Sallust, Bellum Iugurthinum, Rev. John Selby Watson, M.A. (Translator), 98

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Marius, in this desperate emergency, was not more alarmed or disheartened than on any previous occasion, but rode about with his troop of cavalry, which he had formed of his bravest soldiers rather than his nearest friends, in every quarter of the field, sometimes supporting his own men when giving way, sometimes charging the enemy where they were thickest, and doing service to his troops with his sword, since, in the general confusion, he was unable to command with his voice.

The day had now closed, yet the barbarians abated nothing of their impetuosity, but, expecting that the night would be in their favor, pressed forward, as their kings had directed them, with increased violence. Marius, in consequence, resolved upon a measure suited to his circumstances, and, that his men might have a place of retreat, took possession of two hills contiguous to each other, on one of which, too small for a camp, there was an abundant spring of water, while the other, being mostly elevated and steep, and requiring little fortification, was suited for his purpose as a place of encampment. He then ordered Sylla, with a body of cavalry, to take his station for the night on the eminence containing the spring, while he himself collected his scattered troops by degrees, the enemy being not less disordered,¹ and led them all at a quick march² up the other hill. Thus the kings, obliged by the strength of the Roman position, were deterred from continuing the combat; yet they did not allow their men to withdraw to a distance, but, surrounding both hills with a large force, encamped without any regular order. Having then lighted numerous fires, the barbarians, after their custom, spent most of the night in merriment, exultation, and tumultuous clamor, the kings, elated at having kept their ground, conducting themselves as conquerors. This scene, plainly visible to the Romans, under cover of the night and on the higher ground, afforded great encouragement to them.

Bellum Iugurthinum. Sallust. Rev. John Selby Watson, M.A. (Translator). New York and London. 1899.

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Current edition Perseus

Jugurthine War (English) (Sallust. Sallust, Florus, and Velleius Paterculus. Watson, J. S. (John Selby), translator. London: Harper & Brothers, 1899.)

Editions (2)

Bellum Iugurthinum Perseus (Sallust. C. Sallusti Crispi Catilina, Iugurtha, orationes et epistulae excerptae de historiis. Ahlberg, Axel Wilhelm, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1919.) — 97 focus

1 At Iugurtha, postquam oppidum Capsam aliosque locos munitos et sibi utilis simul et magnam pecuniam amiserat, ad Bocchum nuntios mittit: quam primum in Numidiam copias adduceret; proeli faciundi tempus adesse. 2 quem ubi cunctari accepit et dubium belli atque pacis rationes trahere, rursus uti antea proxumos eius donis corrupit, ipsique Mauro pollicetur Numidiae partem tertiam, si aut Romani Africa expulsi aut integris suis finibus bellum conpositum foret. 3 eo praemio illectus Bocchus cum magna multitudine Iugurtham adcedit.

Ita amborum exercitu coniuncto Marium, iam in hiberna proficiscentem, vix decuma parte die reliqua invadunt, rati noctem, quae iam aderat, et victis sibi munimento fore et, si vicissent, nullo impedimento, quia locorum scientes erant, contra Romanis utrumque casum in tenebris difficiliorem fore. 4 igitur simul consul ex multis de hostium adventu cognovit, et ipsi hostes aderant, et prius quam exercitus aut instrui aut sarcinas conligere, denique ante quam signum aut imperium ullum accipere quivit, equites Mauri atque Gaetuli, non acie neque ullo more proeli sed catervatim, uti quosque fors conglobaverat, in nostros incurrunt. 5 qui omnes trepidi inproviso metu ac tamen virtutis memores aut arma capiebant aut capientis alios ab hostibus defensabant; pars equos escendere, obviam ire hostibus; pugna latrocinio magis quam proelio similis fieri. sine signis, sine ordinibus equites peditesque permixti cedere alii, alii obtruncari, multi contra advorsos acerrume pugnantes ab tergo circumveniri; neque virtus neque arma satis tegere, quia hostes numero plures et undique circumfusi erant. denique Romani veteres novique et ob ea scientes belli, si quos locus aut casus coniunxerat, orbis facere atque ita ab omnibus partibus simul tecti et instructi hostium vim sustentabant. 98 1 neque in eo tam aspero negotio Marius territus aut magis quam antea demisso animo fuit, sed cum turma sua, quam ex fortissumis magis quam familiarissumis paraverat, vagari passim ac modo laborantibus suis succurrere, modo hostis, ubi confertissumi obstiterant, invadere; manu consulere militibus, quoniam imperare conturbatis omnibus non poterat. 2 iamque dies consumptus erat, quom tamen barbari nihil remittere atque, uti reges praeceperant, noctem pro se rati acrius instare. 3 tum Marius ex copia rerum consilium trahit atque, uti suis receptui locus esset, collis duos propinquos inter se occupat, quorum in uno castris parum amplo fons aquae magnus erat, alter usui opportunus, quia magna parte editus et praeceps pauca munimenta quaerebat. 4 ceterum apud aquam Sullam cum equitibus noctem agitare iubet, ipse paulatim disperses milites neque minus hostibus conturbatis in unum contrahit, dein cunctos pleno gradu in collem subducit. 5 ita reges loci difficultate coacti proelio deterrentur, neque tamen suos longius abire sinunt, sed utroque colle multitudine circumdato effusi consedere. 6 dein crebris ignibus factis plerumque noctis barbari more suo laetari, exultare, strepere vocibus; et ipsi duces feroces, quia non fugerant, pro victoribus agere. 7 sed ea cuncta Romanis ex tenebris et editioribus locis facilia visu magnoque hortamento erant. 99 1 plurumum vero Marius inperitia hostium confirmatus quam maxumum silentium haberi iubet, ne signa quidem, uti per vigilias solebant, canere. deinde ubi lux adventabat, defessis iam hostibus ac paulo ante somno captis, de inproviso vigiles, item cohortium turmarum legionum tubicines simul omnis signa canere, milites clamorem tollere atque portis erumpere iubet. 2 Mauri atque Gaetuli, ignoto et horribili sonitu repente exciti, neque fugere neque arma capere neque omnino facere aut providere quicquam poterant: 3 ita cunctos strepitu clamore, nullo subveniente, nostris instantibus, tumultu formidine terror quasi vecordia ceperat. denique omnes fusi fugatique arma et signa militaria pleraque capta, pluresque eo proelio quam omnibus superioribus interempti. nam somno et metu insolito impedita fuga.

Bellum Iugurthinum Perseus (Sallust. Bellum Iugurthinum. (No bibliographic information found).) — 98 focus

Neque in eo tam aspero negotio Marius territus aut magis quam antea demisso animo fuit, sed cum turma sua, quam ex fortissimis magis quam familiarissimis parauerat, uagari passim ac modo laborantibus suis succurrere, modo hostis, ubi confertissimi obstiterant, invadere; manu consulere militibus, quoniam imperare conturbatis omnibus non poterat. Iamque dies consumptus erat, cum tamen barbari nihil remittere atque, uti reges praeceperant, noctem pro se rati acrius instare. Tum Marius ex copia rerum consilium trahit atque, uti suis receptui locus esset, collis duos propinquos inter se occupat, quorum in uno castris parum amplo fons aquae magnus erat, alter usui opportunus, quia magna parte editus et praeceps pauca munimenta quaerebat. Ceterum apud aquam Sullam cum equitibus noctem agitare iubet, ipse paulatim dispersos milites neque minus hostibus conturbatis in unum contrahit, dein cunctos pleno gradu in collem subducit. Ita reges loci difficultate coacti proelio deterrentur, neque tamen suos longius abire sinunt, sed utroque colle multitudine circumdato effusi consedere. Dein crebris ignibus factis plerumque noctis barbari more suo laetari, exultare, strepere vocibus; et ipsi duces feroces, quia non fugerant, pro victoribus agere. Sed ea cuncta Romanis ex tenebris et editioribus locis facilia visu magnoque hortamento erant.

Notes on the current edition

The Jugurthine War

1. XCVIII. The enemy being not less disordered]

Neque minus hostibus conturbatis.

If the enemy had not been in as much disorder as himself, Marius would hardly have been able to effect his retreat.

2. At a quick march]

Pleno gradu.

"By the militaris gradus twenty miles were completed in five hours of a summer day ; by the plenus gradus, which is quicker, twenty-four miles were traversed in the same time." Veget. i. 9.

Sallust Bellum Iugurthinum 98

Rev. John Selby Watson, M.A. (Translator)

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