[250]The consuls here mentioned entered upon their office on the 1st of January, 109 B.C. The preparation for the campaign accordingly belongs to the latter part of the year 110.[251]‘An opponent of the popular party;’adversusbeing used as a substantive, in the sense ofadversarius; as an adjective, it is construed with the dative.[252]Cum collega, a short expression forconjuncta cum collega, ‘everything else he considered as common between himself and his colleague, but to the Numidian war he alone directed his attention, as though it were his own exclusive business.’[253]Praesidiais generally ‘resources;’ but here the same asauxilia, ‘auxiliary troops.’[254]Contusae, fromcontundere, forimminutae,debilitatae,fractae.
[255]Praedator, belonging toexercitus, is the same aspraedas agens, ‘carrying off booty.’ See Zumpt, § 102, note 2.[256]Aestivorum tempusis the time suited for the campaign. Toaestivorumsupplycastrorum, ‘a summer-camp,’ and ‘a campaign made in summer;’ hence, also, ‘a campaign’ in general, inasmuch as warlike operations were but rarely carried on in winter.[257]Albinus, during a portion of the summer of the year 109 B. C., continued to command as proconsul, while the consul Metellus was detained at Rome by the election of the consuls for the year B. C. 108.[258]Odosforodor. See Zumpt, § 7.[259]Cum mercatoribus, ‘in intercourse with merchants.’ The merchandise, in return for which another commodity is given, is expressed by the ablative. See Zumpt, § 456.
[260]Ambitio, ‘courting favour;’ hence here in the sense of ‘indulgence,’ ‘connivance,’ these being the ordinary means to obtain the favour of the multitude.[261]Ceteris arte modum statuissestill depends uponcomperior, ‘I learn (that is, we are informed) that for the rest (of the wants) he fixed the measure in a close (niggardly) manner;’ forarteis the adverb ofartus, which is frequently, though not correctly, writtenarcte. It must not be confounded withartefromars. Sallust might have said,ceteris (rebus) artum modum statuisse.
[262]Suppliciahere, as elsewhere, aresupplices preces, ‘humble prayers,’ or ‘petitions.’ Comparechap. 66.[263]‘He applies to the ambassadors one by one;’ that is, he tries them one by one,temptat singulos.[264]Maxime, the same aspotissimum. Comparechap. 35.[265]‘What would be in accordance with his wish;’ namely, the granting of his request.[266]The pluralequitatusis rare; here it refers to different troops of cavalry, as in Caesar,Bell. Civ.i. 61. Topropulsarentsupplyeos. See Zumpt, § 766.
[267]‘Most frequented;’ forceleber,bris,bre, is commonly used of densely peopled or much frequented places.[268]Metellus placed a garrison in the city, partly to test the sentiments of the inhabitants, and partly on account of the advantages offered to him by the nature of the place, in case the inhabitants should not object to a garrison of the Romans. The common reading,si paterentur opportunitates loci, must be rejected, for the wordssi paterenturmust refer to the inhabitants of the place, and explain the precedingtemptandi gratia. Another reading,opportunitatis, to whichgratiamust be supplied by the mind, has the same meaning asopportunitate, the ablative of cause.[269]‘He believed that the great number of merchants (in the town) and the corn would be of use to the army, and protect the provisions (of the Roman army) already accumulated,’ so that the Roman stores might be saved.[270]Impensius modo; that is,praeter modum, ‘beyond measure,’ ‘immoderately;’ literally, ‘stronger than the measure observed in such matters.’
[271]Exercitum antevenit. See Zumpt, § 386, note.[272]‘In an equal direction;’ that is, likewise extending from south to north.[273]In the midst of this range there arose another group, extending far and wide; and, as will be seen hereafter (chapter 49), in a transverse direction (transverso itinere) from the range to the river running parallel with it.In immensum, however, must be understood relatively of a very great extent, and not absolutely of an infinite extent.[274]‘On dry and sandy ground’ is a very singular expression, and has been noticed as such by the Roman grammarians themselves; forhumi(on the ground) is otherwise used without an adjective as an adverb. The adjective is here put in the ablative, to denote the place where, and in the neuter gender,humibeing regarded as indeclinable. In ordinary language, it would bein humo arida.
[275]‘The battle-line being long, but not deep.’[276]Montem, the same asmonti. See Zumpt, § 411.[277]Decuerint. Sallust might have writtendecueritin the singular. Compare Zumpt, § 226.[278]Quum interim Metellus — conspicitur, is the apodosis. ‘Then, in the meantime, Metellus appears.’ Respecting this use ofquumwith the present indicative, see Zumpt, § 580, 2; for the circumstance ofinterimbeing used here, where we might expectsubito, does not alter the case, and only expresses that Jugurtha was yet engaged in encouraging his army when Metellus became visible.[279]Incertiis here used passively and personally, ‘uncertain what it might be,’ forde quibus incertum erat, quidnam esset; and the neuterquidnamis used in the sense of the masculine plural, ‘it was uncertain whether they were men, and what sort of men.’ In like manner we have seen (chapter 18)ignarusused passively.[280]‘With an alteration in the ranks,’ those soldiers who had before marched by the side of one another now being placed behind one another, as the man who had till then been on the right wing of his detachment suddenly turned to the right, with his face towards the hill. On the right of the whole marching army, he now formed the front towards the enemy (aciem), and strengthened by a threefold reserve.[281]‘Theprincipiastanding transversely’ (to the direction in which till then the column had been). The march of the Roman army was from east to west; the enemy appeared on the right flank, and the Roman vanguard (principia) therefore turned round to face them (that is, turning its face to the north), and it is this direction which is expressed bytransversus.Principiais the vanguard, because in a Roman legion the ten companies ofprincipesformed the front line, while thehastaticonstituted the second, and thetriariithe third. In this manner theprincipeshere faced the enemy, while the other divisions of the army drew up behind them as a reserve.
[282]Transversis proeliis, ‘by attacks on the flanks’ — namely, if the Roman army should resume its march westward.[283]Temptare lassitudinem militum, the same aslassos milites aggredi.[284]The army was drawn up in battle array facing the north, so that, if it resumed its march westward, the part which formed the left wing became the head of the column (agmen).[285]Priores; that is,superiores, ‘superior.’[286]Ea, ‘on this road,’ or ‘there.’Evadere, ‘to ascend.’Veroin the apodosis renders it strong and emphatic. See Zumpt, § 716.
[287]Respecting the omission ofet, see Zumpt, § 782.Armaandtelaare the two kinds of arms, the one being used in a close contest, and the other at a distance; the use of either of them depended on chance (fors regebat).Itaquein the next clause is the same as etita, and not the conjunctionitaque = igitur.[288]They had no camp, no fortifications into which they could retreat.Illisrefers to the Romans addressed, and is rendered by the emphatic they; instead ofillis, the speaker might have usedipsiswhereby he would have included himself, whereas now he is speaking only of the soldiers. Compare Zumpt, § 702.
[289]Diei; other editions havedie, an obsolete form of the fifth declension.Adverso colle evadunt, ‘they worked their way up the opposite hill.’ The author might have saidin adversum collem,‘they ascended it.’[290]The neuter predicatetutata sunthere refers to two feminine nouns, instead oftutatae sunt; but it is quite in accordance with the custom of Sallust. See Zumpt, § 377.[291]‘What the enemy were doing in every place;’ forubiquesignifies ‘in every place;’ not absolutely, but in every one of the places where anything was done by the enemy.Ubiquestands toubivisin the same relation asquisquetoquivis. Compare Zumpt, § 710.[292]‘He had drawn up his corps close together.’ Aboutarte, seeCat., chap. 59, and p. 110, note 4 [note 261].
[293]‘They held out only so long as they believed that they had an assistance in their elephants.’ When they were disappointed in this hope, they took to flight; forfugam facereis here the same asfugere, though generally it is equivalent tofugare.[294]‘Tired and worn out.’[295]The two detachments of the Roman army approaching each other, threw each other into fear and confusion by the noise of their march, as they imagined lhat the enemy was approaching. We have retainedadventarent, the reading of the early editions; the one now generally received,adventare, must be rendered, ‘when they were not far from one another, they approached in a noisy manner, like enemies, (and) filled each other mutually with fear.’ But here the verbadventareis offensive, it having already been said that they were not far from one another; so also is the mere ablativestrepitu adventareand the omission ofet, for which we cannot see any reason.[296]Supplyesset.[297]‘Misfortunes lower even good men;’ that is, diminish their reputation.
[298]Duration of time is properly expressed by the accusative, but the ablative also is not unfrequently employed. See Zumpt, § 396.[299]Sunthere changes the oratio obiiqua into the oratio recta; according to the grammatical rule, it ought to besintoressent.[300]Gentiumis added to increase the expression of uncertainty. See Zumpt, § 434.[301]A bold combination of terms: soldiers who were in the habit of being more concerned about the cattle and the field than about war. Respecting the substantivecultor, instead of the participlecolens, see p. 109, note 5 [note 255].[302]Ea gratia, a concise expression forejus (rei) gratia, ‘on this account.’ In like manner we findhac, ea causa.[303]‘Which could not be carried on otherwise than according to his pleasure;’ because, considering the number and condition of his irregular troops, he had it in his power both to attack and to retreat, and thus to draw the Romans hither and thither.[304]Temeresignifies that which is done without any lasting effect, without serious consideration, or what is suggested by mere accident or chance.[305]Sua locaare ‘convenient’ or ‘favourable places;’aliena, ‘inconvenient ;’ that is, such as he would not have chosen himself.[306]‘According to circumstances,’ as inchap. 39:ex copia rerum, ‘according to the state of circumstances.’
[307]Magnificus, ‘boasting,’ ‘insolent,’ as inchap. 31:incedunt per ora, vestra magnifci.[308]Such a public thanksgiving ordered by the senate is commonly calledsupplicatio, and was a sign that the general was likely to be honoured with a triumph.[309]Necubiforne alicubi, ‘in order that not somewhere.’ See Zumpt, § 136.[310]Post insidias Jugurthae, ‘after he had once experienced attacks made from an ambuscade.’
[311]Zama, a town celebrated for the victory gained, about one hundred years before, by Scipio over Hannibal. It was situated, according to Polybius, five days’ march south of Carthage.[312]In tempore, ‘in due time,’ ‘in proper time.’ Zumpt, § 475, note.
[313]Proelium facere in manibus, the same aspugnare cominus, manus conserere, ‘to be engaged in close combat.’[314]‘Torches mixed of burning pitch and sulphur;’ that is, burning torches of pitch and sulphur. The singulartaedamis used in a collective sense for the pluraltaedas.
[315]‘Those who had been left behind to protect the camp being remiss’ (careless, unconcerned); a figurative use ofremissus, taken from a bow when it is not stretched.[316]‘As they, being few, less missed in throwing their darts among the many.’ The deponentfrustarihere has a reflective meaning, ‘to exert one’s self in vain,’ ‘to deceive one’s self,’ and must be conceived to come from the activefrustrare, ‘to frustrate.’[317]‘Then, indeed (in truth), they showed,’ &c. Respectingveroin the apodosis, see note onchap. 50.
[318]‘The Numidian horsemen would not have resisted any longer, had not their infantry mingled with the cavalry caused a great carnage’ (among the Romans). Respecting the imperfect in the protasis, though the apodosis contains the pluperfect, see Zumpt, § 525. The Numidian horse, accordingly, here did not follow their usual custom of making a sudden attack, and then retreating; on the contrary, they fought in such a manner that their own horses and those of the Romans stood head to head, and thus gained an almost complete victory, by procuring a respite for their struggling infantry.
[319]‘There they exerted themselves most actively,’eohaving the meaning ofeo loco, oribi.[320]‘More upon themselves than upon others.’ See Zumpt, § 725.[321]‘One might observe them.’ Zumpt, § 528, note 2.[322]Sicuti — possent, ‘just as if,’ assicut, likequasi, is used forvelut. Seechap. 31. For it is not possible that the two places of the struggle, near the walls of Zama, and on the other side of the Roman camp, should have been so near that the men could hear one another, or even distinctly see the separate charges.[323]Niti corporibus, ‘to exert one’s self bodily,’ inasmuch as the body of the combatants is sometimes moved forward, and sometimes backward. The pluralcorporais as common in Latin asanimi, when several persons are spoken of.[324]Sine tumultu, ‘without disturbance’ or ‘hindrance.’[325]Astrictus, ‘fixed intent,’ whose attention was entirely directed to the contest at a distance.Occupatisalso might have been used.
[326]Ad eum, orad illum, would have been strictly grammatical; and as Sallust usesad se, it would have been more consistent to use the subjunctivedefecissent; but the indicative is necessary, because a fact is to be expressed. All doubts would have been removed byad ipsum, for this pronoun would turn our attention away from the secondary subject,urbes, and direct it to the leading subject, Metellus. But the ancient authors do not very often use this pronoun whereisorsui,sibi,se, can be employed. Comparechap. 66, and Zumpt, § 550.[327]That is,Bomilcar ingenio infidus erat et metuebat.
[328]Ne illo, &.c. refers to Jugurtha, ‘if he hesitated still longer.’[329]More majorumrefers to the custom according to which Roman generals were not allowed to fix the terms of treaties and peace according to their own discretion, but had to assemble and consult a council of war. This council of war consisted of the superior officers, the legates, the quaestor, the tribuni militum, and the praefects of the allies. Sometimes the centuriones primipilares also took part in it, especially when the subjects of discussion were of a purely military nature.[330]Pondo, ‘pound,’ properlylibrarum pondo(depending uponmilia). See Zumpt, § 87. As in the time of the Roman republic eighty-four denarii were coined out of one pound of silver, and twenty-five denarii (or 100 sesterces) constituted one Roman aureus, the amount of silver here mentioned is equivalent to 672,000 nummi aurei.[331]‘When he himself was summoned to receive his orders.’ There is an ancient military expression,Ad imperium vocari, oradesse, by which a person present receives a command which he has to carry into effect. See Zumpt, § 658.[332]Digna, ‘what is due to him;’ here of course bodily suffering or punishment.[333]We are here already at the beginning of the year B.C. 108, in which Metellus was no longer consul; but the senate had prolonged his imperium, which accordingly he continued to hold for this year as proconsul.
[334]Agitabatdoes not express the sentiment of the haruspex; for if so, the verb would be in the subjunctive.[335]Marius accordingly possessed every qualification required of a candidate for the consulship in a very high degree, but he was not a member of an ancient family, being a Roman eques of the municipium of Arpinum. The term ‘ancient family’ means one which hadimagines, or images of ancestors who had been invested with the highest offices of the state. A Roman eques answers pretty nearly to a modern country gentleman, and was, generally speaking, a person who had property enough to enable him to serve on horseback in the army. In point of rank he was far below a senator; and no services that he could render to the state as an eques could raise him to the senatorial rank, which was attainable only through the high offices to which he might be elected by the people, and by virtue of which he became a member of the senate. Marius himself had been a senator long before this, as he had been tribune of the people and praetor, and after his praetorship, he now was legatus (lieutenant-general) with Metellus.[336]Belli; that is,in bello, on account of the followingdomi.[337]Altus; that is,alitus. See Zumpt, § 198.[338]That is,quamquam plerique faciem ejus ignorabant, facile tamen notus factus, &c.; namely, by the report of his distinguished services in the war, which, in the assembly of the people, was communicated by one person to another.[339]Ad id locorum, ‘until then,’ ‘until that time,’ as inchap. 72:post id locorum. See Zumpt, § 434. Marius did not venture to aspire to the consulship; forappetereis not the same aspetere, the latter denoting the actual suit or canvass. His ambition had not yet been directed to that highest of all offices, until religious superstition suggested it to him, and encouraged him.[340]Thenobilestransmitted the consulship to one anotherper manus; that is, after onenobilishad been invested with it, it was, as it were by agreement, given to another, care being taken that nohomo novusshould come forward as a candidate.
[341]His dismissal from the post of legate. If he had wished to return to the service, he would have askedcommeatum, ‘leave of absence.’ He was confident that in his canvass for the consulship he would be successful.[342]Superabant; that is,supererant, abunde erant. Metellus had all the other qualifications in a great degree, but at the same time he had a haughty contempt for all who were not nobly born.[343]‘He would grant him his dismissal as soon as he could do so consistently with the duties he owed to the republic.’[344]Contubernio patrisforin contubernio patris, ascontubernalisof the commander-in-chief. It was the custom for young Roman nobles to perform their first military service as equites in the suite, and as attachés (adjutants) to a general, whereas other less favoured Romans servedin ordine; that is, enlisted in some detachment of cavalry or infantry.[345]Pro, ‘in regard to,’ ‘in consideration of.’[346]Grassari, ‘to go on,’ ‘proceed;’ but at the same time contains the idea of excitement or vehemence.[347]Ambitio, ‘courting favour;’ambitiosum, something the object or consequence of which is to gain favour; hence ‘winning,’ ‘captivating.’[348]Inanis, ‘empty.’ Of persons, signifies a man devoid of substance, one who has only the appearance of something, and is satisfied with it; hence ‘vain,’ ‘superficial.’Vanusalso is used in the same sense.Regia superbia. Seechap. 31.
[349]Secundus heresis the person who is pointed out in a will to supply the place of the real heir, in case of the latter being unable or unwilling to accept the inheritance, especially in case of his death without leaving any issue.[350]In eos; that is,in equites Romanos, referring to what follows.[351]Imperatori, a dativus incommodi,cui poena imponantur, ‘that with his assistance he should endeavour to find punishments for the general in return for the insults offered to him.’[352]‘This might happen even very soon.’Adeopoints out that which is essential in a thing. See Zumpt, § 281.[353]The wordsmilites et negotiatioresare in apposition toequites Romanos, and describe the two classes of Roman equites existing in the province, some serving in the army, and others carrying on business (negotiabantur) in the towns. If the sentence were to be understood otherwise, the copulative conjunction would not have been omitted beforemilites. See Zumpt, § 783. Themilites gregariiand their sentiments are not mentioned, probably because such persons had little or no communication with their friends at Rome.[354]Suffragatio, the inclination to give one’s vote in favour of a person, and the effort to procure him the votes of others; hence ‘the support given to a person’s election.’ A vote issuffragium, andsuffragari, to vote for a person.[355]This decree of the people, instituting a criminal investigation into the acts of bribery committed by Jugurtha, was mentioned inchap. 40, where it was farther observed that the whole nobility was terrified by it.
[356]Affectare, ‘to try to obtain a thing,’ ‘to exert one’s self for a thing.’[357]Voluntate alienati; that is,sua sponte alienati.[358]Discordiosus, ‘quarrelsome;’ a very rare word, but formed with perfect correctness. Zumpt, § 252.[359]‘The day promised (beforehand) recreation and enjoyment, rather than apprehension and terror;’ namely, to the Romans or the Roman garrison.[360]In tali die. The preposition here is unusual, but is justified by the additiontali, indicating the particular circumstances of that day of joy. See Zumpt, § 475, note.Inermosis much more rare thaninermes. See Zumpt, § 101, note.
[361]Pro tectis, ‘on the edge of the roofs.’[362]Anceps malum, ‘the double attack;’ namely, the one made on even ground, and that from the roofs.[363]Respecting the connection ofnisi—videtur, instead of the complete expressionnisi hoc constat—eum videri, see p. 92, note 2 [note 153].Intestabilis, properly, ‘a person unfit to give his evidence, and incapable of making a will;’ hence, according to Roman usage, equivalent to ‘infamous;’detestabilis, which also properly signifies ‘one deserving to be excluded in the will,’ or ‘to be disinherited.’
[364]‘Declining everything;’ that is, refusing to obey any order that was given them.[365]Passuummight also bepassus. See Zumpt, § 116, note.[366]In primo, ‘at the head,’ or ‘in front,’ the line being spread out (late), so as to conceal the infantry marching behind the cavalry.
[367]‘The whole town was given up to punishment or booty.’ We cannot sayurbs poenae fuitalone; but the dativepoenaeis explained by the common expressionpraedae fuit, with which it is connected.[368]‘Ordered to defend himself’ against the charge of treachery which was brought against him. For areus(a person standing accused of a crime)causam dicit; that is, conducts his case, or defends himself. Turpilius was condemned by the war council, and paid the forfeit with his life, after having previously been scourged. This ancient severity, according to which the condemned was bound to a post, and scourged with rods on his naked body, had been abolished by a lex Porcia for Roman citizens. See page 52, note 5 [note 260]. For this reason Sallust adds the remark, that Turpilius was a citizen from Latium; that is, he did not possess the full Roman franchise, but only that part of it which was not incompatible with his retaining the franchise in some Latin town. Such half-citizens or Latins, to whom the Roman franchise was given in this manner, that thereby they acquired the right to settle in the territory of Rome, and become members of a Roman tribe, provided they renounced their Latin franchise, were at that time still very numerous; but they ceased to exist in B.C. 91, when what were called the Latin towns received the Roman franchise.
[369]‘He tormented himself day and night with the thought.’ Respecting this paraphrase of one’s own person by the wordanimus, see Zumpt, § 678.[370]Quae Jugurthae—superaverant, ‘which had been left for Jugurtha;’ that is, which he himself had not been able to accomplish.[371]‘That the open country might not be laid waste by the enemy in such a manner as to leave the enemy unpunished’ (inultis).[372]Metusque—impediebat. The imperfect describes the lasting condition of the matter, while the perfect,venit, expresses the momentary act, and the clausemetus impediebatrepresents an inserted clause denoting cause:metus enim rem impediebat.[373]Bomilcar was seized with fear in consequence of the timidity shown by Nabdalsa.[374]In quîs—accusare. The historical infinitive in a relative clause is very rare, butin quîshere supplies the place ofet in his.[375]‘The question only was, whether Jugurtha should perish by their (that is, Bomilcar and Nabdalsa’s) valour, or by that of Metellus,’ since his doom was fixed at all events.Id agitariforid agi, which in this sense is far more frequent.
[376]Allatae; supplyessent, an ellipsis, which is not very common after a conjunction, governing the subjunctive.[377]Solet, supplycapere.[378]Repperit; for the orthography of this word, see Zumpt, § 22.[379]Res praevenitur, ‘a thing is anticipated,’ or ‘something is done previously,’ is found very rarely instead ofoccupatur.Homo praevenitur, ‘a person is anticipated in a thing,’ is more common.[380]Super, the same asde. See Zumpt, § 320.
[381]‘Differently from what he carried in his mind;’ that is, from what he intended in his mind.[382]A beautiful and vivid description of a man who is conscious of his guilt, and is pursued by all: it is a situation which would have paralysed the mental energy of even the most enterprising barbarian.
[383]Indicio patefactois a kind of pleonasm, asindicio factowould be sufficient; forindicium fit, res ipsa(that is,conjuratio)patefit— ‘the denunciation is made, the conspiracy is revealed.’[384]Plebs — acceperantforacceperat,plebsbeing a collective noun. Zumpt, § 366.[385]‘However, the party-zeal was in both men more decisive than either their virtues or their faults.’Moderata sunt, from the deponentmoderor, ‘I determine,’ ‘I guide;’ as in Cicero,mens moderatur omnia, ‘the mind determines everything.’Sua bona aut mala, ‘their own virtues or vices,’ in apposition to the party-zeal of others.Suushere is not reflective, but only designates something as opposed to that which belongs to another. See Zumpt, § 550.[386]Arcessere, ‘to summon before a court of justice,’ with the genitive of the crime or punishment. The formsarcessereandaccerserehave the same meaning, butarcessereis more frequent in the sense of ‘to summon,’ or ‘to accuse.’[387]Res fidesque, ‘property and credit.’[388]‘Crowded around Marius,’ whenever he appeared in public, to show him their attachment.Post honorem Marii ducerent, the same, aspostponerent honori Marii, the preposition in this sense being commonly joined to the verb. CompareCat. chap. 23.[389]From this instance, we see that the popular assembly was sovereign in the Roman state; that is, when the people were called upon to decide a question, which happened but rarely, since it was customary to leave to the senate the provinces and the current administration of foreign affairs.
[390]Bocchus, king of Mauretania, west of Numidia, and extending as far as the Ocean, opposite to Spain. It accordingly comprised the modern empire of Fez and Morocco.[391]‘The Romans gained possession of a considerable number of standards.’ The adjectivealiquantus, with the exception of the neuter in an absolute sense, is rarely used. We have here to observe the varying construction ofpotior. See Zumpt, §§ 465, 466. Sallust often prefers variety to uniformity.[392]Tuta suntmight also betuentur; for the perfect is here used of things which usually happened, and still happen.Tutais less common thantuitaortutata, which in this passage is found in some good manuscripts, and must perhaps be received into the text.
[393]Impensius modomay be ‘still more strongly,’ his despondency having already been mentioned; ormodois the ablative, andimpensius modois stronger than the (ordinary) measure; that is, beyond measure,ultra modum.[394]Cultusis everything belonging to the regulation of life, apart from eating and drinking; so thatpueritiae cultuscomprises the regulations for a youth’s residence, his education, and the things and persons by whom he is surrounded.[395]‘And other things fit to contain water;’ probably vessels to keep water in, and apparatus to purify and mix water, for example, with vinegar, a beverage usually drunk by the soldiers.[396]‘Where they should be assembled.’[397]Modois commonly used only to denote that something is less than it might be, but has here the unusual meaning of ‘that alone,’ or ‘even that alone.’
[398]‘That for Metellus nothing was now impossible,’ the perfect participle with the negative prefix denoting impossibility — asinvictus, invincible;incorruptus, incorruptible;inaccessus, inaccessible. See Zumpt, § 328.[399]Ex copia, ‘according to circumstances,’ here referring especially to the different nature of the locality.Vinea, properly ‘a bower formed of vines;’ hence ‘a protecting roof,’ under which the soldiers attacked the fortifications of the enemy.[400]‘After they had previously worn themselves out by great exertions:’antehere is superfluous.[401]Poenas pendere, the same aspoenas solvere, ‘to pay a penalty.’ Incorrumpuntwe may notice a zeugma, as out ofcorrumpuntwe have to takeinterficiunt. See Zumpt, § 775.
[402]Illorum; that is,Romanorum. Respecting the situation of Leptis magna, seechap. 19.[403]Naveornaviter(‘actively’) is the correct orthography, for which other editions havegnave. See Zumpt, § 12. Its case is the same as that ofnatus, which in composition takes theg— ascognatus,agnatus; and alsonarus,ignarus.
[404]Alta; supplyin alia tempestate, ‘sometimes deep, and sometimes shallow.’[405]‘They have been called Syrtes from this current, which draws other things along with it;’ for the Greekσυρεινsignifies ‘to draw,’ or ‘drag along.’[406]It was only the language of the inhabitants of Leptis that had experienced a change, in consequence of their matrimonial connections with the Numidians, otherwise they had for the most part preserved their Sidonian, that is, Phoenician, laws and habits, being separated from the inhabited part of Numidia by extensive deserts, which was also the reason of the Numidian king’s seldom residing at Leptis, although the town belonged to his kingdom.
[407]Admonereis here construed in an unusual manner with two accusatives, one of the person, and the other of the thing, the latter being expressed by a substantive; for the neuter of a pronoun in the accusative is not uncommon — ashoc, id, illud te admoneo.[408]Imperareandimperitareare construed with the dative of that over which one rules, or take the preposition in with the accusative or ablative.[409]Sponsionem facerehere has the general sense, ‘to make a contract,’ otherwise it signifies a contract at which security is given, which is lost by him who is condemned.[410]‘They hastened to get through their journey.’ The intransitivepergere(likeire) containing the notion of an uninterrupted continuance, takes a substantive of the same meaning, or of the same derivation, in the accusative, and thus acquires a transitive meaning. See Zumpt, § 384.[411]Retinere; supplyproficiscentesoriter facientes.[412]‘Devoid of,’ or ‘without products;’ forgignereis used of those things which, like plants or animals, produce other things like themselves.[413]‘Because they had spoiled the affair;’ as by quick travelling they might have traversed a considerable extent of country.[414]Conturbare, ‘to disturb,’ or ‘to try to throw into confusion;’ namely, the agreement.[415]‘The Greeks give the Carthaginians the choice,’ fordant optionem Carthaginiensibus. The genitiveCarthaginiensiumoccurs in most, and in the best manuscripts.[416]Ibi; that is,in illis finibus.
[417]The Nomades of the great desert Sahara, and of the oases in it, in the south of Numidia and Mauretania, as far as the southern countries inhabited by real negroes.[418]Pronum, that which, when once commenced, proceeds without obstacle or difficulty. This is a figurative sense taken from an inclined plane.[419]The Roman rulers thus demanded money from Bocchus before they would grant his request to be declared a friend and ally of the Roman people, although Bocchus no doubt considered his offer of friendship as a matter of no small value to the Romans.[420]‘But kings so much the more;’ namely, surpass others in the numbers of their wives.[421]‘None (no wife) maintains her position as a sharer;’ that is, none is recognised as sharing with her husband all the relations of life and rank.
[422]In locum placitum, ‘at a fixed place,’ at a place where it had been agreed to meet. The participleplacitusis formed irregularly from the neuter verbplaceo, as such verbs generally have no passive voice. Butplaceois used also as an impersonal verb,placet, and, as such, its perfect is eitherplacuitorplacitum est, ‘it pleased,’ or ‘was decreed.’ The same is the case with other impersonal verbs; and as in this manner the regular passive form gradually ceased to be offensive,placitus, a, um, came to be used in the sense ofis qui, ea quae, id quod placuit. Compare Zumpt, §§ 142, 225.[423]‘Of an insatiable avarice;’ forprofundusis often used figuratively of passions and desires which have no bottom or end.[424]Quis(quibus) refers to the precedingillos; that is,Romanos.[425]Tum, sese; supplyhostem Romanis esse, which infinitive must be taken from the followingfore. Thetummust be rendered in English by ‘now,’ as it refers to present time. See Zumpt, § 732; and regardingPersenforPerseum, § 52.[426]Capta urbe, ‘if the town were taken,’ it would be worth while.[427]Pacem imminuere, to disturb or spoil the peace with Bocchus intended to conclude with the Romans.
[428]‘According to his advantage;’ that is, if a favourable opportunity should offer.[429]‘More than is just and fair.’[430]According to the language of Cicero, the dativelinguaewould have been used in this sense. See Zumpt, § 414.[431]Alii; supply from what precedesinterpretabantur, ‘they accounted for his sensibility by,’ &c.[432]Injuria suahas a passive sense; ‘by the injustice done to him.’
[433]Stultitiaemight have beenstultiliafor the genitive. See Zumpt, § 448, note 1.[434]Tum. See page 137, note 3 [note 425].[435]Incerta mutare, ‘to obtain uncertain things in exchange for others, or for certain things;’ but it might also mean, ‘to give uncertain things for certain ones.’ See Zumpt, § 456, note.[436]Desinereis used here for the sake of variety, instead offinire,deponi.[437]‘If the same power were granted to him’ (Jugurtha), namely, to conclude peace, ‘an agreement might easily be come to.’Res convenit inter nosis the same asconvenimus de re, ‘we agree upon the matter.’
[438]‘The plebs being most desirous.’ The participlecupiens, with its degrees of comparison like an adjective, is rare, but not contrary to grammar.[439]Multus instareis rather a poetical phrase formultum, ‘greatly,’ or ‘repeatedly.’[440]Ambiundo cogere, ‘to oblige a person by flattering words;’ a very expressive phrase, signifying that kind of compulsion which is effected by flattery and intreaties.[441]For the expressionaliquid mihi volenti est, ‘a thing accords with my wishes,’ see Zumpt, § 420, note.Nequecorresponds withet: on the one hand, it wasnotbelieved that the service in the army was agreeable to the plebs; and on the other hand, itwasbelieved that Marius, owing to the aversion of the people to military service, would either do without a numerous army, or that he would lose the popular favour if he should compel the common people.[442]Traho animo, orcum animo meo, ‘I am incessantly occupied in my mind with something.’
[443]From what precedes, supplymihi videtur.[444]Marius, according to the ordinary usage of the Latin language, calls his appointment to the consulship abeneficium, ‘a favour,’ of the Roman people.[445]‘Is more difficult;’ namely, than is commonly believed, quamopinioest.[446]Procedunt, ‘benefit the state,’ ‘promote the general good.’[447]Vertit, intransitively, ‘has become changed;’ the same asvertit se, orversum est. See Zumpt, § 145.[448]Prosapiaforfamilia, an ancient and obsolete word, and intentionally put into the mouth of Marius to ridicule the pretensions of the nobility.[449]Marius calls those nobles who do not make themselves acquainted with the duties of public offices, until they have obtained them,praeposteri homines; that is, ‘men who do afterwards that which they ought to do before;’ for, he adds, it is true one must first be appointed to an office, in order to do anything in it, but an active preparation ought to precede.[450]‘I consider, indeed, all men to be equal by nature, but I make this distinction, that the bravest is the most noble.’ Byquamquam, Marius breaks off the question about noble or ignoble birth (Zumpt, § 341);sedintroduces a new distinction between men; namely that of merit.[451]Faciant idem, ‘let them despise their own ancestors likewise.’[452]Hujusce rei; that is,commemorationis majorum meorum, ‘I cannot speak of my ancestors.’[453]Meamet, commonly with the addition ofipse. Zumpt, § 139, note.[454]‘That no one may interpret my modesty as if I were conscious of my own weakness and want of ability.’ Modesty often shows itself mainly in silence.Conscientiais the consciousness of a person both of his valuable qualities and of his deficiencies.Ducere in aliquid, ‘to consider a thing as;’ ‘to interpret a thing as:’ comparechap. 82:vertere in superbiam.[455]Militaria donaare presents which a general gives publicly to brave soldiers, and which they either wear as honourable distinctions, or which they kept and preserved in their houses. Such presents were with the ancients what orders are in modern times. Among them are frequently mentioned lances, bridles, chains worn round the neck (torques), bracelets (armillae), pins or brooches (fibulae) to fasten the cloak, and crowns (coronae). It was less common, but very honourable, to receive a flag (vexillum) attached to a pole.[456]‘I consider this as something too unimportant.’Parumis used substantively.[457]‘Greek literature has not benefited its professors (that is, the Greek nation) in regard to political virtue:’ inasmuch as the Greek states had been unable to protect their political liberty either against kings and tyrants, or against foreigners.Virtussignifies especially ‘bravery,’ ‘valour;’ but it has also a more general meaning, comprising justice, abstinence, and the sacrificing of one’s own advantages.[458]Praesidia agitare, ‘to keep watch,’ to maintain the posts intrusted to us for the protection of friends against the attacks of enemies.[459]Arte colere, ‘to keep close;’opulenter colere, ‘to treat liberally.’[460]‘To compel by bodily punishment.’[461]Celebravere; that is,extulerunt,auxerunt.Celebrareproperly signifies ‘to make or render frequent;’ that is, to bring into repute, and therefore to fill with men, buildings or other objects.[462]‘I have no cook worth more than a steward.’ Marius here assails the luxury of others, who considered a clever cook worth more than a clever steward. Both kinds of people were slaves; thevillicuswas the principal and overseer of all the servants engaged in agriculture on the estate (villa) of a Roman noble.Coquusis also spelledcocus. See Zumpt, § 5.[463]Quin ergo — faciant, ‘why, then, will they not do?’ This form of expression contains an exhortation to do something. The subjunctive, therefore, does not depend uponquin, but upon the optative meaning of the sentence. See Zumpt, § 542.[464]Ereptum eunt, ‘they endeavour to snatch away,’ or ‘they snatch away.’[465]Cladi sunt, ‘they are a destruction;’ the same ascalamitosae, perniciosae sunt.[466]That is, ‘you have removed (deposed) the greedy, inexperienced, and haughty commanders.’ Marius alluding to his predecessors, Bestia, Albinus, and Metellus.[467]Attrito, ‘worn away,’ ‘annihilated,’ ‘sacrificed.’[468]‘Serve the republic,’ ‘devote yourselves to the public good.’[469]‘Both as an adviser and sharer in the danger.’Idemindicates the union of two predicates belonging to one subject. See Zumpt, § 697.[470]‘I shall treat myself and you in the same manner.’[471]Decebat, a peculiarity of the Latin language fordeceret. See Zumpt, § 518.
[472]In this way Marius introduced a great change in the military affairs of Rome. Previous to his time, only the citizens of the first five property classes were enlisted to serve in the legions. Those persons whose property did not come up to the lowest estimate of the fifth class, were excluded from the honourable service in the legions. They werecapite censi, because, when the censors made out their lists, those persons had only to give in their personal existence or name for registration. Their being called ‘the sixth class’ is an improper application of the term, as, strictly speaking,classissignifies only ‘a property class.’ As the number of persons of this kind was at that time (B.C. 107) already very considerable, and as there were among them many both able and willing to serve in the army, and lastly, as Marius was opposed to all exclusive privileges, he enlisted those poor people who voluntarily offered themselves in the legions, and thus created an army of able men, and accustomed to endure hardships. The higher orders did not object to this measure, because it lightened their burdens connected with the service in the army. But however useful this arrangement was at the time, it contained the elements of a body of soldiers distinct from the citizens; for when the time of their military service was over, those men did not feel inclined to return to a quiet citizen’s life, and thus became a very powerful and ready instrument in the hands of ambitious generals, such as Sulla and Caesar.[473]Sua curae; another reading iscura sunt, the sense of which is nearly the same.Sua, ‘a person’s own property,’ or ‘all that belongs to him,’ including the state itself.[474]‘With a considerably larger army.’ About this meaning ofaliquantowith a comparative, see Zumpt, §§ 108, 488.[475]Utica, the most important city in the province of Africa: it was a more ancient Phoenician colony than even Carthage. In the second Punic war, after it had revolted from Carthage, it was rewarded by the Romans with freedom and independence. Its present name is Biserta, north-west of Tunis.
[476]‘Laden with booty;’ that is, filled with things which can be taken as booty.[477]Pugnae adessebelong together, ‘to take part in the battle.’ Marius’s plan was well calculated, as he inspired his soldiers with courage before leading them to labour and hardship.[478]Futuros; supplyesse, ‘they would behave;’ hence the adverbs. See Zumpt, § 365.
[479]‘Contrary to his expectation;’ forspesis often used in the general sense of ‘expecting,’ or ‘looking forward to’ anything, whether good or bad.[480]Armis exuere,‘to disarm;’ here the same as ‘conquer’ or ‘defeat;’ intimating that the enemies take to flight, leaving their arms behind.[481]‘Not calculated to bring the war to a close.’ See Zumpt, § 662.[482]Adversum se erantis a combination of two constructions —adversum se essentandadversum eum erant— of which we have already observed several instances. Comparechap. 66, and p. 122, note 1 [note 326].[483]Tonudatumsupplyfore, which is to be taken out of the followingesse; ‘he hoped that Jugurtha would either be deprived of his fortified places, or be compelled to fight.’[484]Ne quid — timeret, ‘(requesting him) not to fear anything;’ the imperative of the oratio recta is expressed in the oratio obliqua by the subjunctive. See Zumpt, § 603.
[485]In manus venire, ‘to come within reach,’ ‘engage in close combat;’ formanus conserere, which is much more frequent.[486]‘It seemed to be time;’ that is, it seemed to be a favourable moment, or it seemed to be advisable; hence the infinitiveaggredi. Zumpt, § 659, note.[487]Capsa, a town in the eastern part of Numidia, between the river Bagradas, which empties itself into the sea not far from Carthage, and lake Tritonis: it is believed still to exist under the name of Cafza, and to have been founded by the African Hercules; that is, by Phoenicians; for the Phoenician conquests are ascribed to a Phoenician Hercules, and the north coast of Africa was the principal scene of the enterprises of those seafaring conquerors.[488]Immunis, ‘exempt from taxes.’[489]Other editions havequaruminstead ofquorum. See Zumpt, § 78, note.[490]Jugis aqua, ‘running water,’ or ‘a well perpetually flowing.’ The other water which they used was rain water, and topluviawe must supplyaqua.[491]Africa — incultius agebat, ‘Africa, which was in a state of greater want of cultivation;’ an unusual transfer of the verbagere(to be in a condition) from the inhabitants of a country to the country itself.
[492]‘He was brought into danger’ or ‘difficulty.’[493]‘They take more care about pastures than cultivated fields.’[494]Exornat; supplyrem, expeditionem, ‘the undertaking or campaign.’
[495]Perimplies an equal distribution among the centuries and turmae.[496]Duumforduorumoccurs most frequently in connection withmilium. See Zumpt, § 115, note 2.[497]Res trepidae, ‘a dangerous situation.’[498]Sallust feels that he must excuse or explain the destruction of a town which had surrendered at discretion.
[499]‘All things, not only his good arrangements, were interpreted as good services,’ so that tononwe have to supplymodo. For the phrasein virtutem trahere, seechap. 85:ducere in conscientiam.[500]‘He was either himself endowed with a divine mind, or everything was revealed to him by divine inspiration.’[501]Capsensium; supplyres, ‘the undertaking against Capsa;’ for the name of the inhabitants of a town is often used for that of the town itself.[502]‘For it was on all sides steep, as if made so by human hands, and purposely.’ The accusativeomniais to be taken adverbially, ‘on all sides,’ just as we frequently findceteraandreliqua. See Zumpt, § 459. Other editions and inferior manuscripts haveper omnia,omni parte,omnis, all of which are only attempts to explain the true reading.[503]‘For the fort contained a sufficient number of men, arms, and provisions.’ This is the reading of the manuscripts; in modern editionsetis omitted, and the passage is given with the following punctuation:nam castello virorum atque armorum satis, magna vis frumenti, which seems indeed to be supported by the sense; but violates the rule, that when there are three nouns, the conjunction must either be used twice, or omitted altogether.[504]‘The road of the inhabitants of the castle;’ that is, the only road which led up to the castle.[505]‘Do their work ;’ namely, break through the wall.
[506]Aestuansis here used figuratively of one who is in care and anxiety.[507]Ligus, ‘a Ligurian,’ belonging to the country of Liguria, which was then not yet considered as belonging to Italy, and the capital of which was Genoa. Four cohorts of Ligurian auxiliares in the Roman army were mentioned inchap. 77, and those auxiliaries were no doubt of great service to the Romans in this war, since they were accustomed to climbing, ascending heights, and other hardships, from their own mountainous country. Livy, too, praises the quickness, perseverance, and adroitness of the Ligurians in the petty warfare in which they were engaged for many years against the Romans.[508]Egressus est, the same asescenditorevasit, ‘he got up.’[509]‘The desire to accomplish difficult things changed his mind,’ inasmuch as he gave up collecting snails, and planned an attack upon the castle.[510]‘He drew an accurate plan of the area of the castle,’ as from his high position he could survey the whole. It is indeed hard to suppose that the Ligurian had with him the necessary drawing materials; butperscribitmay possibly mean only to mark such points as would enable the soldier to make an accurate drawing of the locality after his return to the camp.[511]‘The Numidians were most intently observing the combatants, being with them.’[512]‘Marius despatched some of his followers to test the promises of the Ligurian.’[513]‘Out of the horn-blowers and trumpeters he chose five in number.’Numerois almost superfluous.
[514]Pergit; namely,Ligus.[515]‘That it might proceed more easily.’[516]‘In order that, if they stumbled against anything, they might make less noise.’[517]‘And the roots which, owing to their old age, were standing forth;’ for the roots of old trees rise out of the ground, and such knots remain on the surface even when the trees no longer exist.[518]‘He himself foremost (potissimus) tried those places which it was doubtful (dangerous) to climb up.’[519]‘And then immediately withdrawing;’ namely, in order to make room for those who followed.[520]‘The inconsiderate boldness of Marius (of attacking an impregnable fortress), when it became adjusted (justified,correcta) by chance, found praise instead of blame.’ The sudden terror of the Numidians on their hearing the military music of the Romans in their rear, was, according to Sallust, most advantageous to the Romans; for if the Numidians, while engaged in fighting, had despatched fifty men, they might easily have thrown down the few Romans who had found their way up; for the number of four centurions for the protection of the trumpeters is indeed surprisingly small, and we might almost be inclined to suppose that these centurions were followed by their centuries at some distance.
[521]Quosrefers to theequitesimplied in the wordequitatus. This is a constructionad sensum, of which many examples occur in Sallust (compareCat.7), though the present case is rather unusual.[522]Res, ‘the subject,’ ‘the present discussion,’ or ‘the context of the narrative.’[523]Persecutus; supplySullae naturam cultumque. L. Sisenna, an early contemporary of Cicero, had written a history of the civil war between Marius and Sulla; he was himself a partisan of Sulla, and therefore not quite unbiassed in his judgment.[524]The patrician gens to which Sulla belonged was the gens Cornelia. The statement that the family of Sulla was almost extinct, in consequence of the inactivity of the ancestors of the great Sulla, applies to their loss of power and influence rather than to a physical decay of the family.[525]Atque doctissime, ‘and that very profoundly;’ the same aset doctissime quidem.[526]Nisi quodadds a limitation or exception to something stated before. Here the preceding praise is qualified or limited by the remark, that in his matrimonial relation he might have behaved better; for he was married several times, and chose his wives at the spur of a momentary passion.Potuit consuli; supplyab eo; that is,potuisset consulere.[527]Amicitia facilis, ‘pleasing and agreeable in his friendship or friendly intercourse.’[528]Altitudo animi, the unfathomableness of a man’s character and designs — a character which shows nothing outwardly of what is going on within. Such a character has all the requisites to become hypocritical,ad simulationem et dissimulationem.[529]‘His good fortune was never greater than his activity;’ that is, his activity was equal to his good fortune, and he therefore deserved all praise. But his doings after his victory in the civil war are utterly condemned by Sallust, who then assigns to him neither good-luck nor activity.