The tvvo most vvorthy and notable histories which remaine vnmained to posterity (viz:) the conspiracie of Cateline, vndertaken against the gouernment of the Senate of Rome, and the vvarre which Iugurth for many yeares maintained against the same state. Both written by C.C. Salustius.

CHAP. 25.

1 Metellus succoureth Leptis. 2 A digression vpon occasion of the strange death of two Carthaginean brethren.

1 AS Thala was in saccage, certain Ambassadors from Leptis arri∣ued before Metellus, intreating him to send a President with som cōpanies into their town, for that one Amilchar, a Noble man of the Cit••y, went about to alienat the allegiances of the inhabitantes from the Romans. From this his insolencie, neither the authority of the Magistrate, nor the terrour of the laws, could deterre him: vnlesse they made hast, the safety of the Towne with the loyalty of the Roman associ∣ates, was greatly to be doubted of.

From the beginning of the Iugurthian warre, the peo∣ple of Leptis entred a league of confederacy with the Con∣sull Bestia; and after him, they sent to Rome to perfect the Articles. After the confirmation whereof, they alwaies remained loyall confederats to the Roman people, yea and performed their vtmost seruices to Bestia, Albinus and Metellus.

In regard whereof, at the first motion, they obtained their request of Metellus, who presently dispatched away

foure Ligurian cohorts with C. Annius their Captaine.

The towne was first built by the Sidonians, whoe (as re∣port goeth) arriued there by shippinge, being bannished their countrey for their ciuill dissentions.

It is scituated betweene two sandes, and seemeth to deriue its name from the place. For vppon the vtmost bounds of Affrica two baies extend themselues, in huge∣nes vnequall, in condition equall; sometime as the winde standeth, Nauigable, at an other time dry and passable. For as the Sea prooueth high and tempestuous, so doe the waues driue the sands, the people & the rockie stones. Thus the vse of the place dependeth vpon the casualites of the stormes.

The language of the people is changed by the proxi∣mitie of the Numidians, but their lawes and religion re∣maine meerely Sidonian, which they haue retained the better vncorrupted, for that they liued farre remote from the Court; many vaste & desart countries lying between them and the inhabited partes of Numidia.

2. And now sithence the affaires of the Leptitans hath drawen my pen into these Regions, I thinke the worthy and memorable exploit of two Carthaginians there hap∣pening worth relation. The very place enforceth me to write of the accident.

At what time, the Carthaginians were Lords ouer the greater part of Affrique, the Cyrenians were also a state rich and powerfull. The vacable Countrey betweene them was sandye, by colour or nature nothing discernable; no riuer, no mountaine distinguished their borders. This in∣differencie was cause of long wars to both parties, where∣in after they had wasted their Legions, sunk & torne their nauies, and almost ruinated both their estates, fearing least a third party taking the aduantage, should prey aswell vp∣on the conqueror as the conquered, by a mutuall truce they fel to agrement, each party to send their ambassadors from home vpon a day prefixed: looke where both chan∣ced to meete, there should bee the bondes of each others territory.

Two brethren named Phileni were sent from Carthage:

The Carthaginians made all possible hast; the Lirenians iornied slowly: whether to attribute the cause to negli∣genc••, or chance, I cannot resolue. For in these deserts the eies and faces of trauellers are no lesse molested with tem∣pests of lands, raised by the windes vpon these leuell, bar∣rain, & vast plaines, then are the Marriners without com∣passe in outragious gustes at Sea. These for want of true kenning might bee impediments to their speed.

Which when the Cirenians perceiued, and for their negligence feared vpon their returne to be punished, they cauilled at the Carthaginians, charging thē, that they had departed from home, before the time appointed. The matter became litigious: The Cirenians, were content to accept of any condition, rather then to returne with im∣putation of priuate disgrace. The Carthaginians aduow to refuse no condition, so it were iust and reasonable. The Cirenians make this ouerture: That eyther the Carthagini∣ans should suffer themselues to be buried aliue in the place, which they desired to make the limit of their State: or else to suffer them (the Cirenians) vpon like tea••mes, to passe further on to the end of their intended voyage. The Phi∣leni accepted the match, & sacrificed their liues to the ho∣nor of their Country, and there made choice to be buried. To these Brethren, the Carthaginians in that very place erected two alters: at home they recorded their memories with other ceremonies. Now returne I to my matter.