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. 16.

Metellus sendeth out espials to discouer Iugurths do∣ings. The Numidians fall vpon some Romane strag∣lers, and beate them. The alarum being taken, they retire to the higher grounds.

FOr all this, the Con∣sull in the meane while sent fugitiues, and others fit for the purpose, to espie, where Iugurth was, and what he did, whether he had few about him, or a full Army, and how he behaued himselfe

being vanquished. But he was retired into places full of woods, and fortified by nature; where he rai∣sed an Army, e••ceeding th•• first in number of men, but vnactiue and weake, better acquainted with the affaires of husbandry, then warre. That happe∣ned through this priui∣ledge: for that no Numi∣dian at all followes the King in his flight, except the Horse-men Royall. Whither euery mans mind leadeth, thither he departeth: neither is that accounted a Souldiers fault: such there customes are.

Wherefore Metellus, when hee saw the King as

yet to haue an vndanted mind: that the warre was renewed, which could not be prosecuted, but at the others pleasure; be∣sides, that he was disaduan∣taged in fight by the ene∣mies: they being vanqui∣shed with lesse dammage, then his men did van∣quish; hee determineth with himselfe, that the warre was not to be man∣naged by set battels, nor an aranged Army, but by a different course. There∣upon hee goeth vnto the most opulent Countries of Numidia: hee wasteth the fields: he taketh, and burneth many Townes and Castles, being mean∣ly fortified, or without

Garrisons: he cōmandeth those of military age to be slaine; al other things were to be the Souldiers pray.

Through the terrour of this, many hostages were giuen to the Ro∣manes; Corne and other vsefull prouisions were supplyed in abundance: wheresoeuer occasion re∣quired, a Garrison was imposed: which occur∣rences much more terri∣fied the King, then the battell vnluckily fought by his Souldiers. For be∣cause he, all whose hope consisted in flight, was compelled to pursue: and he, that was vnable to de∣fend his owne, was faine to make warre in anothers

territories. yet from his present distresse he taketh that counsell, which see∣med best: hee comman∣deth the greatest part of his Army, to expect him in the same Quarters: he himselfe with some choice Horse-men followeth Me∣tellus: thus being vndisco∣uered in his nocturnall & by-way iourneis, he assai∣leth on the sudden the Ro∣mane straglers. Most of them are slaine vnarmed: many are taken prisoners: not one of them all escap∣eth without hurt: and the Numidians, before they could be releeued from the Campe, departed to the next hillockes, according as they had orders.

In the meane time much ioy was conceiued at Rome vpon the know∣ledge of Metellus procee∣dings: as for that he go∣uerned himselfe and his Army according to the discipline of their Ance∣stours: that in a place of disaduantage he had van∣quished by meere valour; that he possessed the ene∣mies Country: that Iugurth bearing himselfe proudly vpon Aulus negligence, he had constrained him to repose the hope of his safety in flight, or in the desarts. Thereupon the Senate, for these things happily done, decreed supplications to the im∣mortall gods. The Citty

trembling before, as be∣ing doubtfull of the euent of the warre, now sola∣ced her selfe with ioy. Of Metellus an honorable re∣port was spred.

Thereupon by so much the more eagerly he stri∣ueth for victory, making all possible speed in the pursuite thereof: yet be∣ing cautelous from giuing any opportunity to the enemy; he well knew that enuy attended on glory: thus by how much the more he was renowned, by so much was hee the more carefull: neither af∣ter this stratagem of Iu∣gurths, did hee pillage any more with his Army dis∣banded. When it was

needfull to prouide corne or forrage, the Cohorts with the Cauallery made a standing-guard. He him∣selfe commanded one part of the Army, Marius the other. But more with fire, then driuing of preyes was the Country wasted. In two seuerall places not farre remote, they did in∣camp themselues: when it was requisite to vse force, they ioyned all their for∣ces: but for the further dispersing of feare and flight, they tooke vp their Quarters apart from one another.

As then Iugurth follow∣ed aloofe ouer the hil∣lockes, seeking a conue∣nient time, or place for

fight: where hee heard, that the enemy approach∣ed, hee spoileth the for∣rage and Fountaines, of both which there was much scarcity: sometimes he sheweth himselfe to Metellus, sometimes to Marius: he assaileth those who had the Reare in mar∣ching, and forthwith reti∣reth to the mountaines: againe he menaceth them one after another; he nei∣ther ingageth fight, nor suffereth them to rest: hee onely attacheth the Ene∣mie in his course of pro∣ceeding.

The Romane Generall, when he saw himselfe wea∣ried with these wiles, and that the enemies debarred

him from the opportunity of fighting, he resolueth to beleaguer Zama▪ a great City, and in that part, where it was seated, one of the bulwarkes of the Kingdome: thinking that Iugurth, as the occasion re∣quired, would come to releeue his people, being in distresse, and so a bat∣tell would be fought. But he being informed of this by Fugitiues, with great iournies ouer marcheth Metellus, he exhorteth the Cittizens to defend the walles, the fugitiues being added for aydes; which kind of men amongst all the Kings Forces stood most firme vnto him; be∣cause they had not credit

enough to deceiue. More∣ouer he promiseth, that he himselfe would come to their succours in time conuenient.

Things being thus or∣dered, he departeth into places most couert, and within a while after get∣teth intelligence, that Ma∣rius was sent out of the v∣suall roade vnto Sicca, to puruey corne with some few Cohorrs. Which towne first of all, after the battell lost, reuolted from the King. Thither with some selected Horse-men he marcheth by night; and the Romans being vp∣on the point of issuing, he chargeth them in the very gate: withall he exhorteth

those of Sicca alowd, to in∣compasse the Cohorts be∣hind: that fortune gaue them the opportunity of a braue exploite: if they should performe it, that hereafter hee should du∣ring life be secured in his Kingdome, they in their liberty. And except Marius had with haste made the Ensignes to march, and to passe out of the Towne, surely all, or the greatest part of the In∣habitants had turned re∣uolters. With such incon∣stancy the Numidians de∣meane themselues.

But the Iugurthine Soul∣diers being somewhat comforted by the King; af∣ter when their enemies

pressed them more forci∣bly. Some few being lost, the rest saued themselues by flight.