[530]Forintra breves tempestates, see note 3, page 59 [note 304 in Cat.].[531]Id laboro. See Zumpt, § 385.Ut illi deberentshould properly besibioripsi; but see Zumpt, § 550.[532]Multus adesse, ‘he was present in many places,’ multiplying, as it were, his own person. Comparechap. 84.
[533]Rationes trahereimplies slow and careful deliberation, as in chaps.34and93.[534]Diefordiei. See page 115, note 3 [note 289].[535]‘The night would not he an obstacle to them’ (in their pursuit).Nulloobsolete fornulli. See Zumpt, § 140.[536]Simul cognovit—et hostes aderant, ‘he at once learned — and the enemy was there;’ that is, between the receiving of the information and the actual attack of the enemy there was no interval.Sarcinas colligere; the baggage was laid down before an engagement, and put together in a heap, as in Caes.Bell.Gall. vii. 18.[537]Signumhere is ‘the watchword,’ which is given out by the general, and is communicated among the soldiers by one man telling another. Sometimessignumis the signal given by acornuortuba. To make the former known throughout an army required some time, but not so the latter.Signaafterwards are the standards of the maniples, cohorts, and legions.[538]Latrocinium, ‘a predatory attack,’ as opposed to a regular battle.[539]Obtruncarein opposition tocaedere(cut down) signifies ‘to mutilate by cutting off a limb or limbs.’ The wordmultosis chosen here only for variety’s sake, instead ofalios.[540]The wordsveteres noviqueexpress a whole sentence: ‘as old and new soldiers were united in the several divisions (maniples and cohorts) of the army;’ and it is to this meaning thatob ea(for this reason) refers. The scattered Romans, as old and new soldiers were everywhere mixed together, profited by the experience of the old ones, and formed dense circles (we should saysquares), which was, in fact, the only safe means of warding off the attack of a superior enemy.
[541]Quam tamen—nihil remittere, ‘while the barbarians nevertheless did not leave off.’ Forquumwith the historical infinitive, see Zumpt, § 582.Pro se, ‘favourable to them.’[542]Marius occupies two hills close by each other, the one only to have the command of water, but the other to pitch his camp on, as it required only to be slightly fortified.Quaerebatforrequirebat, which is more common in this sense.[543]‘As the enemy also had fallen into no less confusion;’ so thatneque, being properly used foret non, must here be taken foretiam nonorne—quidem.[544]Pleno gradu, ‘at a quick pace,’ which, however, is not running. This retreat up the hill is, after all, a proof that the Romans had been worsted in the attack.[545]Fugere, ut pro, is the reading of the manuscripts, ‘as they did not flee, they acted as though they were the victors.’Ut prosignifies ‘both as victors and as if they were,’ theutandprosignifying nearly the same thing.
[546]‘Not even the signals were to be sounded, which were usually heard at the different night watches.’ The night was divided by the Romans into four watches (vigiliae), the beginning of which was announced by a horn (buccina).Canereis here used intransitively, ‘to sound,’ as inCat. chap. 59Below, it is used transitively, in the sense of ‘to blow,’ or ‘give a signal.’[547]The description of the consternation among the barbarians is in some parts very minute.Formidois the highest degree of fear (timor), which almost makes people mad, whence the additionquasi vecordia.
[548]The superlativedextimusdoes not differ in meaning from the positivedexter. See Zumpt, § 114, note 1.[549]Minime cari; that is,maxime viles, ‘who were most indifferent,’ or ‘valueless to him,’ whose lives he was least inclined to spare.[550]‘As if he had not placed (there) any commander.’Imponere, used absolutely, ‘to appoint;’ namely, in the place spoken of.Nullofornemine, the ablative as well as the genitive ofnemonot being in use.[551]Cogebat; supplyarmatos intentosque esse.[552]Construeneque secus castra munire, atque iter facere; that is, his care in securing the camp was as great as that which he displayed in marching.[553]The singularin portais here used because the author is speaking especially of that gate which faced the enemy (theporta praetoriaopposite theporta decumana). At this gate a strong body of outposts (excubitores) was stationed, consisting of the most trustworthy soldiers.[554]Futurum, quae imperavisset, an old-fashioned mode of speaking forfutura esse, quae. Besides this passage, there is no other certain instance of such an expression in the classical writers of Rome; but the grammarian Gellius has proved, by many examples, that in the earlier times it was by no means uncommon.[555]‘Than that the exertion, if equally shared with them (soldiers) by the commander, should be agreeable to the soldiers.’Aliquid mihi est volenti. See p. 139, note 1 [note 441].[556]Malumis here the same as ‘punishment,’ orpoena.[557]Nisi tamenintroduces a modification or limitation of the doubt expressed before respecting the real motive of Marius’s indulgence. Compare p. 92, note 2 [note 153].
[558]Hostes adesse intellegituris a nominative with the infinitive, forintellegunt hostem adesse. See Zumpt, § 607. It is, however, not impossible thathostismay be the accusative plural forhostes.[559]Aeque, ‘equally;’ for Jugurtha hoped that at any rate one of his detachments would attack the Romans in the rear; but as he did not know to which part the Romans would direct their front, each of his detachments might equally reach a position in the rear of the Romans.[560]The meaning is — Sulla caused the cavalry which he commanded on the right wing, on the whole, to keep quiet, and only to repel individual enemies that might approach; but he himself and other commanders alternately gallopped forth with single turmae forming close bodies, and attacked the enemy.[561]Neque — affuerant, without repeating the relative pronoun, which, being the subject, should be in the nominative, forsed — qui non affuerant, orneque ii — affuerant. The omission is singular, but not without other examples. See Zumpt, § 806. Theprior pugnais the one described in chaps.97-99.[562]‘He rode secretly, with few companions,’ to another place, where the Mauretanian infantry were attacking the rear of the Romans.Convertitforconvertit se. See Zumpt, § 145.[563]Respecting the position ofquos adversum, instead ofadversum quos, see Zumpt, § 324.[564]That is,ipsius comitibus.[565]‘By making a skilful movement with his body,’dum corpore evitat tela.[566]A very graphic description of a field of battle after the fighting is over.Afflicti, ‘thrust down to the ground,’ implying the notion of persons being severely wounded.Niti, ‘to attempt to rise.’Qua visus erat, ‘as far as one could see.’
[567]Post ea loci, ‘afterwards.’[568]‘Whither he had at first directed his march. ‘Profectusmight have been omitted, but its meaning is, ‘having once set out on his march.’[569]‘About what was useful to him and to the Roman people.’[570]Placuit; supplyeos, which might also have been expressed by the relative pronoun,quos placuit. See Zumpt, § 804. The ambassadors, having been summoned by the king himself to hear his proposals, were not under the necessity of addressing him; but they probably had orders to speak first, in order that, if he were not favourably inclined towards the Romans, they might try to win him over, or if he were favourably disposed, to strengthen him in his designs.[571]Rati; namely,Romani, which must be taken out ofpopulo Romano.[572]The manuscripts haveesses, which can be explained only by an amalgamation of the two clauses, and might be conceived as a form of politeness which is not contained inperpessus es.[573]The infinitiveplacuissedepends onscilicet, which is here quite the same asscire licet, as in chaps.4and113. In ordinary language,scilicetis a mere adverb, ‘evidently,’ ‘forsooth.’[574]‘You have many opportunities;’ consequently the same asmagnam opportunitatem. See Zumpt, § 756.[575]Demittere in pectus, ‘to impress upon one’s mind,’sibi persuadere.[576]This is a diplomatic falsehood, as hitherto Bocchus had committed no act of hostility towards Jugurtha, and had occupied no part of Numidia against his will; but it may be that Jugurtha had promised to give up to him a part of Numidia, if he should succeed in recovering the whole. That Bocchus actually wished to have a part of Numidia, is clear from his negotiation with Sulla,chap. 111.[577]Tum, ‘now.’ See Zumpt, § 732.[578]Namely,legates mittendi, ‘after he had obtained permission to despatch an embassy to Rome.’
[579]Hibernacula, ‘a winter-camp;’ the same ashiberna, ‘winter-quarters;’ for inchap. 100it was stated that Marius ordered quarters to be taken in the maritime towns. It is, however, doubtful whether he placed the whole army in those towns, or whether he ordered a portion to spend the winter in barracks, or leathern tents made for the purpose. If the latter —in hibernaculisis used in its proper sense.[580]Turrimis here the same ascastellum.Perfugae omnesare not ‘all the deserters,’ but ‘nothing but deserters,’ or ‘all deserters;’ for all the soldiers of the garrison consisted of deserters.[581]Veneranthas the meaning ofevenerant. Respectingsibiforipsi, see p. 121, note 2 [note 320].[582]Reliquerat, not ‘he had left them behind,’ which is the usual meaning ofrelinquo, but ‘he had left them unbribed:’ that is, he had neglected to bribe them.[583]That is, he had given him the praetorian imperium during his absence, and thereby appointed him independent commander.[584]‘He did not treat them as untrustworthy enemies;’ for they were still enemies engaged in war with the Roman people, no peace having yet been concluded. The epithetvanibelongs to them, because their master had hitherto shown himself irresolute, sometimes suing for peace, and sometimes carrying on war.Accurate, ‘with care,’ ‘with respect.’[585]Volensexpresses a hearty inclination to do that which one does.[586]‘Were considered as acts of kindness,’ as parts or proofs of a kindly disposition.[587]Benevolentiae sunt, ‘are calculated to produce good-will’ towards the king.
[588]Sulla undoubtedly had his quarters near the Mauretanian frontier; that is, in the extreme west; as the ambassador of Bocchus fled to him. Marius summoned him to his head-quarters, Cirta, whither he also summoned the praetor Bellienus from Utica. This praetor was no doubt propraetor of the province of Africa, sent thither from Rome to undertake the regular administration, but he was at the same time placed at the disposal of the consul Marius; for as a propraetor had thejus praetoremin his province, he was sometimes simply called praetor; thus Verres is often called praetor of Sicily. All the other military commanders who happened to be in the province, and were of senatorial rank, were likewise summoned to Cirta, in order to give weight and dignity to the preliminary negotiations for peace, for its real conclusion rested with the senate.[589]Ea, the neuter plural, though referring toinduciae.[590]Namely, when previously they have been successful, as had hitherto been the case with the Roman war.[591]The manuscripts haveRufone, which unusual name must be corrected either intoRufoorRusone. We preferRufo, because Suetonius, in his life of Octavianus, mentions theOctavii Rufias a senatorial family of the time here spoken of.[592]Deprecati sunt; that is,deprecantes dixerunt; fordeprecariproperly signifies ‘to avert something by prayers.’[593]Gratiam facere, ‘to grant pardon for something.’ Toquoniam poenitetwe must supplyeum.
[594]‘By whose decision a final determination might be come to respecting the common affairs.’ Respecting the ablativearbitratu, see Zumpt, § 190.[595]The infantry which, besides an escort of Roman cavalry, was sent to accompany Sulla, consisted of light-armed troops, who were prepared both to march through uncultivated districts, and to fight with the barbarians. Roman infantry could not have kept up with the cavalry. The inhabitants of the Balearian Islands (Majorca, Minorca, and Iviza) were celebrated in antiquity as slingers; and associiof the Romans, they furnished slingers for the Roman armies. Their weapon was a leathern sling, by which leaden balls were thrown, with great skill and accuracy, at a distance of 500 paces. ThePeligniansare a people of central Italy, not far from the Adriatic, with two important towns, Corfinium and Sulmo. All the Italian nations which had then not yet received the Roman franchise furnished their auxiliary cohorts of 400, 500, or 800 men to the Roman army. Whether the Pelignians always borearma velitaria(a round shield, a short sword, and a light javelin), or whether they did so only on this occasion, is doubtful; but it seems that this was their proper armour.[596]Non amplius. See Zumpt, § 485.[597]‘They tried (tested) their arms and darts, and directed them against the supposed enemy,’ but without making actual use of them.[598]‘As was in reality the case;’ namely, that the approaching cavalry had no hostile intentions.
[599]To this and the following infinitive we must supplydicit, which is to be taken out of the precedingnegat. See Zumpt, § 774.[600]Mansurum potius, quam — vitae parceretis correctly said, though it might also bequam vitae parsurum. See Zumpt, § 603, 2. The indicativequos ducebatis a remark of the historian;quos duceretwould be a remark of the speaker, which would here have been the regular form.Coenatos esse, ‘they were to have finished dining.’ See Zumpt, § 148.[601]Ante eos, ‘before them;’ that is, on the road along which they had to march.
[602]‘He protects the Mauretanian against violence.’[603]A dative. See Zumpt, § 419.[604]The same asinermibus. See Zumpt, § 101.Nudum et caecum corpus, ‘the undefended part of the body, and not provided with eyes;’ that is, the back, which a person ought not to turn towards the enemy, if he wants to be safe.[605]‘It seemed to him to be the most advisable.’ Instead offactu, other editions havefactum, ‘it seemed to him to be the best thing.’[606]‘As the matter stood,’ a limitation suggesting that, under other circumstances, that dangerous way would not have been chosen.[607]‘As they had come upon him unexpectedly;’ for Jugurtha had not imagined that the Romans would thus, without negotiation, pass through his lines.
[608]‘As ambassador with a public commission,’ though at the same time he privately acted the part of a spy.[609]‘That he kept firmly and unalterably everything which had been previously determined upon with Sulla.’[610]‘In order that the common business might be conducted the more carelessly.’ The laying aside of fear in the presence of Jugurtha’s ambassador was to induce Sulla to carry on the negotiations for peace more openly, frankly, and incautiously, since, under the influence of fear, he would have been cautious and mistrustful.Non pertimescereare joined together as one idea, somewhat in the sense ofcontemnere, ‘he should disregard’ the ambassador, and accordingly act with Bocchus more confidentially.[611]The infinitive of the impersonal passivecavetur ab insidiis, ‘precaution is taken against snares.’[612]Punica fidesis proverbially the same asmala fides, the Carthaginians being generally regarded by the Romans as perfidious double-dealers.Attinereis the same asmorari, ‘to detain.’[613]‘His inclination.’
[614]‘Andsays(which must be taken from the precedingjubet) that as yet he had determined upon nothing.’ As past time is here spoken of, it should properly not beetiamnunc, butetiamtunc; and it is doubtful as to whether the reading of some manuscriptstum etiamought not to be received into the text. Ifetiamnuncis correct, we must explain it by supposing that the historian abandons the character of a narrator of past events, and transfers himself to the present.[615]‘A conscientious (trustworthy) man, and acceptable to both’ (Sulla and Bocchus).
[616]The king calls the quaestor Sulla a private person, being unwilling, as a king, to allow any one a public character who is not, like himself, a king. But in the opinion of the Romans, the quaestor Sulla was by no means a private person.[617]‘I have assisted many at their request, and others of my own accord (unasked), while I myself was in need of no man’s assistance.’[618]Fuerit mihi eguisse, the concessive mood: ‘granting that it was the case that I needed,’ might also have been expressed simly byeguerim.[619]‘This you may try at once.’ For this meaning ofadeo, whereby that which precedes is confirmed by the result, see Zumpt, § 281.[620]‘Unimpaired,’ ‘in the same condition.’[621]We should express the same idea rather thus:regem munificentia vinci flagitiosius est, quam armis.[622]Aboutfactum volui, see Zumpt, § 611.[623]‘Your wish will not be refused by me.’ Bocchus no doubt here alludes to the surrender of Jugurtha, but he is yet doubtful as to whether it is worthy of himself.
[624]‘What he promised them, they would not consider as a favour (as a thing for which they owed him gratitude); that he must do something beyond, something that might appear to be their interest more than his.’[625]‘Would then come to him,’ implying an advantage gained without exertion.[626]Negitare, a rare word, but very expressive; for the simplenegare, in a case like this, is stronger than a repeated assertion that you cannot, or will not, do a certain thing. Theaffinitas(connexion by marriage) refers to what is mentionedchap. 80, a daughter of Bocchus being married to Jugurtha. Respecting theircognatio(relation by blood) nothing is known, but there must have been a family connexion between the neighbouring kings.Intervenisse— that is,factum esse— referring especially tofoedus.
[627]‘That the war could be brought to a close by mutual concessions.’[628]Pax conventa, ‘the peace which is agreed upon.’ Observe the rare use of the passive participle; forconvenireis commonly intransitive — aspax convenit, a ‘peace is concluded.’[629]In potestatem habereis ungrammatical forin potestate habere, but is found now and then. See Zumpt, § 316.[630]The expression is somewhat contorted; for the inserted clausenon sua ignavia sed ob rem publicamshould have a verb of its own, which, however, would be a part of the leading verb — namely,qui in hostium potestate esset.
[631]‘In contradiction with themselves,’ ‘contradictory.’[632]‘The king first summoned his councillors, then dismissed them immediately, and for a long time meditated by himself.’Ceterisrefers to the precedingamicis, but is used instead ofiis, to form antithesis to himself: ‘after the removal of all the rest, he deliberated by himself.’[633]Vultus, chiefly ‘the look of the eyes,’ but also ‘the features of the countenance,’ by which the inward emotions are manifested; hence Sallust here, by the addition ofcorporis, opposes the outward expression to the emotions of the mind: ‘He changed (varied) in the expression of his bodily features as much as in his sentiments.’Quae scilicet patefecisse, ‘which, as could be seen, revealed his mental emotions.’Quaeis the neuter plural, andscilicetcontains the leading verb.[634]That is,ut praeceptum erat, and notdictumin the sense ofedictum; for according to the deceitful agreement, thecondiciones paciswere to be determined peaceably.[635]Sallust passes very rapidly over the catastrophe of a king who had worn out, by simulation and war, the Roman armies for six years. He was taken prisoner in B.C. 106, when Marius was no longer consul, but yet remained in Africa as proconsul. Sulla considered the capture of Jugurtha to be an event so important, and to himself so glorious, that he had it engraved on his sealing ring.
[636]‘During the same time;’ that is, the time during which Marius, as proconsul, was still in Africa, occupied no doubt with the regulation of the affairs which, owing to the long war, had fallen into disorder. Bocchus received a part of western Numidia, as far as the river Ampsaga; and Numidia was divided between Hiempsal and Hiarbas, two princes of the family of Masinissa. These and other matters detained Marius in Africa during the year B.C. 105, in which the Romans under the consul Gn. Manlius and the proconsul Q. Caepio, suffered a great defeat from the Cimbri, on the river Rhodanus. This led to the second consulship of Marius, in B.C. 104. The people whom Sallust here calls Gauls (Galli) are the Cimbri and Teutones, German tribes coming from the countries about the Elbe. This mistake must be accounted for by the general difficulty of distinguishing Celtic (Gallic) from Germanic tribes, and also by the circumstance that the Cimbri had for many years been wandering about in Gaul.[637]Illique; that is, the Romans then living, as opposed to those in the time of Sallust.Sic habuere, ‘entertained this opinion.’[638]Certare; supplyse; unless we readcertari, to which it is easier to supply ase.[639]On the 1st of January B.C. 104. We may here observe, that Jugurtha, after he had adorned the triumphal procession at Rome, was put to death in the public prison near the Forum — which is described by Sallust,Cat.55— at the same hour in which Marius offered up his thanksgiving to Jupiter Optimus Maximus in the Capitol.