The conspiracie of Catiline, written by Constancius, Felicius, Durantinus, and translated bi Thomas Paynell: with the historye of Iugurth, writen by the famous Romaine Salust, and translated into Englyshe by Alexander Barcklaye

¶ Of the metyng and secrete apoyntmentes betwene Bocchus & Sylla, and howe betwene them they bothe abused Asper the imbassadour of Iu∣gurth. The .lxiiii. Chapyter.

AT the same seasō was with Bocchus a cer¦taine yonge Numidian named Asper, send before Bocchus frō Iugurth by craft and subtyltie, to espie his counsell, assoone as it was heard that Bocchus had send for Sil¦la. This Numidian was muche and familiarly cōuer∣sant with Bocchus at that tyme. Moreouer there was an other named Dabar the son of Massagrade, which of his fathers syde was of the stocke of Massinissa: but of his mothers side vnlike of birth, for his mother was

borne of a cōcubine. This Dabar (as I haue said) was at this season also in the company of Bocchus: & to him dere and welbeloued for subtel wit & great artes which he had done before: and namely bycause that Bocchus had founde and proued him trusty and faithfull many tymes before. Anone Bocchus send this Dabar to Syl¦la commaunding Dabar to shew him that he was redy to do euery thinge whyche the Romaines to him wolde commaunde or assigne. And that Silla himselfe shulde apoint, and chose a time and place where thei might com¦men together of their maters: & that he shulde not fere nor dout though the embassadoure of Iugurthe were ther with him. For he had reserued al thinges touching their counsell hole tyll comming of Silla: & of nothing had apointed, communed, nor concluded with the same imbassadour of Iugurth. Whiche imbassadour was cal¦led thider to thintent that their cōmen besinesses might be done more at libertie and with lesse suspection of Iu∣gurth: for by other meanes they coulde not resyste nor make prouision againste his giles. Such wordes sende Bocchus to Silla: by his trusty secuant Dabar. But not withstanding al these fayre promisses of Bocchus it was vnderstande that he prolonged the Romains and the Numidians in hope of peace, rather for falshod and treason after the credence of affricans: than for profet to the Romains or trouth of suche thinges as he promised to Silla. And often times he cast in his minde & douted whether he might betray Iugurth to the Romains: or els Silla to Iugurthe: the pleasure and desire of his mynd aduised, moued, and counselled him againste the Romains: but the drede which he had of punishment in time to come: moued him with the Romains. But to

our purpose: Sylla answered to Dabar the messanger of Bocchus that he wolde come thyder, and firste speke a litel of the peace and of such other thinges in presence of Asper the imbassadour of Iugurth: but concerninge the remenant of the besinesse: he wolde differ that to com¦men secretly with Bocchus, few or none called to coūsel And also he taughte Dabar what wordes Bocchus shulde answere vnto him againe, whan they shuld come to communicacion: and so departed Dabar. But whan Silla sawe his time he went to Bocchus, and said that he was sent from Marius the consull to enquire yf he wold leuer peace or war: and wheron he wold conclude Than Bocchus (as Dabar had warned hym before) commaunded Silla to retourne agayne after .x. dayes and than shulde an answere be gyuen vnto him. For at that tyme nothing was concluded. That answere well noted and harde Asper the embassadoure of Iugurth, whiche was sent to espye the intreatement: & so thought he that nothing shuld be treated nor concluded without his knowlege. And thus after this answere Bocchus and Silla departed: eche to their tentes.