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.
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Title
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.
Author
Sallust, 86-34 B.C.
Publication
[London :: Printed by Elizabeth Allde,] Are to be sould at the Eagle and Child in Brittaines Burse by Tho: Walkley,
1629.
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"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A11365.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 31, 2024.
Pages
CHAP. 16.
Marius comming to Zama,
Metellus inuesteth it
round about with both their
Forces, but is in fine repul∣sed
after two assaults.
MArius arriueth at
Zama. That Towne
is seated in a Champion
field, it was more forti∣fied
by art then nature,
wanting no prouisions re∣quisite,
being well furni∣shed
with Armes and
Souldiers. Vpon this, Me∣tellus,
descriptionPage 402
all preparations be∣ing
made, befitting the
time and place, inuested
the walls round with his
Army; hee command∣eth
the Lieutenants
where each man should
take charge. Then vp∣on
a signall giuen, at
once from all parts ariseth
a hideous noise. Neither
doth this terrifie the Nu∣midians:
without tumult
they remaine angry and
ready: the fight is begun.
The Romanes (euery one
according to his inclina∣tion)
fight some with
Leaden plummets and
stones missiuely cast:
some giue backe, others
fall on; and now they sap
the wall, then againe they
descriptionPage 403
make an attempt by Scala∣do,
being desirous to
come to hand-fight. To
encounter this, the
Townesmen tumble down
great stones vpon the nee∣rest,
they throwe Speares,
Dartes, and withall bur∣ning
Torches, with Pitch,
and Brimstone.
But not those whose
stations were furthest off,
the cowardice of minde
defended sufficiently: for
most of them were woun∣ded
with Iauelins dischar∣ged
from Engines or the
hand. And in like danger,
but vnlike renowne, both
the valiant and cowards
were.
Whilst they fight thus
at Zama, Iugurth suddain∣ly
descriptionPage 404
assaileth with great
numbers the Camp of his
enemies; they being slacke
in their duties, who had
the guard, and expecting
nothing lesse then fight,
he violently forceth one
of the Portes. But our
men being terrified with
the sudden fright, all of
them prouide for them∣selues,
according to their
seuerall dispositions: some
fly, others arme: a great
number are wounded or
slaine: So that of all that
multitude, not aboue
forty mindfull of the Ro∣mane
name, trouping to∣gether
surprized a peece
of ground, somewhat
higher then the other:
neither could they be re∣moued
descriptionPage 405
thence with their
greatest forces, but the
weapons missiuely sent,
they send backe againe; few
against many, lesse missing
their aimes. But if the Nu∣midians
approached nee∣rer,
there truely they
shewed their valour, and
with mighty strength they
beate, route, and
chase.
In the meane time Me∣tellus,
whilest eagerly hee
prosecuteth the assault,
heard from behind a cry,
and tumult of enemies:
then turning about his
horse, he obserued that
the flight made towards
him; which shewed, that
it was of his owne people.
Thereupon hee sendeth
descriptionPage 406
speedily all the Cauallery
vnto the Camp, and forth∣with
after C. Marius with
the Cohorts of the Con∣federates:
and weeping,
he coniureth him by his
friendship, and by the
Common wealth, that he
would suffer no disgrace
to be fastened vpon his vi∣ctorious
Army, nor the
enemies to depart vnre∣uenged.
He brie••ly execu∣tefh
his orders. But Iugurth
was hindred with the for∣tifications
of the Camp,
when as some threw them∣selues
head-long ouer the
Rampier, others making
hast arrested one another
in the narrow passage. Me∣tellus,
the businesse being
vneffected, when night
descriptionPage 407
was come, returned into
the Camp with his Ar∣my.
Therefore the next day,
before he issued out to the
assault; he commandeth
all the Cauallery, to at∣tend
before the Camp,
on that part, where the
Kings aduenue was: the
Ports and the places next
adioyning, he distribu∣teth
to the Tribunes: then
he himselfe marcheth to
the towne, and as on the
former day, assaulteth the
wall. In the meane while
Iugurth out of couert sud∣denly
inuadeth our men.
Those who were aranged
in the fore-frount, being
somewhat terrified are dis∣ordered:
the residue quick∣ly
descriptionPage 408
come to their succours.
Neither could the Numi∣dians
haue longer resisted,
but that their footmen in∣termingled
with their
horse-men had made a
great slaughter vpon the
first incounter: on whom
they relying, did not, as
it is vsuall in a battell of
horse-men, fall on, and
then wheele about, but
they charged with
their horses, meeting
brest to brest, they en∣tred,
and broke the frount
of our Army: so making
vse of their ready foot∣men,
they held the ene∣mies
for almost vanqui∣shed.
In the intercourse of
this, they fought at Zama
descriptionPage 409
with great violence;
where any Lieutenant of
a Legion, or Tribune
had charge, there they
stroue with most courage:
neither had any man more
hope in anothers helpe,
then in him selfe. The
like the Townes-men did:
they fought or were ready
for it in all places: more
eagerly they wounded
one another, then guar∣ded
themselues. The noise
was confounded with in∣couraging,
gladnesse and
groaning: besides the
clashing of Armes pier∣ceth
the heauens: Missiue
weapons fly from both
sides. But those who de∣fended
the walls, when
the enemies slackned the
descriptionPage 410
fight, intentiuely beheld
the horse-battell. Then, as
any of Iugurths actions pro∣ceed,
you might obserue
them to be somtimes mer∣ry,
sometimes fearefull: and
as they could be heard, or
seene of their fellowes,
some of them admonish:
others incourage, or signi∣fie
with their hands, or
bend with their bodies.
Hither and thither they
moue, as they were flying,
or discharging weapons.
Which as soone as Ma∣rius
knew (for hee com∣manded
in that part) hee
proceedeth more slacke∣ly,
then it was decreed;
& counterfeiteth a distrust
of the businesse: hee suf∣freth
the Numidians with∣out
descriptionPage 411
tumult to view the
Kings battell: thus they
being fixt vpon the care of
their owne side, on the
sudden he assaulteth the
wall most forcibly: and
now the Souldiers quit∣ting
their scaling ladders,
had almost surprized the
battlements, when as the
Townesmen troope toge∣ther:
they powre downe
stones, fire, and other
missiue weapons besides.
Our men at first make re∣sistance:
after when one,
and then others of their
ladders were broken:
and those who stood vpon
them were thrown down:
the rest in the best manner
they could, fewe being
vnhurt, the greatest part
descriptionPage 412
wounded, make their es∣cape.
At length night par∣ted
the fight on both
sides.
Metellus, when hee
saw that the enterprise
wts frustrated: that nei∣ther
the Towne was ta∣ken,
nor that Iugurth inga∣ged
fight, except it were
out of ambush, or places
by him chosen; and that
now the Summer was
spent, he departeth from
Zama, and in those Cit∣ties,
which had reuolted
from him, and were suf∣ficiently
fortified with
walls or situation, hee
placeth Garrisons. The
remainder of his Army,
he disposeth in the Pro∣uince
next to Numidia,
descriptionPage 413
in regard of wintring
there. Neither doth hee
afford that time, as o∣thers
were wont, to rest
and riot, but because the
warre had but meane pro∣ceeding
by Armes, he lay∣eth
snares for the King
by his friends, and resol∣ueth
to vse their perfidi∣ousnesse
for Armes.
Therefore with many
promises he assaieth Bo∣milcar
who had beene at
Rome, and secretly baile
being giuen, had escaped
Iudgement for killing
Massiua; because that hee
by meanes of his neerest
friendshippe had the best
meanes of deceiuing: and
first he wrought, that hee
should come to him in se∣cret
descriptionPage 414
vnder the colour of
conference: then by gi∣uing
his faith, that if hee
deliuered Iugurth aliue or
slaine, he should be assu∣red,
the Senate would
grant him impunity, and
whatsoeuer was his owne,
he easily perswadeth the
Numidian, being as well
of a faithlesse disposition,
as also fearefull, that if
peace were made with
the Romanes, he vpon
the conditions should be
deliuered ouer to punish∣ment.
He, as soone as the
first opportunity serued,
visiteth Iugurth, being per∣plexed,
and bewailing his
fortunes: he doth admo∣nish,
and with teares con∣iure
him, that at length
descriptionPage 415
he would prouide for him∣selfe,
his children, and
the Numidian people,
which had best deserued:
in all conflicts they had
beene foiled, the Coun∣try
was wasted, many men
were taken and slaine,
the strength of the King∣dome
was exhausted:
enough oftentimes had
they tried already for∣tune,
and the Souldiers
valour: he should beware,
lest himselfe protracting
time, the Numidians se∣cured
themselues. With
these, and other such like
speeches, he moued the
King to resolue vpon yeel∣ding.
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