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. 22.

Iugurth draweth the Getu∣lians to his party. He solli∣citeth King Bocchus. He is aduertised of Marius comming.

IVgurth, when after Tha∣la lost, he thought no∣thing strong enough to re∣sist Metellus, trauailing with some few through vast desarts, he commeth to the Getulians, a fierce and sauage kind of peo∣ple, and as then ignorant of the Romane name: hee raiseth a multitude of

them into one body, and by degrees doth accu∣stome them to keepe their rankes, to followe their Ensignes, to obey com∣mand, and to performe other military duties. Be∣sides, hee allureth those who were neerest vnto King Bocchus, by great gifts and greater promises, to fauour his cause: with which Assistants, going to the King, hee doth per∣swade him, that he should vndertake warre against the Romanes. This by that aduantage became more facill and feasable, for that Bocchus in the be∣ginning of this warre, had sent Ambassadours to Rome to desire a League

and friendship: which thing being most oppor∣tune for the enterprize of the warre, some few hin∣dred, blinded with coue∣tousnesse, by whom all suites, whether honest or dishonest, were vsually set to sale.

Besides, the daughter of Bocchus was formerly married to Iugurth: but that bond is meanely re∣garded by the Moores and Numidians: because that each of them according to their wealth, haue euery man sundry wiues, some 10. others more: but Kings more then so. Thus the mind is distracted with the multitude: none of them is ranked in the place

of an equall: they are al∣together held despica∣ble.

Thereupon, in a place chosen by both parties, the Army meets: then faith being giuen and re∣ceiued interchangeably, Iugurth inflameth Bocchus with this speech: That the Romanes were vniust, of vnsatiable auarice, the common enemies of all mankind: that they had the same cause of warre with Bocchus, as with himselfe and all other Nations, euen the desire of rule; vnto whom all Kings were opposites: then he himselfe, a little before the Carthaginians, with King Per∣ses, after as euery man see∣med most powerfull, so he be∣came

enemy to the Romanes. These, and such like spee∣ches passing, they direct their iourney to the towne of Cirtha: for that Q. Me∣tellus had lodged there the prey, prisoners, and bag∣gage. Thus Iugurth thought that either the City being taken, it would be a worke worth his labour: or if the Roman Generall came to their succours, they should come to the tryall of a maine battell: for in cun∣ming, he made haste onely to disinable Iugurths peace, lest by exercising delayes, hee should desire some o∣ther course, rather then warre.

The General, when he had heard of the Confederacy

of the Kings, he doth not rashly, neither as he was often accustomed to doe, (Iugurth being vanqui∣shed) present in all places free meanes to fight: but not farre from Cirtha his Camp being fortified, he expecteth the Kings: thin∣king it best, after he had made some triall of the Moores, (because they came as fresh enemies,) to fight at his best aduan∣tage. In the meane time he is certified from Rome by letters, that the Prouince of Numidia was giuen to Marius: for he had heard before, that he was made Consull: with which ti∣dings being troubled be∣yond al decency, he neither

could refraine teares, nor moderate his tongue; the man otherwise being of a most excellent temper, too tenderly tooke this grie∣uance: which some constru∣ed to bee pride in him: o∣thers, a good disposition prouoked with disgrace: many men thought it was, because the victory already gotten, was wrested out of his hands: to vs it is well enough knowne, that hee was more vexed with Marius honour, then with his proper iniury: neither would he haue suffred it with so much anxiety, if the Prouince taken away, had beene assigned to any but Marius.

Therefore being diuer∣ted

with this griefe, and because it seemed a foo∣lish part to take care of anothers charge with his owne danger, hee sends Ambassadours to King Bocchus, to require him, that without cause hee would not become an ene∣my to the people of Rome: that he had a faire oppor∣tunity of contracting a League and friendship, which would be better then warre. Although he was confident in his owne strength, yet hee ought not to change vncertain∣ties for certainties: al warre was vndertaken with ease, but concluded with diffi∣culty: not in the same mans power lay the be∣ginning

& ending of it: it was lawfull for euery man, yea for a coward to begin: it was to be laid aside, whē the Conquerours would: therefore hee should pro∣uide for himselfe, and his Kingdome; neither should he cōmixe his flourishing and Iugurths desperate for∣tunes together.

To this the King answe∣red calmely enough: that himselfe desired peace: but that he tooke compas∣sion of Iugurths estate: if the same liberty were granted to him▪ all things would be soone agreed on. Againe the Generall, to incounter Bocchus de∣maunds, sendeth other Messengers: he alloweth

his propositions in part, others he reiecteth. In this manner by sending and re∣sending Messengers from both sides, time passed a∣way, and according to Metellus will, the warre was protracted without action.

But Marius (as is afore¦said) being made Consull through the earnestnesse of the Commons, after the people had decreed Numidia for his Prouince, he being heretofore incen∣sed against the Nobility, did as then frequently and fiercely presse them: some∣times he offended particu∣lars, sometimes the gene∣rality: he spake publickly, that he got the Consulship

as spoiles from them, being vanquished; with other words besides glorious for himselfe, greuous for them. In the meane time, his first care is to prouide things vsefull for the warre: hee requireth a supply for the Legions: he sendeth for aydes from the Nations, Kings, and Confederates: moreouer, he inuiteth all the flowre of Latium, most of them knowne to him in the warres, few by report; and by his sollici∣tation he draweth those, who had out-serued their military yeeres, to goe this iourney with him: nei∣ther did the Senate, al∣though it were aduerse, dare to deny him concer∣ning

any businesse: but euen with gladnesse gran∣ted him a supply, because it was thought the warre was not pleasing to the Commonalty, and Marius should either lose his im∣ployment in it, or ••he loue of the vulgar. But that hope proued vain: so much desire had possessed most men to go with Marius. E∣uery man was perswaded, that he should be inriched with the prey; that hee should returne home vi∣ctorious, and harboured a∣ther thoughts of the same nature: and Marius ha••h not a little incouraged them with his speech. For after all things being decreed, which he required, he had

an intent to inroll Soul∣diers, as well for exhor∣tations sake, as also for exasperating the Nobility: according to his custome, he summoneth an Assem∣bly of the people: then spake he after this manner.