Sallust, Bellum Iugurthinum, 110

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"Numquam ego ratus sum fore uti rex maximus in hac terra et omnium, quos novi, privato homini gratiam deberem. Et mehercule, Sulla, ante te cognitum multis orantibus. Aliis ultro egomet opem tuli, nullius indiguus. Id imminutum, quod ceteri dolere solent, ego laetor. Fuerit mihi eguisse aliquando pretium tuae amicitiae, qua apud meum animum nihil carius est. Id adeo experiri licet. Arma viros pecuniam, postremo quicquid animo libet, sume utere, et, quoad viues, numquam tibi redditam gratiam putaueris: semper apud me integra erit; denique nihil me sciente frustra uoles. Nam, ut ego aestimo, regem armis quam munificentia vince minus flagitiosum est. Ceterum de re publica vestra, cuius curator huc missus es, paucis accipe. Bellum ego populo Romano neque feci neque factum umquam volui; at finis meos aduersum armatos armis tutatus sum. Id omitto, quando vobis ita placet. gerite quod uultis cum Iugurtha bellum. Ego flumen Muluccham, quod inter me et Micipsam fuit, non egrediar neque id intrare Iugurtham sinam. Praeterea si quid meque vobisque dignum petiueris, haud repulsus abibis."

Bellum Iugurthinum. Sallust. . .

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Bellum Iugurthinum (Sallust. Bellum Iugurthinum. (No bibliographic information found).)

Editions (1)

Bellum Iugurthinum Perseus (Sallust. C. Sallusti Crispi Catilina, Iugurtha, orationes et epistulae excerptae de historiis. Ahlberg, Axel Wilhelm, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1919.) — 110 focus

1 'Numquam ego ratus sum fore uti rex maxumus in hac terra et omnium, quos novi, privato homini gratiam deberem. 2 et mehercule, Sulla, ante te cognitum multis orantibus, aliis ultro egomet opem tuli, nullius indigus. 3 id inminutum, quod ceteri dolere solent, ego laetor. fuerit mihi eguisse aliquando pretium tuae amicitiae, qua apud meum animum nihil carius est. id adeo experiri licet. 4 arma viros pecuniam, postremo quicquid animo lubet, sume utere, et, quoad vives, numquam tibi redditam gratiam putaveris: semper apud me integra erit; denique nihil me sciente frustra voles. 5 nam, ut ego aestumo, regem armis quam munificentia vinci minus flagitiosum est.

6 Ceterum de re publica vostra, quoius curator huc missus es, paucis accipe. bellum ego populo Romano neque feci neque factum umquam volui; at finis meos advorsum armatos armis tutatus sum. 7 id omitto, quando vobis ita placet. gerite quod voltis cum Iugurtha bellum. 8 ego flumen Muluccham, quod inter me et Micipsam fuit, non egrediar neque id intrare Iugurtham sinam. praeterea si quid meque vobisque dignum petiveris, haud repulsus abibis.'

Translations (1)

Jugurthine War Perseus (Sallust. Sallust, Florus, and Velleius Paterculus. Watson, J. S. (John Selby), translator. London: Harper & Brothers, 1899.) — 110 focus

" I never expected that I, the greatest monarch in this part of the world, and the richest of all whom I know, should ever owe a favor to a private man. Indeed, Sylla, before I knew you, I gave assistance to many who solicited me, and to others without solicitation, and stood in need of no man's assistance. But at this loss of independence, at which others are wont to repine, I am rather inclined to rejoice. It will be a pleasure to me¹ to have once needed your friendship, than which I hold nothing dearer to my heart. Of the sincerity of this assertion you may at once make trial; take my arms, my soldiers, my money, or whatever you please, and use it as your own. But do not suppose, as long as you live, that your kindness to me has been fully requited; my sense of it will always remain undiminished, and you shall, with my knowledge, wish for nothing in vain. For, as I am of opinion, it is less dishonorable to a prince to be conquered in battle than to be surpassed in generosity.

" With respect to your republic, whose interests you are sent to guard, hear briefly what I have to say. I have neither made war upon the Roman people, nor desired that it should be made; I have merely defended my territories with arms against an armed force. But from hostilities, since such is your pleasure, I now desist. Prosecute the war with Jugurtha as you think proper. The river Mulucha, which was the boundary between Miscipsa and me, I shall neither pass myself, nor suffer Jugurtha to come within it. And if you shall ask any thing besides, worthy of me and of yourself, you shall not depart with a refusal."

Sallust Bellum Iugurthinum 110

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