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. 7.

Ambassadours of greater qua∣lity are commissioned to goe for Africke. They are slacke in their charge. Cir∣tha yeelds vpon composi∣tion. Adherbal is slaine.

THese letters being read, some were of

opinion, that an Army was to be sent into Africk, and Adherbal was to be forthwith succoured: that they should aduise them∣selues concerning Iugurth, because he had disobeyed the Ambassadours. But the very same fauourers of the King laboured with all their power, that no such Decree should passe. Thus the publicke good (as it oftentimes falls out) was ouercome by priuate fa∣uour. Yet were there sent into Afticke other Noble men, elder then the first, who had vndergone most honourable charges: a∣mongst whom was M. Scaurus, (of whom wee haue formerly spoken)

one who had beene Con∣sull, and was as then Pre∣sident of the Senate. These, because the foule∣nesse of the fact was sub∣iect to much hatred, and withall being importuned by the Numidians, imbar∣ked themselues the third day following; then lan∣ding not long after at Vti∣ca, they dispatched let∣ters to Iugurth importing, that with all, possible speed, he should come to them into the Prouince.

He as soone as he vn∣derstood, that men of ho∣nour, whose authority he heard was powerfull at Rome, came purposely to crosse his proceedings; being at first much per∣plexed,

he was diuersly distracted with feare and desire. He feared the dis∣pleasure of the Senate, if he shewed himselfe diso∣bedient to the Ambassa∣dours: againe his mind being blinded with ambi∣tion, did violently trans∣port him towards the in∣tended treason: yet euill counsell preuailed ouer his head-strong disposi∣tion.

Thereupon his Army hauing surrounded Cir∣tha, he endeuours to force it to the vtmost of his power, being very hopefull, that the ene∣mies Troupes being thus diuided, he should by as∣sault, or stratagem,

find out some way of vi∣ctory for himselfe: which falling out otherwise, and being vnable to effect, what he intended, about the surprizing of Adherbal, before he visited the Am∣bassadours; lest by fur∣ther delayes he might of∣fend Scaurus, whō he much feared, with a few Horse∣men hee comes into the Prouince. And although to the orders of the Senate heauy comminations were added, in case he should not desist from the siege, yet after much talke in vaine, they departed with∣out any further effect.

After these things were related at Cirtha, these Italians (by whose valour

the walls were defended) being confident, that vpon a surrender made, they should in regard of the Maiesty of the Ro∣mane name, be dismissed without any further hurt, doe perswade Adherbal, that he should yeeld him∣selfe and the towne to Iu∣gurth: onely he should condition with him for his life, that as for the rest, the Senate would be care∣full. But he, although he deemed all things safer then Iugurths faith, yet be∣cause they had power in themselues to force him, if he should be refractory, he makes a surrender. Thereupon Iugurth hauing first tortur'd Adherbal, puts

him to death; then hee murthers all the Numi∣dian youth, and mar∣chants promiscuously, as any man incountred his armed Souldiers.

After which massacre was published at Rome, and the matter began to be debated in Senate, the very same ministers of the King, by interposing themselues, and protra∣cting time, now by fa∣uour, then againe by their cauils, did mitigate the foulenes of the fact: so that except C. Memius Tribune of the people elect, (being a man of courage, and much offended with the power of the Nobility) had fully informed the

people of Rome, that a plot was layd, for procu∣ring Iugurths pardon, by some few of his faction, without question all the hatred of this his offence, had vanished into no∣thing, through their di∣latory consultations. So powerfully wrought the Kings fauour and mo∣ney.

But as soone as the Se∣nate, through the con∣science of their owne er∣rour, grew fearefull of the people: by the Sempro∣nian Law, Numidia and Italy were decreed for Prouinces to the future Cousuls. P. Scipio Nasica, L. Bestia Calpurnius, were declared Consuls: to Cal∣purnius

Numidia, to Sci∣pio Italy fell by lot. forth∣with an Army is inrolled to be transported into Africke: paye and all o∣ther prouisions requisite for the warre are appoin∣ted.

But Iugurth, contrary to his expectation, being in∣formed of this by a mes∣senger; for because he was fully perswaded that all things were venall at Rome: he sends his sonne, and with him two of his familiar friends Ambassa∣dours to the Senate, and giues them in charge, as he had done to those, whom he had sent after Hiempsal was slaine, that they should corrupt whom¦soeuer

they could with money. who when they were come to Rome, the Senates aduice was demā∣ded of Bestia whether it were their pleasures, that Iugurths Ambassadours should be receiued into the Citty: and then the Lords decreed, that ex∣cept they came to surren∣der the Kingdome, and Iugurth himselfe, they should depart out of Italy within tenne dayes next following. The Consull out of the Decree of the Senate, commands this to be reported to the Nu∣midians: Thus they re∣turne home without any successe in their suite.