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.

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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.