senate decreed a thanksgiving to the immortal gods; the city, which had been full of anxiety, and apprehensive as to the event of the war, was now filled with joy; and the fame of Metellus was raised to the utmost height. The consul's eagerness to gain a complete victory was thus increased; he exerted himself in every possible way, taking care, at the same time, to give the enemy no opportunity of attacking him to advantage. He remembered that envy is the concomitant of glory, and thus, the more renowned he became, the greater was his caution and circumspection. He never went out to plunder, after the sudden attack of Jugurtha, with his troops in scattered parties; when corn or forage was sought, a body of cohorts, with the whole of the cavalry, were stationed as a guard. He himself conducted part of the army, and Marius the rest. The country was wasted, however, more by fire than by spoliation. They had separate camps, not far from each other; whenever there was occasion for force, they formed a union; but, that desolation and terror might spread the further, they acted separately. Jugurtha, meanwhile, continued to follow them along the hills, watching for a favorable opportunity or situation for an attack. He destroyed the forage, and spoiled the water, which was scarce, wherever he found that the enemy were coming. He presented himself sometimes to Metellus, and sometimes to Marius; he would attack their rear upon a march, and instantly retreat to the hills; he would threaten sometimes one point, and sometimes another, neither giving battle nor allowing rest, but making it his great object to retard the progress of the enemy.
56	Romanus imperator ubi se dolis fatigari videt neque ab hoste copiam pugnandi fieri , urbem magnam et in ea parte , qua sita erat , arcem regni nomine Zamam statuit oppugnare , ratus , id quod negotium poscebat , Iugurtham laborantibus suis auxilio venturum ibique proelium fore . At ille , quae parabantur a perfugis edoctus , magnis itineribus Metellum anteuenit . Oppidanos hortatur , moenia defendant , additis auxilio perfugis , quod genus ex copiis regis , quia fallere nequibat , firmissimum erat ; praeterea pollicetur in tempore semet cum exercitu affore . Ita compositis rebus in loca quam maxime occulta discedit , ac post paulo cohortibus Siccam missum , frumentatum cum paucis cohortibus Siccam missum , quod oppidum primum omnium post malam pugnam ab rege defecerat . Eo cum delectis equitibus noctu pergit et iam egredientibus Romanis in porta pugnam facit , simul magna voce Siccensis hortatur , uti cohortis ab tergo circumveniant : fortunam illis praeclari facinoris casum dare ; si id fecerint , postea sese in regno , illos in libertate sine metu aetatem acturos . Ac ni Marius signa inferre atque euadere oppido properauisset , profecto cuncti aut magna pars Siccensium fidem mutauissent : tanta mobilitate sese Numidae gerunt . Sed milites Iugurthini , paulisper ab rege sustentati , postquam maiore vi hostes urgent , paucis amissis profugi discedunt .	The Roman commander, finding himself thus harassed by artifices, and allowed no opportunity of coming to a general engagement, resolved on laying siege to a large city, named Zama, which was the bulwark of that part of the kingdom in which it was situate; expecting that Jugurtha, as a necessary consequence, would come to the relief of his subjects in distress, and that a battle would then follow. But the king, being apprised by some deserters of the consul's design, reached the place, by rapid marches, before him, and exhorted the inhabitants to defend their walls, giving them, as a reinforcement, a body of deserters; a class of men, who, of all the royal forces, were the most to be trusted, inasmuch as they dared not be guilty of treachery. He also promised to support them, whenever it should be necessary, with his whole army. Having taken these precautions, he retired into the deserts of the interior; where he soon after learned that Marius, with a few cohorts, had been dispatched from the line of march to bring provisions from Sicca, a town which had been the first to revolt from him after his defeat. To this place he hastened by night, accompanied by a select body of cavalry, and attacked the Romans at the gate, just as they were leaving the city; calling to the inhabitants, at the same time, with a loud voice, to surround the cohorts in the rear; adding, that Fortune had given them an opportunity for a glorious exploit; and that, if they took advantage of it, he would henceforth enjoy his kingdom, and they their liberty, without fear. And had not Marius hastened to advance the standards, and to escape from the town, it is certain that all, or the greater part of the inhabitants, would have changed their allegiance; so great is the fickleness which the Numidians exhibit in their conduct. The soldiers of Jugurtha, animated for a time by their king, but finding the enemy pressing them with superior force, betook themselves, after losing a few of their number, to flight.
57	Marius ad Zamam pervenit . Id oppidum , in campo situm , magis opere quam natura munitum erat , nullius idoneae rei egens , armis virisque opulentum . Igitur Metellus pro tempore atque loco paratis rebus cuncta moenia exercitu circumvenit , legatis imperat , ubi quisque curaret . Deinde signo dato undique simul clamor ingens oritur , neque ea res Numidas terret : infensi intentique sine tumultu manent , proelium incipitur . Romani , pro ingenio quisque , pars eminus glande aut lapidibus pugnare , alii succedere ac murum modo subfodere modo scalis aggredi , cupere proelium in manibus facere . Contra ea oppidani in proximos saxa voluere , sudis , pila , praeterea picem sulphure et taeda mixtam ardentia mittere . Sed ne illos quidem , qui procul manserant , timor animi satis muniuerat ; nam plerosque iacula tormentis aut manu emissa uulnerabant , parique periculo , sed fama impari boni atque ignavi erant .	Marius arrived at Zama. This town, built on a plain, was better fortified by art than by nature. It was well supplied with necessaries, and contained plenty of arms and men. Metellus, having made arrangements suitable for the time and the place, encompassed the whole city with his army, assigning to each of his officers his post of command. At a given signal, a loud shout was raised on every side, but without exciting the least alarm in the Numidians, who awaited the attack full of spirit and resolution. The assault was consequently commenced; the Romans were allowed to act each according to his inclination; some annoyed the enemy with slings and stones from a distance; others came close up to the walls, and attempted to undermine or scale them, desiring to engage in close combat with the besieged. The Zamians, on the other hand, rolled down stones, and hurled burning stakes, javelins, and wood smeared with pitch and sulphur, on the nearest assailants. Nor was caution a sufficient protection to those who kept aloof; for darts, discharged from engines or by the hand, inflicted wounds on most of them; and thus the brave and the timid, though of unequal merit, were exposed to equal danger.
58	Dum apud Zamam sic certatur , Iugurtha ex improuiso castra hostium cum magna manu invadit ; remissis qui in praesidio erant et omnia magis quam proelium expectantibus portam irrumpit . At nostri repentino metu perculsi sibi quisque pro moribus consulunt ; alii fugere , alii arma capere ; magna pars uulnerati aut occisi . Ceterum ex omni multitudine non amplius quadraginta memores nominis Romani grege facto locum cepere paulo quam alii editiorem , neque inde maxima vi depelli quiuerunt , sed tela eminus missa remittere , pauci in pluribus minus frustrari ; sin Numidae propius accessissent , ibi vero virtutem ostendere et eos maxima vi caedere , fundere atque fugare . Interim Metellus cum acerrime rem gereret , clamorem hostilem a tergo accepit , dein conuerso equo animaduertit fugam ad se versum fieri , quae res indicabat popularis esse . Igitur equitatum omnem ad castra propere misit ac statim C . Marium cum cohortibus sociorum , eumque lacrimans per amicitiam perque rem publicam obsecrat , ne quam contumeliam remanere in exercitu victore neue hostis inultos abire sinat . Ille brevi mandata efficit . At Iugurtha munimento castrorum impeditus , cum alii super vallum praecipitarentur , alii in angustiis ipsi sibi properantes officerent , multis amissis in loca munita sese recepit . Metellus infecto negotio , postquam nox aderat , in castra cum exercitu revertitur .	While the struggle was thus continued at Zama, Jugurtha, at the head of a large force, suddenly attacked the camp of the Romans, and, through the remissness of those left to guard it, who expected any thing rather than an attack, effected an entrance at one of the gates. Our men, struck with sudden consternation, acted each on his own impulse; some fled, others seized their arms; and many of them were wounded or slain. About forty, however, out of the whole number, mindful of the honor of Rome, formed themselves into a body, and took possession of a slight eminence, from which they could not be dislodged by the utmost efforts of the enemy, but hurled back the darts discharged at them, and, as they were few against many, not without execution. If the Numidians came near them, they displayed their courage, and slaughtered, repulsed, and dispersed them, with the greatest fury. Metellus, meanwhile, who was vigorously pursuing the siege, heard a noise, as of enemies, in his rear, and, turning round his horse, perceived a party of soldiers in flight toward him; a certain proof that they were his own men. He instantly, therefore, dispatched the whole of the cavalry to the camp, and immediately after-ward Caius Marius, with the cohorts of the allies, entreating him with tears, by their mutual friendship, and by his regard for the public welfare, to allow no stain to rest on a victorious army, and not to let the enemy escape with impunity. Marius soon executed his orders. Jugurtha, in consequence, after being embarrassed in the intrenchments of the camp, while some of his men threw themselves over the ramparts, and others, in their haste, obstructed each other at the gates, fled, with considerable loss, to his strongholds, Metellus, not succeeding in his attempt on the town, retired with his forces, at the approach of night, into his camp.
59	Igitur postero die , prius quam ad oppugnandum egrederetur , equitatum omnem in ea parte , qua regis adventus erat , pro castris agitare iubet , portas et proxima loca tribunis dispertit , deinde ipse pergit ad oppidum atque uti superiore die murum aggreditur . Interim Iugurtha ex occulto repente nostros invadit : qui in proximo locati fuerant , paulisper territi perturbantur , relicui cito subueniunt . Neque diutius Numidae resistere quiuissent , ni pedites cum equitibus permixti magnam cladem in congressu facerent . Quibus illi freti non , uti equestri proelio solet , sequi , dein cedere , sed aduersis equis concurrere , implicare ac perturbare aciem : ita expeditis peditibus suis hostis paene victos dare .	On the following day, before he marched out to resume the siege, he ordered the whole of his cavalry to take their station before the camp, on the side where the approach of Jugurtha was to be apprehended; assigning the gates, and adjoining posts, to the charge of the tribunes. He then marched toward the town, and commenced an assault upon the walls as on the day before. Jugurtha, meanwhile, issuing from his concealment, suddenly attacked our men in the camp, of whom those stationed in advance were for the moment alarmed and thrown into confusion; but the rest soon came to their support; nor would the Numidians have longer maintained their ground, had not their foot, which were mingled with the cavalry, done great execution in the struggle; for the horse, relying on the infantry, did not, as is common in actions of cavalry, charge and then retreat, but pressed impetuously forward, disordering and breaking the ranks, and thus, with the aid of the light-armed foot, almost succeeded in giving the army a defeat.
60	Eodem tempore apud Zamam magna vi certabatur . ubi quisque legatus aut tribunus curabat , eo acerrime niti , neque alius in alio magis quam in sese spem habere ; pariterque oppidani agere : oppugnare aut parare omnibus locis , auidius alteri alteros sauciare quam semet tegere , clamor permixtus hortatione laetitia gemitu , item strepitus armorum ad caelum ferri , tela utrimque uolare . Sed illi , qui moenia defensabant , ubi hostes paulum modo pugnam remiserant , intenti proelium equestre prospectabant . Eos , uti quaeque Iugurthae res erant , laetos modo , modo pauidos animaduerteres ; ac , sicuti audiri a suis aut cerni possent , monere alii , alii hortari , aut manu significare aut niti corporibus , et ea huc et illuc quasi vitabundi aut iacientes tela agitare . Quod ubi Mario cognitum est — nam is in ea parte curabat —, consulto lenius agere ac diffidentiam rei simulare , pati Numidas sine tumultu regis proelium visere . Ita illis studio suorum asstrictis repente magna vi murum aggreditur . Et iam scalis egressi milites prope summa ceperant , cum oppidani concurrunt ; lapides ignem alia praeterea tela ingerunt . Nostri primo resistere ; deinde ubi unae atque alterae scalae comminutae , qui supersteterant afflicti sunt , ceteri , quoquo modo potuere , pauci integri , magna pars uulneribus confecti abeunt . Denique utrimque proelium nox diremit .	The conflict at Zama, at the same time, was continued with great fury. Wherever any lieutenant or tribune commanded, there the men exerted themselves with the utmost vigor. No one seemed to depend for support on others, but every one on his own exertions. The townsmen, on the other side, showed equal spirit. Attacks, or preparations for defense, were made in all quarters. All appeared more eager to wound their enemies than to protect themselves. Shouts, mingled with exhortations, cries of joy, and the clashing of arms, resounded through the heavens. Darts flew thick on every side. If the besiegers, however, in the least relaxed their efforts, the defenders of the walls immediately turned their attention to the distant engagement of the cavalry; they were to be seen sometimes exhibiting joy, and sometimes apprehension, according to the varying fortune of Jugurtha, and, as if they could be heard or seen by their friends, uttering warnings or exhortations, making signs with their hands, and moving their bodies to and fro, like men avoiding or hurling darts. This being noticed by Marius, who commanded on that side of the town, he artfully relaxed his efforts, as if despairing of success, and allowed the besieged to view the battle at the camp unmolested. Then, while their attention was closely fixed on their countrymen, he made a vigorous assault on the wall, and the soldiers mounting their scaling ladders, had almost gained the top, when the townsmen rushed to the spot in a body, and hurled down upon them stones, firebrands, and every description of missiles. Our men made head against these annoyances for a while, but at length, when some of the ladders were broken, and those who had mounted them dashed to the ground, the rest of the assailants retreated as they could, a few indeed unhurt, but the greater number miserably wounded. Night put an end to the efforts of both parties.
61	Metellus postquam videt frustra inceptum neque oppidum capi neque Iugurtham nisi ex insidiis aut suo loco pugnam facere et iam aestatem exactam esse , ab Zama discedit et in iis urbibus , quae ad se defecerant satisque munitae loco aut moenibus erant , praesidia imponit . Ceterum exercitum in prouinciam , quae proxima est Numidiae , hiemandi gratia collocat . Neque id tempus ex aliorum more quieti aut luxuriae concedit , sed , quoniam armis bellum parum procedebat , insidias regi per amicos tendere et eorum perfidia pro armis uti parat . Igitur Bomilcarem , qui Romae cum Iugurtha fuerat et inde uadibus datis clam de Massiuae nece iudicium fugerat , quod ei per maximam amicitiam maxima copia fallendi erat , multis pollicitationibus aggreditur . Ac primo efficit , uti ad se colloquendi gratia occultus veniat ; deinde fide data , si Iugurtham viuum aut necatum sibi tradidisset , fore ut illi senatus impunitatem et sua omnia concederet , facile Numidae persuadet , cum ingenio infido tum metuenti , ne , si pax cum Romanis fieret , ipse per condiciones ad supplicium traderetur .	When Metellus saw that all his attempts were vain; that the town was not to be taken; that Jugurtha was resolved to abstain from fighting, except from an ambush, or on his own ground, and that the summer was now far advanced, he withdrew his army from Zama, and placed garrisons in such of the cities that had revolted to him as were sufficiently strong in situation or fortifications. The rest of his forces he settled in winter quarters, in that part of our province nearest to Numidia. This season of repose, however, he did not, like other commanders, abandon to idleness and luxury; but as the war had been but slowly advanced by fighting, he resolved to try the effect of treachery on the king through his friends, and to employ their perfidy instead of arms. He accordingly addressed himself with large promises, to Bomilcar, the same nobleman who had been with Jugurtha at Rome, and who had fled from thence, notwithstanding he had given bail, to escape being tried for the murder of Massiva; selecting this person for his instrument, because, from his great intimacy with Jugurtha, he had the best opportunities of betraying him. He prevailed on him, in the first place, to come to a conference with him privately, when, having given him his word, "that, if he should deliver up Jugurtha, alive or dead, the senate would grant him a pardon, and the full possession of his property," he easily brought him over to his purpose, especially as he was naturally faithless, and also apprehensive that, if peace were made with the Romans, he himself would be surrendered to justice by the terms of it.
62	Is , ubi primum opportunum fuit , Iugurtham anxium ac miserantem fortunas suas accedit , monet atque lacrimans obtestatur , uti aliquando sibi liberisque et genti Numidarum optime meritae prouideat : omnibus proeliis sese victos , agrum vastatum , multos mortalis captos occisos , regni opes comminutas esse ; satis saepe iam et virtutem militum et fortunam temptatam ; caueat , ne illo cunctante Numidae sibi consulant . His atque talibus aliis ad deditionem regis animum impellit . mittuntur ad imperatorem legati , qui Iugurtham imperata facturum dicerent ac sine ulla pactione sese regnumque suum in illius fidem tradere . Metellus propere cunctos senatorii ordinis ex hibernis accersi iubet ; eorum et aliorum , quos idoneos ducebat , consilium habet . Ita more maiorum ex consili decreto per legatos Iugurthae imperat argenti pondo ducenta milia , elephantos omnis , equorum et armorum aliquantum . Quae postquam sine mora facta sunt , iubet omnis perfugas vinctos adduci . Eorum magna pars , uti iussum erat , adducti ; pauci , cum primum deditio coepit , ad regem Bocchum in Mauretaniam abierant . Igitur Iugurtha , ubi armis virisque et pecunia spoliatus est , cum ipse ad imperandum Tisidium vocaretur , rursus coepit flectere animum suum et ex mala conscientia digna timere . Denique multis deibus per dubitationem consumptis , cum modo taedio rerum aduersarum omnia bello potiora duceret , interdum secum ipse reputaret , quam grauis casus in servitium ex regno foret , multis magnisque praesidiis nequiquam perditis de integro bellum sumit . Et Romae senatus de prouinciis consultus Numidiam Metello decreverat .	Bomilcar took the earliest opportunity of addressing Jugurtha, at a time when he was full of anxiety, and lamenting his ill success. He exhorted and implored him, with tears in his eyes, to take at length some thought for himself and his children, as well as for the people of Numidia, who had so much claim upon him. He reminded him that they had been defeated in every battle; that the country was laid waste; that numbers of his subjects had been captured or slain; that the resources of the kingdom were greatly reduced; that the valor of his soldiers, and his own fortune, had been already sufficiently tried; and that he should beware, lest, if he delayed to consult for his people, his people should consult for themselves. By these and similar appeals, he prevailed with Jugurtha to think of a surrender. Embassadors were accordingly sent to the Roman general, announcing that Jugurtha was ready to submit to whatever he should desire, and to trust himself and his kingdom unconditionally to his honor. Metellus, on receiving this statement, summoned such of his officers as were of senatorial rank, from their winter quarters; of whom, with others whom he thought eligible, he formed a council. By a resolution of this assembly, in conformity with ancient usage, he demanded of Jugurtha, through his embassadors, two hundred thousand pounds' weight of silver, all his elephants, and a portion of his horses and arms. These requisitions being immediately complied with, he next desired that all the deserters should be brought to him in chains. A large number of them were accordingly brought; but a few, when the surrender first began to be mentioned, had fled into Mauretania to king Bocchus. When Jugurtha, however, after being thus despoiled of arms, men and money, was summoned to appear in person at Tisidium, to await the consul's commands, he began again to change his mind, dreading, from a consciousness of guilt, the punishment due to his crimes. Having spent several days in hesitation, sometimes, from disgust at his ill success, believing any thing better than war, and sometimes considering with himself how grievous would be the fall from sovereignty to slavery, he at last determined, notwithstanding that he had lost so many and so valuable means of resistance, to commence hostilities anew. At Rome, meanwhile, the senate, having been consulted about the provinces, had decreed Numidia to Metellus.
63	Per idem tempus Vticae forte C . Mario per hostias dis supplicanti magna atque mirabilia portendi haruspex dixerat : proinde quae animo agitabat , fretus dis ageret , fortunam quam saepissime experiretur ; concta prospere eventura . At illum iam antea consulatus ingens cupido exagitabat , ad quem capiendum praeter uetustatem familiae alia omnia abunde erant : industria , probitas , militiae magna scientia , animus belli ingens domi modicus , libidinis et divitiarum victor , tantummodo gloriae auidus . Sed is natus et omnem pueritiam Arpini altus , ubi primum aetas militiae patiens fuit , stipendiis faciendis , non Graeca facundia neque urbanis munditiis sese exercuit : ita inter artis bonas integrum ingenium brevi adoleuit . Ergo , ubi primum tribunatum militarem a populo petit , plerisque faciem eius ignorantibus facile factis notus per omnis tribus declaratur . Deinde ab eo magistratu alium , post alium sibi peperit , semperque in potestatibus eo modo agitabat , ut ampliore quam gerebat dignus haberetur . Tamen is ad id locorum talis vir — nam postea ambitione praeceps datus est — consulatum appetere non audebat . Etiam tum alios magistratus plebs , consulatum nobilitas inter se per manus tradebat . Nouos nemo tam clarus neque tam egregiis factis erat , quin indignus illo honore et is quasi pollutus haberetur .	About the same time, as Caius Marius, who happened to be at Utica, was sacrificing to the gods, an augur told him that great and wonderful things were presaged to him; that he might therefore pursue whatever designs he had formed, trusting to the gods for success; and that he might try fortune as often as he pleased, for that all his undertakings would prosper. Previously to this period an ardent longing for the consulship had possessed him; and he had, indeed, every qualification for obtaining it, except antiquity of family; he had industry, integrity, great knowledge of war, and a spirit undaunted in the field; he was temperate in private life, superior to pleasure and riches, and ambitious only of glory. Having been born at Arpinum, and brought up there during his boyhood, he employed himself, as soon as he was of age to bear arms, not in the study of Greek eloquence, nor in learning the refinements of the city, but in military service; and thus, amid the strictest discipline, his excellent genius soon attained full vigor. When he solicited the people, therefore, for the military tribuneship, he was well known by name, though most were strangers to his face, and unanimously elected by the tribes. After this office he attained others in succession, and conducted himself so well in his public duties, that he was always deemed worthy of a higher station than he had reached. Yet, though such had been his character hitherto (for he was afterward carried away by ambition), he had not ventured to stand for the consulship. The people, at that time, still disposed of other civil offices, but the nobility transmitted the consulship from hand to hand among themselves. Nor had any commoner appeared, however famous or distinguished by his achievements, who would not have been thought unworthy of that honor, and, as it were, a disgrace to it.