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. 3.

Adherbals Oration to the Senate. The reply of Iu∣gurths Ambassadours.

YE Fathers Conscript, Micipsa my father in∣ioyned

me, that I should thinke the deputed Go∣uernment of the King∣dome of Numidia to be onely mine; that the right and Soueraignty was in∣tirely yours: withall that I should striue to the vt∣most both in peace and ••••arre, to be most seruicea∣•••• vnto you: That I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 esteeme you in the place of kinsmen and Allies. If I did thus, I should possesse by your friendship Armies, ri∣ches, and the fortresses of my Kingdome▪ Which precepts of my fa••then, whilst obserued, Iugurth a man of all; whom the earth beares, the most wicked, hath thrust out me

Massenissaes nephew, and your Confederate and friend, as it were by inheritance, out of my Kingdome, and all my for∣tunes.

And since (ye Fathers Conscript) I was to arriue at this point of misery, I would that rather for my owne, then my Ance∣stours, I could claim•••• ••••••∣sistance from you; But es∣pecially, that good offices might be due to me from the Romane people, of which I stood not any wayes necessitated; next to this I would, if they were to be wisht for, that I might vse them as debts of duty. But because good∣nesse is hardly safe in it∣selfe,

neither was I assu∣red, what Iugurths demea∣nour would be, I fled to you for refuge (ye Fathers Conscript) vnto whom, which is the greatest mise∣ry to me, I am compelled to be a burthen, before I could be vsefull.

Other Kings either sub∣dued by warre, haue beene by you admitted into friendship, or else in their doubtfull, affaires, haue required your alliance. Our Family contracted friendship with the peo∣ple of Rome in the Car∣thaginian warre, at what time their faith was more to be valued, then their fortune, whose off-spring, me and Massinissaes ne∣phew

doe not suffer (ye Fathers Conscript) to implore your Ayde in vaine. If I had no other cause to require it besides my wretched fortune: in that, being not long since a King powerfull in li∣nage, renowne and for∣ces; now deformed with troubles, and poore, I doe expect other mens helpes: yet had it concerned the Maiesty of the Romane people to repell this iniu∣ry, and not to suffer any mans Kingdome to be in∣larged by villany.

But I am expelled out of those territories which the Romane people gaue to my Ancestours; from whence my father and

grandfather, ioyntly with you, chased Siphat and the Carthaginians: Your benefits are wrested from me (ye Fathers Conscript) you in my wrong are des∣pised. Ay me wretched man. To this issue, (Mi∣cipsa my father) are thy benefits come; that whom thou hast made equall with thy children, and partaker of the King∣dome, he should be the chiefe suppresser of thy progeny? neuer therefore shall our Family rest? shall we alwayes conuerse with blood, armes, and flights?

Whilst the Carthagi∣nians flourished in safety, all grieuances▪ we iustly

suffered. The enemy on each side: you our friends were farre off, all hope lay in our armes. But af∣ter that plague was rid out of Africke, we exerci∣sed peace securely; as vn∣to whom there was no foe, except perchaunce such a one, whom you would inioyne. But be∣hold Iugurth aduancing himselfe with vnsufferable boldnesse, pride, and vil∣lany (my brother and the same his kinsman being slaine) first, made his Kingdome the reward of his wickednesse: after, when he could not cir∣cumuent me with the same wiles, expecting no∣thing lesse then warre or

violence; in your Empire, as you see, he hath made mee liue in exile from my house and Country, being poore, and ouerwhelmed with miseries; so that any where my abode may be safer, then within my owne Kingdome.

I thought so (ye Con∣script Fathers) as I had heard my father relate; that they who should ob∣serue your friendship stri∣ctly, vndertooke a labo∣rious taske, but that of all men they were the safest. What lay in our families power, it performed, to assist you in al your wars; it lyes in your hands (ye Conscript Fathers) to safeguard vs at your lei∣sure.

Our father left: vs two brethren, this third Iugurth he thought by his benefits to allye vnto vs: one of the two is slaine, the other hath hardly escaped his impious hands.

What shall I doe? or whither, wretch that I am, shall I addresse my selfe? all supports of al∣liance are lost: my Fa∣ther by the decree of na∣ture is deceased: a kins∣man, whom it least besee∣med, hath villanously murthered my brother: the rest of my Confede∣rates, friends, and kinsmen, this or that mischiefe hath seuerally oppressed. Those whom Iugurth hath atta∣ched, some haue beene

crucified, others haue beene exposed to wild beasts: a few whose soules are onely left, being shut vp in darkenesse with an∣guish and griefe, leade a life more grieuous then death.

If all those proprieties, which I haue either lost, or from being vsefull, are become hurtfull, remai∣ned intire: yet if any vn∣expected calamity hap∣ned, I should implore you (ye Fathers Con∣script) to whom for the Maiesty of your Empire, all right and wrong ought to be regardfull. But now being banished from my house and Country, or ••orne, and wanting an ho∣nest

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accommodations, whither shall I goe? or to whom shall I appeale? vn∣to the Nations and Kings, all of whom hate our fa∣mily in regard of your friendship? what, can I goe to any place where there are not many hostile mo∣numents of my Ance∣stours? will any commise∣rate vs, who was euer an enemy to you? finally, Massinissa taught vs thus (ye Fathers Conscript) that we should obserue none but the people of Rome, that we should contract no new Confe∣deracies and Leagues, that in your friendship wee should haue sufficient as∣surance. If the fortune of

your state suffred altera∣tion, we must perish with you.

By your owne vertue, and the fauour of the gods you are mighty & power∣full; all things are prospe∣rous and obedient vnto you: so that you may with more ease releeue the wrongs of your Confede∣rates. Onely this I feare, that Iugurths priuate insi∣nuation (as yet not well discouered) may peruert some mens iudgements, who, as I heare, doe with all their power labour, sue, and sollicite you seuerally, that you would not decree any thing of him being absent, and his cause vn∣heard, pretending that

I disguise my speech, and counterfeit flight, who if I list, might remaine in my Kingdome. But would to God I might see him, by whose vnnaturall treason, I am throwne into these miseries, dissembling af∣ter the same manner: and that this care of humane affaires might be tooke by you, or by the immortall gods, that he, who is nowe growne proud, and honoured for his villanies, being tortured with all kind of mischiefes, might for his impiety towards my father, for the mur∣mer of my brother, and for my calamities, ••ender sufficient punishment.

Already (brother most

deare to my soule) al∣though thy life hath been taken from thee vntimely, and by ill beseeming meanes, yet I thinke this, thy fortune to be rather reioyced at then lamen∣ted: for not a Kingdome, but flight, exile, want, and all other miseries, which vexe me, thou hast lost together with thy life. But I vnhappy man, pre∣cipitated into such mis∣fortunes, and beaten out of my fathers Kingdome, doe represent a spectacle of mans estate: vnresol∣ued what to doe, whether I shall persecute thy wrongs, being my selfe destitute of helpe, or pro∣uide for my Kingdomes

good, the power of whose life and death lyes at the mercy of others. Would to God to dye, were an end proper for my for∣tunes; that I might not seeme to liue despised, if tired with troubles, I yeel∣ded to iniury.

Now, because I haue no pleasure to liue, nor power to dye without dis∣grace (ye Fathers Con∣script) coniured by your selues, by your children, your parents and the Ma∣iestie of the Romane peo∣ple, releeue me a man di∣stressed, preuent my wrong, and suffer not the Kingdome of Numidia, which is yours, to be pol∣luted with Treason and

the blood of our family.

After the King had fini∣shed his speech, Iugurths Ambassadours more con∣fident in their gifts, then goodnesse of cause, answere briefly: that Hiempsal for his cruelty was slaine by the Numi∣dians: that Adherbal of his owne accord making war, being ouercome complai∣ned, because he was dis∣inabled to doe wrong; that Iugurth requested the Senate, that they would take him for no other, then he was knowne at Numantia: nor that they would value his enemies words before his deeds.

Vpon this, both of

them depart the Court, foorthwith the Senate takes counsell: the Pa∣trones of the Ambassa∣dours, besides a great par∣ty corrupted with fauour, vilified Adherbal in their speeches: with praises they magnifie Iugurths vertue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with counte∣nance, words, and all other meanes, they stroue to defend another mans treason and wickednesse, as if it had concerned their owne honour.

But oppositely some few, to whom goodnesse and equity, were dearer then riches, gaue sen∣tence, that Adherbal was to be succoured, and Hiempsals death was seuere∣ly

to be punished. But of them all, most earnest was Aemilius Scaurus, a Noble man, of an actiue spirit, factious, couetous of rule, and honour; yet one that could cunningly pal∣liate his vices. He hauing obserued the Kings noto∣rious and impudent bri∣bery, fearing (as it falls out in like cases) that with too much liberty of lan∣guage, he might procure enuy, he restrained his mind from that wonted humour. Notwithstan∣ding in Senate that part preuailed, which before right preferred reward or fauour. A Decree is made, that ten Delegates should diuide the Kingdome

which Micipsa held, be∣tweene Iugurth and Ad∣herbal. The chiefe of this Ambassie, was Lu. Opi∣mius, a man much estee∣med, and powerfull in Se¦nate, because being Con∣sull, when as C. Graccus, and Mar. Fuluius were slaine, he did rigorously prosecute the reuenge of the Nobility against the Commons. Him Iugurth, although he had formerly beene his friend at Rome, entertained with great re∣spect: by giuing and pro∣mising much he wrought so, that before reputa∣tion, loyaltie, nay all his owne fortunes, he prefer∣red the Kings profit. The rest of the Delegates he

attempted with the like practice: to some fewe, faith was more respected then money.

In the diuision, that part of Numidia, which bordereth Mauritania, be∣ing more opulent in soyle and people, is assigned vnto Iugurth: that other, (more commended for shew then profit, as ha∣uing more Harbours, and fairer houses,) fell to Ad∣herbals lot.