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FRom that place, the Consull being victo∣rious, without all per∣aduenture came to the Towne of Cirtha, whi∣ther at first hee intended
his iourney. Thither after the fifth day, on which the Barbarians had fought the second time with ill ••uccesse, Ambassadours from Bocchus arriued, who requested of Marius in the words of the King, that he would send two of his faithfullest friends vnto him: that hee would treat with them about things commodious for himselfe, and the people of Rome. He forthwith commands L. Sylla, & A. Manlius to go: who although they went as men sent for, yet it was their pleasure to deliuer some words to the King: that so they might, either alter his aduerse disposi∣tion, or being desirous of
peace, they might inflame him more vehemently. Sylla, to whose eloquence, not age, Manlius gaue place, expressed: himselfe in few words after this manner:
King Bocchus, we must reioyce, since the gods ad∣monished thee being so great a person, that at length, thou shouldest desire peace rather then warre: nor shouldest dis∣honour thy selfe, being a most excellent man, by confederating with Iugurth the worst of all men; with∣all, that thou shouldest take from vs a seuere neces∣sity of persecuting they er∣rours and his wickednesse. Besides, it seemed good to
the Romane people, be∣ing poore euen from the very beginning, to pro∣cure friends rather then seruants: & they thought it safer to command ouer those who were willing, then those who were in∣forced.
But for thee, no friend∣ship is more vsefull then ours: first, because we are farre remoued, in which there is least cause of of∣fence, and as equall cor∣respondency, as if we were neighbours: then, because we haue parents aboun∣dantly, of friends neither we nor any man else had euer enough. And would to God this had pleased thee from the beginning:
then for certaine thou hadst receiued more be∣nefits from the people of Rome, then thou hast suf∣fered mischiefes.
But because Fortune gouernes most of humane affaires, whose pleasure forsooth it was, that thou shouldest trye both our force, and fauour: now since thou maist doe it by her leaue, make haste, goe on, as thou hast begunne. Many and opportune meanes thou hast to re∣deeme thy errours the more easily with good of∣fices. Lastly, let this sinke into thy brest, that the people of Rome were ne∣uer ouercome with bene∣fits: for in warre, what
they are able to doe, thou thy selfe knowest.
To this Bocchus answe∣red in few words, excu∣sing withall his owne of fence: That he had not taken armes with any hostill inten∣tion, but for the safety of his Kingdome: that that part of Numidia, from whence he expelled Iugurth, was made his owne by the right of warre hee could not suffer that to be wasted by Marius: moreouer hauing sent Ambassadours to Rome, hee had receiued a re∣pulse of their friendship. But he would omit old grieuances and now, if hee might haue Marius licence, he would sen•• Ambassadours to the Senate.
Then leaue being gran∣ted, the Barbarians mind
was altered by his friends; whom Iugurth, fearefull of what was intended, after the knowledge of Sylla•• and Manlius Ambassage, had corrupted with gifts.