The workes of Caius Crispus Salustius contayning the Conspiracie of Cateline The Warre of Iugurth. V. bookes of historicall fragments. II orations to Cæsar for the institution of a co[m]monwealth and one against Cicero.

CHAP. 13.

Metellus the new Consull is sent into Africke. He re∣formes the discipline of the Army.

AFter the League made by Aulus, and the shamefull flight of our Army, Metellus and Sila∣nus Consuls elect, parted Prouinces amongst them∣selues: to Metellus Numi∣dia befell, who being an austere man, and withall opposite to the faction of the people, yet was he of a leuell and vnblemished credit. He, as soone as he had tooke the inuestiture of his Office, establishing

all other affaires ioyntly with his Colleague, ben∣ded his mind wholly vpon the warre, which he was to mannage. Therewithall being diffident of the old Army, he inrolleth Soul∣diers, and sendeth for Aydes from all places: he prepareth armes, wea∣pons, horses, and other military instrumēts: with∣all, abundance of victuals, and all prouisions besides, which in a doubtfull and penurious warre are wont to be vsefull. Finally, for the accomplishment of this, the Senate with au∣thority, the Confede∣rates, the Latine Nation, and Kings, with sending succours vndemanded, the

City with its vttermost fur∣therance endeuoured.

Therefore all proui∣sions being made and set∣led according to his de∣sire, he goes into Numi∣dia, with much hope con∣ceiued of him by the Ro∣man Cittizens; as well for his owne braue abilities, as also for that hee carried a minde inuincible against riches: and through the auarice of Magistrates, our Forces had been formerly defeated in Numidia, and those of the enemies had beene augmented.

But as soone, as he came into Africk, the Army was deliuer'd ouer vnto him by S. Albinus the Procōsull, be∣ing slothfull, vnwarlick, im∣patient

of danger, and la∣bour, more ready of tongue then hand, dri∣uing preyes from their Alyes, and it selfe being the enemies prey, wan∣ting discipline, and mo∣dest behauiour. Thus to this new Generall, more trouble did arise from their euill cōditions, then ayde or comfort from such a number of Soul∣diers. For all this Metellus resolued, (although the prorogation of the Co∣mitiall meetings had wa∣sted the Summer season, and that hee coniectured the Cittizens minds to be wholly bent vpon the ex∣pectation of the euent) not first to make an assay

of warre, before he had inforced according to the ancient discipline, his men of warre to exercise themselues.

For Albinus being terri∣fied with the defeat of his brother Aulus, and the Ar∣my, after he had taken a resolution not to goe forth of the Prouince; for so much of the Summer, as belonged to his com∣mand, he quartered his Souldiers for the most part in standing Camps; except when nastinesse or want of forrage compel∣led him to change pla∣ces.

But watches were not set according to the mi∣litary custome: euery man

as listed, absented him∣selfe from his Colours, the drudges of the Army intermingled with the Souldiers daily, & nightly made excursions: and wandring disorderly, wa∣sted the fields, forced the villages, and contending one with another, made boote of slaues and Cat∣tell, which they bartered with the marchants for wine by them brought, and other such like com∣modities: besides, they sold their ammunition corne, and bought bread daily: finally, whatsoeuer blemishes proceeding frō sloth and luxury can be spoken of, or imagined, were all in that Army, and

more besides then these.

But in this difficulty I find Metellus to haue shew∣ed himselfe an able & wise man, no lesse then he did in actions of hostility; with such temperance he car∣ried himselfe betwixt am∣bition and cruelty. For by his first Edict, he bani∣shed all the helpes of sloth, so that no man was to sell in the Camp bread, or any other meate ready dressed: the drud∣ges were not to followe the Army: the common Souldier being incamped or marching, was to haue no slaue nor beast of car∣riage: to other abuses by Arte he prescribed a reme∣die.

Besides, with crosse mar∣ches he remoued his Cāp euery day: no other-wise, then if the enemies had beene present, he fortified it with Ditch and Ram∣pier: he disposed the wat∣ches often, and he him∣selfe rounded them with the Lieutenants. More∣ouer, vpon a march, hee was sometimes in person present with the Van∣guard, sometimes with them of the Reare, and of∣ten with those of the mid∣dle ward; of purpose, that no Souldier should stirre out of his Order: but that they should aduance in one body together with their ensignes, and carry their owne victuals and

Armes. Thus more by ta∣king away the liberty of of∣fending, then by punishing offences, he in a short space confirmed the Ar∣my.

In the meane time, Iu∣gurth, as soone as he vnder∣stood by his Intelligencers of Metellus proceedings; and withall being certi∣fied from Rome of his in∣tegrity, grew distrustfull of his owne estate, and then at length laboured to make a reall surrender. Thereupon he sends Am∣bassadours to the Con∣sull by way of petition, who should request one∣ly life for himselfe and his children, all other things they should submit

vp to the Romane peo∣ple.

But by former experi∣ments, it was well known to Metellus, that the Nu∣midian Nation was faith∣lesse, inconstant, and de∣sirous of innouation. Therefore he visiteth the Ambassadours seuerally, one by one: and sounding them by degrees, after he knew they were fit for his turne, hee perswadeth them by many promises to deliuer aboue all things Iugurth aliue, or at least∣wise slaine, into his hands: but in publicke, those things which he thought fitting hee commandeth them to report to the King.