our Men not rang'd in order nor drawn up in warlike maner but at a venture in single Troops and scattering Parties The Romans thus surpriz'd with suddain Fear and unprovided yet calling to mind their wonted Valour some betook themselves to their Arms others defended their fellows while they made themselves ready The Cavalry mounted and hastned to stop the Enemies Career so that the Fight lookt rather like a Rancounter of Free-booters then a Battel observing neither Ensigns nor Ranks Horse and Foot mix'd one among another some giving ground others being slain many while stoutly engag'd with their Adversaries had the Enemy upon their Backs neither Valour nor Steel were a sufficient Protection for that the Enemy was more numerous and made their Attacks on every side For remedy whereof the Romans as well Veteranes as the raw Souldiers being instructed by their fellows as Chance or Place gave them an opportunity threw themselves into Oval Bodies and so facing the Enemy every way substain'd their Fury with a much more safe resistance All this while Marius thus hard put to it was nothing at all dejected nor shew'd the least sign of fear more then at any other time but with his own Life-guard which he had made choice of not for favour but for their Bravery and Stoutness flew from one place to another relieving those that were over power'd and sometimes charging the Thickest of the Enemy instructing 'em by acts of personal Examples since as a General all Commands were vain in such a terrible Confusion And now by this the day was well nigh spent and yet the Enemy abated nothing of their Fury but according to Jugurth's instructions relying upon the darkness of the night rather press'd on more eagerly When Marius taking resolutions from the necessity of his Affairs that he might have a place of Retreate orders his men to take possession of two small Hills that lay close adjoyning one to another Upon the least of these Hills which was not spacious enough to pitch his Camp there was a large Fountain of Water the other more for his purpose for that being high and steep it wanted the less fortification Therefore upon the first he commanded Sylla to keep a strict Guard with the Cavalry all the Night He himself takes care to rally his Men and to disingage 'em from among the Enemy who were in no less confusion then the Romans Which done he retreats in a full Body to the second Hill The two Kings being thus discourag'd by the difficulty of the place from making any farther attempts however would not leave the Consul so but lay all Night surrounding both the Hills with their extended Multitude All the Night long the Enemy made great and many Fires were merry and jocond skipp'd and daunc'd about and made several strange noises with their feet and throates after their Barbarous Custom The Kings themselves were pufft up and full of high thoughts because they had not been constrain'd to fly but like Victors lay Besieging the Romans But all these things were easily descernible by the light of the Fires to our Men from the higher ground and gave them no small encouragement 99. Marius therefore embolden'd to see the Enemies defect of Discipline commands a most exact Silence in his own Camp not suffering the Trumpets to sound upon relieving the Watches as they were wont to do but as soon as Day began to peep when the Enemy tyr'd with their Jollity were gone to their repose and all in a profound Sleep of a suddain he causes all the Tributary Trumpeters and all the Trumpeters of the several Cohorts Troops and Legions all to sound together and the Souldiers at the same time with loud shouts and Military clamours to rend the Air and pour out of the Camp upon the Enemy On the other side the Moors and Getulians waken'd with the unusual and horrid noise could neither fly nor stand to their Arms neither resolve nor prevent In such a manner were they stupify'd and har'd with noise clamour tumult terrour fright amazement want of succour and the Inundation of the Enemy and at length all routed and put to flight most of their Arms and Military Ensigns taken and more slain in that Battel then in all the Encounters before for being scarce awake and scar'd out of their Wits they had not sence enough to fly 100. Marius thus a Victor according to his first determination hasten'd to his Winter Quarters which he resolv'd to take up in the Sea Towns for the conveniency of Provision Yet in the heighth of his success ne'er the more negligent or puff'd up but as if still the Enemy had been in the field he March'd with his Army divided into four Battalions Upon the right-Right-wing Sylla lead the Horse the Left was guarded by A. Manlius with the Slingers and Darters and a Cohort of Ligurians In the Front and Rear he plac'd the Tribunes with certain Bands of light Armed foot The Fugitives as being little valu'd and exactly acquainted with the Country were put upon the Forlorns to to observe the Motion of the Enemy The Consul confin'd to no Place as if there had been no other Overseers but himself had an eye every where was present with all prais'd or reprov'd according to Desert He rode about compleatly arm'd and made it his business to keep the Souldiers from stragling no less vigilant then as if he had been upon a March to fortify his Camp to set the Sentinels to order what Cohorts what Auxiliary Horse should be upon the Guard without the Trenches which to watch upon the Brest-works within the Fortifications and go the Rounds in Person not so much mistrusting disobedience of his Commands but that the Souldiers might be the more willing to endure hardship when they beheld the General himself so painfully sharing their laborious Toyl And indeed Marius may be said both then and at other times during the Jugurthin War to keep his Army in awe rather by shame then severity of Punishment which many attributed to his Ambition but others more soft in their censures ascrib'd to his being enur'd to Hardship from his Cradle which made him take pleasure in those things which others lookt upon as Tribulations However it were this is certain He was no less profitable and successful to the Commonwealth then if he had been the severest Commander in the World 101. Upon the fourth day being not far from Cirta the Scouts came all thundering into the Body of the Army which was a certain sign the Enemy was at hand But because they had been all several ways and all brought the same Intelligence the Consul uncertain which way to Embattel his Army would not change any thing of his Order as being already prepar'd to attend the Enemies coming with a Front every way By this means he disappointed Jugurth's Expectations for having divided his Forces into four Battalions he made full account that one or other of the Four would have an opportunity
equal the Souldiers might be the more encourag'd himself a foot Embattles his Army as his number and the Nature of the Place would permit For finding that the Plain lay between Mountains on the Right and rugged and steep Rocks on the Left he made a Front of Eight Cohorts The rest he drew up more close in Reserves Out of these he brings all the choice Centurions and Honorary Reformades together with the stoutest of all the Common Souldiers well Arm'd into his first Array To C. Manlius he gave the Right to a Commander of Fiesoli the Left Wing Himself with his enfranchiz'd Bondmen and some of Sylla's old Souldiers that had been distributed into Colonies he posted himself next to the Eagle which as they said had been the Standard which Marius made use of in the Cimbric War On the other side C. Antonius being then sick of the Gout because he could not be present at the Battle gave the Command of his Army to his Legate M. Petreius He plac'd the Veterane Cohorts which he had rais'd of a suddain in the Front and behind them the rest of his Men for a Reserve Himself Riding about from Rank to Rank calls every one by their Names encourages and intreats 'em to be but mindful that they fought against unarm'd Robbers for their Country their Liberty their Altars and their Houshold Gods This Man an old Souldier who had been for above thirty years together either a Tribune or Prefect or Legate or Pretor and all along acquitted himself with great Honour knew most of the Souldiers was acquainted with their stoutest Actions and by bringing 'em fresh to their Memories greatly inflam'd their Courages Now then Petreius having diligently observ'd the Enemies Array and given out his last Orders by sound of Trumpet Commands the Signal of Battle and the Cohorts at the same time to move slowly forward The same did the Enemy but when they were so near to one another that the Lighter arm'd might well begin the fight with their Missive weapons the Legionaries never stood to throw their Piles as they were to do but running with a hideous shout on both sides to the Combat began a close fight foot to foot with their Swords The Veteranes mindful of their Pristine Bravery bore vigorously upon the Enemy nor did their Opposites make a Timorous Resistance so that the Combat was sharp on both sides All the while Catiline with the most active and smartest of his followers kept still in the head of his Men succour'd those that were over-power'd supply'd the places of the wounded with fresh Men frequently charg'd in Person and perform'd all the Duties of a stout Souldier and experienc'd Commander Petreius therefore perceiving that Catiline made a stouter Resistance then he expected orders the Pretorian Cohort to Advance and Charge the very thickest of the Enemy and then it was that all things went to wrack on Catiline's side his Men being every where disorder'd and every where put to the Sword which done the Legate flew upon both the Enemies Wings at the same time with the same fury Manlius and the Faesulane fell among the first But as for Catiline when he saw his Army routed and himself left naked with a small Remainder remembring his Descent and his Ancient Dignity he threw himself into the thickest of his Enemies and was there slain with his Sword in his hand But after the Battle was over then you might see the wonderful Audacity and Resolution that had reign'd in Catiline's Army For generally the place which every one had stood on when alive the same when dead he cover'd with his Body Some few indeed whom the Pretorian Cohort had routed in the middle lay more dispers'd yet all had receiv'd their wounds before and no man turning his back Only Catiline was found at a distance from his own Men among the Carcases of his Enemies with some remainder of Life retaining in his Countenance that Fury and Fierceness of Mind which inspir'd him when alive and the last thing remarkable is this that of that whole Number neither in the Fight nor in the Pursuit was any Free-born Citizen taken Prisoner so equally merciful had they all been to their own and the Lives of their Enemies Nor can we say that the Army of the Roman People enjoy'd a Victory to be rejoyc'd at or at the expence of little Blood For not a Man of forward Bravery but either fell in the Battle or was carry'd off desperately wounded So that of many that either out of Curiosity or greedy of Plunder going to view the Field of Battle turn'd up the Carcases of the Slain there were hardly any but either knew their Friends their Guests or their Kindred and some there were who knew their Enemies Thus Joy and Sorrow Mourning and Gladness variously affected the Victorious Army The End of the Catilinarian War C. Crispus Sallustius's JUGURTH OR JUGURTHINE War 1. FAlsely does Human kind complain of the Condition of Life as if it were too frail and short and rather under the Dominion of Chance then Vertue For entertaining contrary thoughts we shall find that there is nothing greater nothing more excellent then Man himself and that he neither wants power nor length of years but only Industry For the Captain and Commander of human Life is the Soul which while it journeys with an eager pace toward Glory through the paths of Vertue is sufficiently prevalent powerful and eminent not needing Fortune's aid which neither can bequeath or take away from any Man his Probity his Industry or any other vertuous Endowments But if enslav'd to lewd desires we plunge our selves in Luxury and Corporeal Pleasures by degrees accustom'd to pernicious sensuality when we have once mispent our Parts our Strength our precious Hours in Sloath and Oscitancy the Infirmity of Nature is then accus'd for that the Guilty lay the blame of their folly upon the difficulty of Business Whereas if Men were but as sedulous in laudable Professions as they are eager in the pursuit of things unprofitable and many times extreamly hazardous they would rather govern then be govern'd by Fortune and would advance themselves to that degree of Grandeur that instead of being Mortal they would become Eternal in Glory 2. For as all Mankind is compounded of Soul and Body so do also all our Affairs and all our Studies follow some the nature of the Body others of the Soul Therefore lovely Form superfluous Riches strength of Body these in a short time all decay but the glorious Atchievements of Wit and Parts are like the Soul Immortal Lastly as there is a beginning so there is an end of all the Blessings of Body and Fortune all things rising set again and as they grow grow old But the Soul Incorruptible Eternal the Guide and Ruler over all Mankind acts and possesses all things not possess'd it self And the deprav'd humor of those Men is so much the more to be admir'd
Army with some of the nimblest Cohorts and a select Band of Archers and Slingers The Reer C. Marius his Legate brought up with his Horse and upon each Wing he had divided the Auxiliary Horse at the Command of the Tribunes of the Legions and Captains of the Cohorts to the end that the light Armed Foot and the Horse being thus intermixt they might be able to withstand the Enemies Cavalry which way soever they make an Impression For Jugurth was so politic so well acquainted with the Situation of the Country and the Art of War that whether he were more dangerous absent or present treating Peace or actually in War was hard to be resolv'd 47. There stood not far from the Road which Metellus took in his march a Town belonging to the Numidians which was call'd Vacca the most famous for Trade of any in the Kingdom and greatly frequented by the Italian Merchants Here the Consul as well for a Trial whether they would obey or no as also considering the Advantages of the Situation places a Garrison Moreover he commanded the Inhabitants to furnish him with a Quantity of Corn and other Necessaries useful in War believing as it was most rational to think That the great Concourse of Merchants and plenty of Provision would be a great Assistance to his Army besides that the Place lay convenient for a Magazine of necessary Preparations for the future In the midst of these Transactions Jugurth sends again submissive Messengers and much more earnestly then before sues for Peace with Offers to Metellus to surrender all things to his Mercy but his own and the Lives of his Children whom the Consul as he did the former sent back again with Temptations to betray their Master but as to the Peace which the King desir'd he neither gave any positive Grant or Refusal delaying on purpose in expectation of the Agents Promises 48. But Jugurth when he compar'd the Words and Deeds of Metellus together and found himself match'd at his own Weapons of Delay and Dissimulation while Peace was dissembl'd in Words but actually a sharp and vigorous War in the Bowels of his Kingdom one of his chiefest Cities in the Enemies Hands the Country discover'd and the People staggering in their Allegiance constrain'd by the Necessity of his Affairs he resolves to fight it out And therefore by his Spies having throughly discover'd and observ'd the March of the Enemy conceiving great hopes of Victory from the Opportunity of the Place he raises all the Force he could make of all sorts of People and so by private ways and shorter Cuts he gets before Metellus's Army There was in that part of Numidia which upon the Division of the Kingdom fell to Adherbal's share a River rising Southward which was call'd Muthul from whence at the distance of about a Thousand and Twenty Paces a great Mountain shew'd it self wild by Nature and altogether untill'd and uninhabited from the middle of which there grew as it were another Hill to a very great height cover'd over with wild Olives Mirtles and such other sorts of Trees as delight in barren and sandy Grounds All the surrounding Plain for want of Water lay desart only those parts that border'd upon the Stream which were thick set with Bushes and Hedges full of Cattel and Husbandmen Upon this Hill which ran cross the High-way as we have said it was that Jugurth drew up the Vanguard of his Army thinly Marshall'd giving Bomilcar the Charge of his Elephants and some part of his Forces with full Instructions what to do He himself with his Cavalry and some selected Battalions of Foot plants himself nearer the Mountain then riding from Troop to Troop and Rank to Rank he exhorts encourages and conjures them not to forget their pristine Valour and victorious Conquests but bravely to defend themselves and his Kingdom from the Avarice of the Romans That they were to deal with only such as they had forc'd to pass the Yoke already That their Captain only not their Courage was chang'd That his Care and Foresight had prevail'd against all Accidents as became an expert Leader That he had taken the upper Ground and intermix'd 'em so Veteranes with the raw and undisciplin'd to the end that they might not be afraid to grapple a few in number with many or less expert with their Superiors in War therefore that they should be all in a readiness and forward to assail the Romans upon the Signal given That this was the Day which would either prove the end of all their Toyls by glorious Conquest or the beginning of unavoydable Calamities Then culling out by Name every particular Person that for their Martial Deeds he had either enrich'd with Gold or advanc'd to Military Honours he admonishes 'em to be mindful of his Favours and bids 'em encourage others with the same Expectancies Lastly as if he understood the particular Genius of those he spoke to some he promises others he threatens but emboldens and encourages all by all the ways imaginable All this while Metellus ignorant of the Enemies Approach is discover'd marching with his Army down the Hill Who suddenly descrying an unusual sight began to consider for the Numidians kept themselves and their Horses snug within the Trees and Bushes which nevertheless were not so high as to shelter 'em sufficiently from being seen and yet the nature of the Place was such that they could not fully be discover'd besides that they had cunningly hid all their Military Ensigns But in a short time the Truth being fully found out and the General made a steady halt Then hastning to embattel his Army he chang'd the Order of his March and in the right Wing which was next the Enemy he places three Bodies of Reserves Between the small Divisions he disperses the Slingers and Darters and plants all his Cavalry upon the Wings Then after some few Exhortations to the Souldiers for shortness of time would not permit him to use many words he brings his Army thus Embatell'd into the Plain only that the first Ranks chang'd their ground in Marching 49. But when he perceiv'd that the Numidians lay still and would not come down from the Hill fearing lest his Men should be distress'd for want of Water he sent Rutilius before with some of the nimblest Cohorts and part of the Horse to the River to secure a place for his Camp believing that the Enemy would then powr down upon him and by Charging him in Flank endeavour to prevent him and because they durst not rely upon their own Courage would seek to tire out his Men with heat and drought After Him the Consul follow'd slowly descending the Hill as the nature of the Place would give leave Marius brought up the Rear himself march'd with the Cavalry upon the Left Wing On the other side Jugurth when he found that the Rear of Metellus's Army was just past by the Front of his own Men places a Guard of two thousand Foot upon
to scale the Wall and be conspicuous in the Action In such Atchievements they plac'd their chiefest Riches their greatest Honour and most Illustrious Nobility Covetous of Applause they were but liberal of their Money Vast Fame but moderate Wealth was their desire I could call to mind in what pitch'd Fields the Roman People with a small handful of Men have over-thrown most numerous Armies of their Enemies what Cities Fortifi'd by Nature they have wrested from the Defendants by bare fighting but that I fear so great a Task would draw me too far from my design Nevertheless Fortune assuredly prevails in every thing she Celebrates or Ecclipses all things more according to her own will and pleasure than adhering to truth The Actions of the Athenians were sufficiently great and magnificent in my Opinion however somewhat less than Fame reports ' em But in regard that there it was so many Writers flourish'd matchless for their Ingenuity the Athenian Atchievements are those which are celebrated above all others over all the World And the Vertue and Courage of those that perform'd those great Actions are deem'd to be as great as those high soaring Wits had with their Eloquence extoll'd 'em to be But the People of Rome had never that abundance because that the most prudent were still most publickly engag'd no man exercis'd his Wit without his Body every one chose rather to act than speak and that his deeds of Merit should rather be applauded by others than that he should be the magnifier of other Men's Exploits And therefore both in Peace and War good Customs were religiously observ'd There was most of Unity the least of Avarice Right and Justice among them prevail'd by Nature more than through the Terrour of the Law Their Quarrels their Discords and their Contentions were only with their Enemies Citizen with Citizens contested only for preheminence in vertue Magnificent in their Adoration of the Gods thrifty in their Houses and faithful to their Friends By these two never failing means in War by daring Boldness and when at Peace by Justice they preserv'd both themselves and the Common-weal Of all which things I have these signal Proofs to produce for that in War they more severely punish'd those who disobedient to command adventur'd to fight the Enemy or latest left the field when order'd to retreat than such as durst forsake their Colours or give ground to their Adversary On the other side in Peace they rather chose to oblige by beneficial Indulgence than constrain by Fear and having receiv'd an Affront they rather chose to pardon than to prosecute Thus while the Common-wealth enlarg'd it self by Labour and Justice Kings vastly Potent were subdu'd by War Barbarous and Populous Nations were tam'd by Force Carthage jealous of the Roman Empire was utterly ruin'd All Seas and Continents lay open Fortune seem'd to rage and ranverse all the world They who had undergone all sorts of Labour Dangers Hardships and Uncertainties of chance Leasure and Riches so much desir'd by others to them were but a Burthen and Affliction First therefore Thirst of Money then of Rule encreas'd They were the Materials of all ensuing mischiefs for Avarice subverted Fidelity Probity and all other vertuous Practices in stead of these it taught 'em Pride Cruelty to neglect the Gods and to put all things to Sale On the other side Ambition enslav'd her Captives to Treachery to conceal one thing within their breasts and utter quite the contrary with their Tongues to estimate friendship and hatred not as they are in themselves but according to the dictate of Interest and to carry rather an honest Countenance than an honest Intention These things at first insensibly grew up and sometimes were punish'd But when the Contagion once began to spread the face of the whole City was alter'd and that Government which was the justest and the best became not only Cruel but intolerable But first of all Ambition more than Avarice employ'd the thoughts of Men. A Vice that approaches the nearest of the two to Vertue For that the sedulous and slothful are equally covetous of Glory Honour and Dominion However the one takes the Right Course to obtain his lawful ends the other wanting vertuous means by fraud and treachery aspires to what he never deserv'd Avarice Toiles and Labours after Money of which no wise man ever coveted the Superfluity That Vice envenom'd as it were with poisonous mixtures effeminates the body and the Masculine Soul of all Mankind 't is always unlimited and insatiable neither does abundance or penury exhaust it But after L. Sylla having by force of Arms laid violent hands upon the Common-weal turn'd good beginnings into ruinous events then there was nothing but rending and tearing one must have a House another Lands the Victours observ'd no bounds no moderation but fowl and hainous were there Cruelties to their fellow Citizens To which we may add that L. Sylla contrary to the Custom of our Ancestors oblig'd the Army which he had Commanded in Asia thereby to render it more affectionate and faithful to his Interest by a Toleration of all manner of Luxury Debauchery and the delightful Quarters where they wallow'd in pleasure and ease had soon softn'd the fierce and martial Dispositions of the Souldiery And then it was that the Roman Army first began to be in Love to drink to admire Pictures and emboss'd Goblets of Gold and Silver to commit public and private Robbery to Plunder the very Temples and to Pollute all things both sacred and Prophane Therefore those Souldiers after they had once obtain'd the Victory left nothing remaining for the vanquish'd For Prosperous success never leaves tyring out the Minds of wisest men with her Importunities least they themselves their Manners being corrupted should moderate their Conquests or know which way to consult for the best When Opulency thus began to be in high Esteem and that Renown Dominion Power attended upon Riches Vertue began to grow Numb and Stupid Poverty to be derided and Innocence to be taken for Ill will Therefore from the Source of Riches Luxury and Avarice together with immoderate Pride first assail'd the Roman Youth And then their business was to catch and snatch consume despise their own and covet other Men's to cast off shame and modesty make no distinction of Divine or Human nor any reckoning of thrift or moderation It might be worth the while for him that first has view'd so many Houses and Palaces rear'd up as big as Villages to visit the Temples which our Ancestors the most Religious of Mortals erected to the Gods You find 'em much the lesser Fabricks yet they adorn'd their Temples with Piety their Houses with Fame and Honour nor did they deprive the Vanquish'd of any thing but only the Liberty of doing wrong But these men quite the contrary of Mortals the most slothful most wickedly and ingloriously wrest from their Friends and Allies those things which their Couragious and Victorious Ancestors left
of these we flourish in Luxury and Avarice in public want and private opulency Wealth we applaud but follow Sloth between the Good and Bad there 's no distinction but Ambition enjoys all the Rewards of Vertue Nor is it a thing to be admir'd because you never advise together for the common Good but separately consult your own Interests because at home you serve your Pleasures and here enslave your selves to Profit or Favour From whence it comes to pass that Violence invades the empty Common-wealth The most Illustrious of our Fellow-Citizens have conspir'd to burn their Countrey to revolt and war they inflame the Gauls the mortal Enemies of the Roman Name and the General of the Rebels himself is with his Army almost at our doors And do ye now at such a time as this sit lingring and staggering what to do with Enemies apprehended within your walls My Opinion is ye should take pity of ' em They are young men that have offended through Ambition and therefore give 'em their Liberty and their Weapons to boot but assure your selves this Clemency and Compassion of yours if they have liberty to use their Armies will turn to all our Sorrows 'T is true Misery is a grievous thing but you are not afraid of it Yes most of all but through Sloth and want of Courage you sit staring one upon another expecting help from the Immortal Gods who oft have sav'd this Commonwealth in all her greatest Dangers But the Assistance of the Gods is not obtain'd by Female Importunity and Supplication Prosperity attends on watchfulness activity and well consulting When we abandon our selves to Sloth and Pusillanimity 't is in vain to implore the Gods who are offended and angry Among the rest of our Progenitors A. Manlius Torquatus caus'd his own Son to be put to death because he had fought the Enemy contrary to his Command so severely was the valiant Youth chastiz'd for his over-hasty Courage And do you hesitate what to decree against the most cruel of Parricides Oh! but 't is pity to punish 'em considering their former vertuous Lives However I 'll give ye leave to be merciful to Lentulus's Dignity if ever he were merciful to his own Chastity his own Honour if e'er he spar'd the Gods or Men. Pardon Cethegus's his Youth because this is but the second time he has rebell'd against his Country For what do I talk of Gabinius Statilius and Ceparius who had they had the least Grain or Sence of Vertue and Reputation would never have engag'd in such Designs against the Commonwealth Lastly Conscript Fathers were there any room for an Oversight readily would I brook that you should be corrected by the Matter of Fact it self since you so little regard my words but we are every way surrounded Catiline with his Army is advanc'd to the very Passages of the Apennine other Enemies we have within the Walls of the City and even in our Bosoms no private Preparations can be made no secret Consulations taken For which reason we must use the greater diligence Therefore 't is my Opinion since the Commonwealth is now upon the Brink of Danger through the Sacrilegious Machinations of profligate and impious Wretches who being detected by the Discoveries of Volturcius and the Embassadors of the Allobroges have confess'd their joynt Confederacy to murder burn and utterly destroy their Country and their Fellow-Citizens together with other enormous Cruelties and publick Havock by them intended That capital Punishment be inflicted upon Them confessing as if they had been actually convicted of the Crimes So soon as Cato sate down all the Consular Personages and the greatest part of the Senate applaud his Opinion and extol his Courage to the Skies while others are upbraided with the Name of Cowards but Cato is look'd upon by all as great and famous and a Decree of Senate passes in compliance with Cato's Opinion And here as being a person who have heard and read much more of what renown'd Atchievments the Roman People have perform'd both in Peace and War by Sea and Land by chance it came into my Mind to consider what it was that upheld the management and accomplishment of such glorious Actions I knew That frequently with inconsiderable Bands they had vanquish'd numerous Legions of their Enemies That with small Forces they had wag'd War against potent Princes moreover That they had many times experienc'd the Violence of Fortune That for Eloquence the Greeks in Military Glory the Gauls were superior to the Romans But after many serious Reflexions and Considerations it was plain to me at length That the surpassing Courage of a few Citizens had brought all things to pass and thence it fell out That Poverty overcame Opulency and Multitudes were vanquish'd by a few But when the Commonwealth was once corrupted by Luxury and Sloth then the Commonwealth by her own Vastness supported the Vices of her Commanders and Magistrates for that like a Woman that has done bearing Children for several Intervals of Time Rome could not shew a famous Person But in my Memory there were two Great Men of different Dispositions and Manners of Living yet in Vertue both surmounting M. Cato and C. Caesar whom therefore since so fair an Opportunity offer'd I could not think it became me to pass by in silence before I had given a true Character as far as my Wit would reach of the Genius and Nature of Both. For Nobility of Descent for Years and Eloquence the difference of Equality was very small between ' em In Magnanimity likewise equal as also in Glory thô treading different Paths to purchase Fame For Caesar's Bounty and Munificence made him great Cato his Integrity of Life The first his Clemency and Compassion render'd Illustrious the other was admir'd for his Severity Caesar by giving relieving pardoning Cato by bestowing nothing got Renown In the one the Miserable found a Sanctuary the other was a Terror to the wicked The one for his easie Temper the other was applauded for Constancy of Resolution Caesar had made it his business to labour and watch intent upon the occasions of his Friends to neglect his own to deny nothing that was worthy giving thirsting after great Command an Army and a new War that so the Lustre of his Courage might shine brightly forth On the other side Cato study'd Modesty Temperance Decency but Austerity above all the rest He never contended for Riches with the wealthy nor with the Factious for Command but who was most couragious with the Stout most modest with the Bashful and with the most abstemious who more temperate and continent He rather chose to be then seem to be good so that the less he courted Honour the more she follow'd him Now then so soon as once the Senate had approv'd the Opinion of Cato the Consul believing it the safest way to take the advantage of the Night approaching for fear of any unexpected Accident in the mean time commanded the Capital Triumvirs to
make ready the Place and Instruments for Execution He after the Guards were set brings Lentulus himself to the Prison as the Praetors also did the rest Within the Javl there is a certain place call'd Tullianum after a small Ascent to the left hand about Twelve Foot under ground being wall'd about on every side with an Arch of Stone over head but nasty dark offensive to the Smell and frightful to the Sight Into this Dungeon Lentulus being let down the Lictors or Executioners according to their Orders strangl'd him with a Halter Thus fell that great Patrician descended from the Illustrious Family of the Cornelii that frequently had held the Consular Dignity of Rome meeting that fatal End which the Course of his Life and his Actions justly merited In the same manner also Cethegus Statilius Gabinius and Ceparius were executed at the same time While these things are thus transacted at Rome Catiline of all the Men which he had rais'd himself and those that Manlius had muster'd together made two Legions and fill'd up his Cohorts proportionable to the Number of his Men. Then as Voluntiers or Friends came in to him he made an equal distribution of their Number insomuch that in a short time he compleated both his Legions whereas before he had but Two Thousand in all Of these not above a fourth part were arm'd with Souldier like Weapons the rest supply'd by Chance and Fortune carry'd either Country Pike-staves Javelins or Stakes made sharp at the end But when Antonius approach'd with his Army Catiline keeping the Mountains bent his March sometimes towards the City sometimes towards Gallia carefully avoyding Combat with his Enemy for he was in hopes of numerous Reinforcements so soon as his Confederates had accomplish'd their work at Rome In the mean time he refus'd the Assistance of Slaves and Servants of which a great Number had resorted to him at the beginning confiding in the strength of the Conspiracy and deeming it might also disadvantage his Interests to have intermix'd the Complaints and Cause of Free Citizens with Slaves But afterwards when News was brought to the Camp that the Conspiracy was discover'd and that Lentulus Cethegus and the rest were executed the greatest part whom hopes of Plunder and desire of new revolutions had inveigl'd to the War dropt from him with the rest Catiline swiftly retires through the rough and difficult Passes of the Hills into the Territory of the Pistorienses with a Design to steal away privately under the shelter of the Woods and Mountains into Lumbardy But Q. Metellus Celer lay with three Legions in the Territory of Picenum rightly conjecturing Catiline's Intention considering the distress of his Affairs Therefore having intelligence of his March by certain Fugitives he presently raises his Camp and posts himself at the foot of the Mountains where Catiline must come down in his March for Hither Gallia Nor was Antonius far behind as he that follow'd the nimble Fugitives with a numerous Army through more level and less incumber'd ways Catiline therefore when he perceiv'd himself enclos'd with Hills and numerous Enemies that all things had fail'd his Expectations in the City and that there was no safety in flight nor hope of Succour believing it his wisest course in such a condition to try the chance of War he resolv'd to hazard his Fortune with Antonius And to that purpose at the Head of all his Army he made this Oration to his Souldiers I am convinc'd by Truth of History and Experience fellow Souldiers that Words afford no addititon of Courage unto Men or that a Generals Harangue renders a sloathful Army stout no Cowardly numbers Valiant Only what Courage is by Nature or generous Practice inherent in the Soul of every Man so much displays it self in Battle The Person whom neither Glory nor Dangers can excite in vain we seek with Speeches to inflame for Consternation stops his Ears However I have call'd ye here together partly to inculcate some few things into your Breasts but chiefly to unfold the cause of this my suddain Resolution You understand too well fellow Souldiers how great a Calamity the sloath and negligence of Lentulus has brought upon himself and Us and how I am debarr'd from Marching into Gallia in Expectation of considerable Succours And now you likewise know as well as my self what is the desperate condition of our Affairs at present Two Armies of the Enemy one from the City another from Gallia lie posted in our way To stay longer in these Parts had we never so great a Desire scarcity of Provision and other Necessaries will not permit And wheresoever we design our March we have no other way but what our Swords must open Wherefore I exhort ye be resolute and still prepar'd for vigorous Encounter and when ye are ready to joyn Battle that you carry Riches Honour Grandeur your Liberty and your Country in your hands If we vanquish all these things will be secure plenty of Provision Municipal Towns and Colonies will be at our Devotion But if through Cowardice we turn our Backs then all the World will be our Enemies no place nor friend will shelter them whose Arms could not protect ' em Moreover Fellow Souldiers the same necessity binds not them that strictly obliges us We Combate for our Country our Liberty and Lives 't is only a superfluous kindness in them to defend in fight the Usurpation of a few the reason wherefore you should be more daringly mindful of your Ancient Vertue You had your choice to spend your ignominious Lives in shameful Exile or else to live at Rome your Patrimonies and Fortunes lost in Expectation of other Mens Estates But because these things seem'd base or not to be endur'd you determin'd to follow these resolutions If these your last determinations please not the more need of Courage at this time For no man but the Victor Exchanges War for Peace And to expect Security in Flight when we have thrown away our Weapons that were the Protection of our Bodies that 's a peice of Real Madness Always in Battle they are most in Danger who are most afraid for daring Boldness guards yee like a Wall When I consider your Persons Fellow Souldiers and put an estimate upon your Actions my hopes of Victory are exceeding Great Your Valour Age and Stoutness all encourage me Moreover your Necessities which renders even Cowards Valiant nor will the nature of these narrow passages permit the Enemy to surround us with their numbers However if Fortune frown upon your Valour beware that unreveng'd you do not lose your Lives or choose to be taken and be massacred like Sheep rather then fighting like Men to leave the Enemy a Bloody and mournful Victory Having thus spoken after he had made a little Pause he commanded the Trumpets to sound and leads down his Men in good order into a Champion ground Then sending away all the Horses to the end the danger being
he resolv'd to expose him to danger and to try his Fortune that way Therefore in the Numantine War Micipsa designing to send the Romans a numerous Assistance both of Horse and Foot and hoping his destruction either by dating too far or through the severity of his Enemies he gave him the Command of the Numidians which he sent into Spain But it fell out quite contrary to his Expectations for Jugurth a Person indefatigable and of a piercing Wit when once he came to understand the Disposition of Scipio then General of the Roman Army and the Enemies manner of Fighting by his extream Labour and Diligence by his modest Obedience and frequent exposing himself to Danger arriv'd to such a degree of Reputation that he was not only greatly belov'd by our People but equally formidable to the Numantines And indeed a thing most extraordinary and rarely to be met with in one single Person he was not only strenuous in Battel but safe and shrewd in Counsel Of which the one from foresight generally begets Fear the other from dating and inconsiderate boldness usually produces Rashness The General therefore for the most part made use of Jugurth in the execution of his most difficult Enterprizes took him into the number of his Friends and dayly more and more augmented his Respect and Favour toward him as being one whose Counsel and Courage seldom fail'd Besides all this he had a large Soul and a Genius most industrious by which means he had contracted a most familiar Friendship with many of the Romans 8. At that time were several Upstarts and Noble Persons in our Army that preferr'd Wealth before Justice and Honesty factious powerful at home and among our Allies more eminent for their Riches then Vertue who by ostentatious Promises did not a little inflame the hopes of Jugurth that so soon as Micipsa dropt into his Grave himself should reign sole Monarch of Numidia That he was a Person accomplish'd for Sovereign Rule and that all things were put to Sale at Rome After this when Numantia was levell'd with the Ground and that Scipio had determin'd to dismiss his Auxiliaries and return home he took Jugurth along with him magnificently rewarded and laden with Encomiums into the Pretorian Pavilion before the whole Assembly of the Chief Officers and there admonish'd him in secret rather publicly then privately to continue his Friendship with the Roman People lest by ill bestowing his Bounty he might happen to purchase with danger from a few that which belong'd to many That if he took the right Course Glory and the Kingdom would drop of themselves into his Bosom but that if he made too much haste his own Money would throw him headlong into Ruin 9. After these Admonitions he dismiss'd him with certain Letters which he was to deliver to Micipsa to this effect Thy Jugurth's Courage has been highly conspicuous in the Numantine War which I am assur'd will be acceptable News for Thee to hear By Us he is highly respected for his Merits and that he may have the same Esteem from the Senate and People of Rome we shall mainly endeavour I congratulate thy Happiness for our Friendships sake for thou enjoy'st a Subject worthy of thy self and thy Father Massinissa The King therefore when he found true by the Generals Letters what he had heard before by Report smitten as well with the Courage as the Loveliness of the Person allay'd his Anger and resolv'd to try whether he could vanquish him by Acts of Grace and Favour To which purpose he adopted him and by his last Will left him Co-heir of the Kingdom with his Sons and some few years after wasted with Age and Sickness perceiving the Conclusion of his Days at hand he is said to have us'd the following Admonitions to Jugurth in the hearing of his Friends and Kindred as also of his Two Sons Adherbal and Hiempsal 10. When thou wert young helpless Jugurth after thou hadst lost thy Father without Hopes or Maintenance I took thee into my Kingdom believing thou wouldst prove equally grateful both to me and to my Children should I have any for favors heap'd upon thee Nor was I deceiv'd in my good Opinion For to omit thy other many great and famous Explots lately returning from Numantia thou hast honour'd both Me and my Kingdom with Martial Reputation and by thy Prowess hast made the Romans Friends before most friendly to Us. In Spain the Name and Lustre of our Family is again renew'd and which is the hardest Task for Mortals to perform thou hast vanquish'd Envy with Renown Now then because that Nature puts an end to my Life by this Right Hand by the Truth of the Kingdom I beseech and conjure thee That these Young Men by Birth thy nearest Kindred and Brothers through my Favour may be always the dear Objects of thy real Affection and that thou wilt not forsake the Friendship of thy own Flesh and Blood for the Alliances of Strangers Neither Armies nor Treasures are Guards sufficient to defend a Kingdom but Friends which thou canst neither compel by Force nor purchase with Gold They are only to be gain'd by Duty and Fidelity But where should Friendship then be most sincere if not between Brother and Brother Or where shall he find a Friend among Strangers that is an Enemy to his own Relations I leave yet a Kingdom strong and durable while vertuous and unanimous but weak and of short continuance if wicked and perverse For by Concord small Beginnings thrive through Discord the most Sinewey Establishments shrink to nothing Till then these Striplings are grown up Thee Jugurth it behoves their Senior both in Years and Prudence to take care that nothing may disturb this happy Union For in all Contentions the more powerful though he recieve the Injury yet because his Force is greater seems to do it And as for your parts Adherbal and Hiempsal respect and reverence so great a Man as this imitate his Courage and let it not be said That I adopted better Children then I first begat 11. To all this Jugurth altho' he knew That what the King had utter'd was all but craftily dissembled and that he had other Designs in his Head nevertheless observing the Season he answer'd as if nothing but Submission and Duty had inspir'd him Within a few days after Micipsa dies Whom when they had magnificently Interr'd with all the Royal Pomp befitting his Dignity the three lesser Princes met together to consult among themselves concerning their Affairs At that time Hiempsal naturally fierce and contemning Jugurth's mean Descent by the Mothers side plac'd himself upon Adherbal's Right Hand to prevent Jugurth's sitting in the middle which is accounted the chiefest Place of Honour among the Numidians Nor would he give way to Age till tir'd with his Brother's Importunity he was forc'd to change his Seat There after they had discours'd many things concerning the Government of the Kingdom Jugurth among other passages throws in a
of the Sun Therefore in the Jugurthine War the Romans by their Magistrates govern'd most of the Punic Towns and the Territoties of the Carthaginians which they had latest won The greatest Part of the Getulians and the Numidians as far as the River Mulucha were under the Dominion of Jugurth Over all the Moor's King Bocchus reign'd to whom the Romans were little known unless it were by Name neither was he known to Us by any Occasion either of War or Alliance 20. After the Commissioners had divided the Kingdom they return'd home At what time when Jugurth saw that he had obtain'd the full Reward of his Treachery contrary to the Fears of his Heart believing it certain as he had learnt by his Friends at Numantia that all things were vendible at Rome as also encourag'd by the Promises of those whom but a little before he had glutted with his Presents he bends his Thoughts upon Adherbal's Kingdom He himself stirring and warlike the Person he design'd upon peaceful and effeminate of a mild Temper and cut out for an Object of Injustice rather fearful then to be fear'd Unexpectedly therefore Jugurth enters his Territories with a great Army sweeps the Country both of People and Cattel burns the Houses and in an Hostile manner approaches most of the Cities with his Cavalry Then with all his Booty he marches back into his own Kingdom believing that Adherbal thus incens'd would revenge the Injury done him which would be a fair Pretence for a War On the other side Adherbal because he knew himself to be no way equal to his Adversary and for that he trusted rather to the Friendship of the Romans then in his own Numidians sent his Embassadors to Jugurth to complain of the Injuries he had done him who though they return'd with only contumelious Usage yet he determin'd to suffer all Indignities rather then begin a War wherein he had had such ill Success before However Jugurth's Ambition abated never the more for that as one that had already devour'd his Brother's Kingdom in his Heart And therefore not now as before by way of Inroad but with a great Army he began the War and openly to lay claim to the whole Empire of Numidia wherever he came he laid waste City and Country drave all before him encourag'd his own and struck terror into his Enemy 21. Adherbal when he found it was come to that height that he must either abandon his Kingdom or maintain his Right by Force of Arms constrain'd by Necessity raises an Army and marches to meet Jugurth Thus both Armies met by the Sea-side not far from the City of Cirta but in regard it was then toward the Evening they did not fight that day but when the Night was far spent and that Day-light began to glimmer Jugurth's Souldiers the Signal given fall pell-mell into the Enemies Camp where they kill rout and put to flight the scarce awake Numidians ere they could put themselves into a posture of Defence Adherbal with some few Horsemen gains the City of Cirta and had it not been for the great number of Italians that kept off the pursuing Enemy from the Walls in one day between two Kings a War had been begun and endeed Jugurth therefore surrounds the Town and prepares with his Vines Towers and Engins of all sorts to storm the Walls Making the more haste to anticipate the Embassadors which as he heard Adherbal had sent to Rome before the Fight However so soon as the Senate had intelligence of the War three young Men were sent into Africa with Instructions to attend both the Kings and to let 'em know that it was the Pleasure and Decree of the Senate and People of Rome that both should lay down their Arms and for any Controversies that were between 'em That they should suffer the Law not War to determin ' em 22. The Commissioners arrive in Africa which they made the more haste to do in regard that while they were preparing for their Journey News was brought to Rome of the Battel fought and the Siege of Cirta though the Truth were very much minc'd and favourably reported To whom when Jugurth had heard their Message he made Answer That there was nothing more awful nor more sacred to him then the Authority of the Senate That from his Youth he had so endeavour'd to regulate his Behaviour that he might gain the Applause of all good Men That his Courage not his evil Deeds had render'd him grateful to Scipio the greatest Person in the World That for the same reason and not for want of Children he was adopted into the Kingdom by Micipsa but that the more he had well and strenuously behav'd himself the less could he frame his Mind to brook Affronts That Adherhal had Treacherously laid Wait for his Life which when he understood he only oppos'd him with open Force That the People of Rome would neither Act justly nor as became good Men to forbid him the Right of all Nations Lastly That he would in a short time by his Embassadors give the Senate an Account of all his Proceedings 22. Jugurth when he thought the Commissioners were departed out of Africa and found that by reason of the natural strength of the place he could not take Cirta by Storm surrounds it with Trenches and Breast-works rear'd up several Towers which he stuft with Armed Men left no thing unattempted Day and Night either by Force or Stratagem at the same time alluring and terrifying the Defendants with Rewards and Objects dreadful to the sight inflaming the Valour of the Assailants by continual encouragements and sedulously performing all things requisite upon such an occasion Adherbal therefore finding all his Fortunes reduc'd to the last Extremity the Enemy pressing furiously on no expectation of Relief nor hope of spinning out the War for want of Necessaries among the rest that fled with him to Cirta he made choice of two brisk Men of undaunted fidelity and partly by large Promises partly by raising up their pity of his low Condition prevail'd with 'em to break through the Enemies Guards in the Night time to the next Shoar and thence with all imaginable speed to make for Rome The Numidians in a few days accomplish his desires and Adherbal's Letters were read in the Senate to this effect Not any fault of Mine but Jugurth's violence Conscript Fathers constrains me so often to implore your Aid whose Ardent Thirst to drink my Blood is so extream that he regards neither your selves nor the Immortal Gods nothing will gratify his impatience but my destruction Therefore now five Months together have I the Friend and Allie of the Roman People been closely Besieg'd not will my Father Micipsa's Kindnesses nor your Decrees afford me any Succour My misfortune disswades me to write any more of Jugurth before this time also having had experience how little Fidelity is reserv'd for the Miserable However I am satisfy'd that his desires are far beyond
as they pleas'd themselves what by the Sword and what by Exilement destroy'd a great number of People procuring for the future more of Terror the Power to themselves A sort of rigorous Policy that many times becomes the Ruine of great Cities while the Citizens strive to vanquish one another they care not how and prosecute their Revenge to the utmost extremity upon the Vanquish'd But should I go about to discourse particularly of the Heats and Animosities of the Factions and all the Encroachments of bad Customs into the City Time would sooner fail me then Matter And therefore I return to the Business in hand 43. After the Peace agreed by Aulus and the ignominious Flight of our Army Metellus and Silanus being design'd Consuls shar'd the Provinces among themselves by which means Numidia fell to Metellus a man altogether for Action and though an Enemy to Popular Factions yet of an untainted and unviolable Reputation and so acknowledg'd by both Parties At his first entrance into his Office after he had setl'd all Affairs wherein his Colleague and he were equally concern'd he wholly bent his Mind upon the War which he was to undertake To that purpose not daring to confide in the Old Army he listed New Souldiers sends for Auxiliaries from all parts makes provision of Armor Weapons and all other Instruments of War stores himself with all manner of Provisions and all things requisite in a dubious Contest often subject to the want of fresh Supplies Toward all which great and vigorous Preparations the Allies the Italians and Foreign Princes nay the whole City it self largely contributed even to emulation both Forces and Money So that all things being now in a readiness to his own content he puts to Sea for Numidia filling the City full of fair Hopes knowing him to be a Person of great Vertue and more especially bearing a Mind impregnable to the Assaults of Gold Which they lookt upon then as a great Matter considering how before that time through the Covetousness of our Governors in Numidia our Forces had been foyl'd and weaken'd and the Strength of the Enemy augmented 44. When he arriv'd in Africa the Army was resign'd to his Command by Spuricus Albinus the Pro-Consul debauch'd and out of heart neither daring to look Danger in the Face nor endure Labour prompter of their Tongues then Hands preying upon their Friends but a Prey to the Enemy under no Command or Discipline So that the new General was more troubl'd to reform their corrupted Manners then any way encourag'd to expect Assistance or Service from their licentious Numbers Metellus therefore determines though the proroguing the former Summer-Elections had shorten'd his Time and that he knew the Eyes of his Fellow-Citizens were all upon him not to meddle with the War till he had first enur'd his Souldiers to Labour and Hardship according to the Discipline of their Ancestors For Albinus being terrify'd with his Brother's Disaster and the Overthrow of the Army after he had resolv'd not to stir out of the Province during so much of the Summer-Season as he commanded the Army kept his Souldiers in standing Camps and never dislodg'd but when Stench or Want of Forage compell'd him to remove And then also neither were the Watches observ'd and Sentinels plac'd according to the Custom of Military Discipline But every one at random left his Colours and wander'd where he pleas'd the Sutlers and Camp-Boys intermix'd with the Souldiers roam'd about the Country day and night laying waste the Fields pillaging the Villages driving off great Booties of Pris'ners and Cattel which they exchang'd with the Merchants for Wine and other Commodities Moreover their public Allowances of Corn they sold and bought their Bread every day as they us'd it Lastly whatever Scandals of Sloth and Luxury could ever be utter'd or devis'd were all to be really found in this our Army and more if possible 45. In the midst of these Difficulties I find Metellus to be a Person no less prudent and politic then expert in Affairs of War such was his Temperance and Moderation between an eager desire of Reformation and Severity For by his first Edict he prohibits all the Incentives and Pandarisms to Idleness That no man within the Camp should sell any Bread or Flesh ready drest That no Sutlers or Camp-Boys should follow the Army and That no Common Souldier should presume to keep either in the Camp or upon a March any Slave or Beast of Carriage what else remain'd he limitted according to the Rules of Discretion Moreover he often dislodg'd his Camp marching sometimes one way sometimes another and as if the Enemy had been at hand still fortify'd himself with Trenches and Breast-works He frequently reliev'd the Watches and often went the Rounds himself with the Legates And when he was upon a March sometimes he would be in the Front sometimes in the Rear and often in the middle to prevent the stragling of the Souldiers from their Colours and when they march'd in a full Body they were order'd to carry their Provision as well as their Arms and by prohibiting rather then by punishing Miscarriages he reduc'd the Army to perfect Discipline 46. In the mean while Jugurth when he heard by his Spies the Courses which Metellus took as also being ascertain'd from Rome of his Integrity he began to mistrust the Issue of his Affairs and then at length began to think of making a real Composition To which purpose he sent his Agents to the Consul with Offers of Surrender and full Commission to desire only his own and his Childrens Lives but refer all other things to the good will and pleasure of the Roman People But Metellus was not ignorant by former experience that the Numidians were a perfidious Nation inconstant in their Humor and always inclin'd to Novelty And therefore discoursing the Agents every one apart by themselves and sounding 'em by degrees when he found 'em sincerely pliable he perswades 'em with large Promises to deliver up Jugurth into his hands alive if possible or slain if otherwise it could not be accomplish'd but what farther Message they had to carry to the King he openly informs 'em at a Public Audience After this he enters Numidia with a well resolv'd and powerful Army where contrary to the count'nance of War the Houses were full of People and the Fields of Cattel and Husbandmen Then out of the several Towns and Villages the King's Officers came forth to meet and congratulate the Consul professing themselves ready to furnish him with Corn and Carriages for his Provision and in a word to do whatever he commanded But notwithstanding these fair shews Metellus was never a jot the less circumspect marching in the same order and wariness as if the Enemy had been at hand sent his Scouts and Forlorns every way round about believing all pretences of Surrender to be only Wiles and Stratagems to draw him into Mischief And therefore he march'd himself at the Head of his
the Mountain from whence Metellus had descended to prevent the Enemy from regaining it and fortifying themseves in that place should they be put to a retreat then giving the Signal he flew upon the Romans The Numidians soon made havock in the Rear while others Charge in the Flank some upon the right others upon the left side they press on and lay about 'em every where endeavouring to break the Ranks of the Romans among whom they who with greatest resolution labour'd to come to a close Fight were disappointed by the uncertain Assaults of the Enemy who fought and wounded at a distance those that could reach to revenge themselves For the Horsemen had been instructed before by Jugurth that when they were pursu'd by any of the Roman Troops that they should not retreat in a Body but scatter several ways by that means if they could not deter the Enemy from pursuit they were in a Condition being Superior in number to Charge 'em when dissipated on all sides Rear Front and Flanks and then a gain if the Hill were more advantageous to secure their Flight then the Plain Fields that then they should retire thither where their Horses accustom'd to scoure through the Bushes could not be follow'd by our Men easily incumber'd among the Shrubs and Thickets 50. All this while the Event of things lookt but with an ill Aspect uncertain various bloody and miserable dispers'd from their own some fled others pursu'd neither Ensigns nor Orders observ'd where-ever danger attacque'd any Man there he made resistance Arms Weapons Horses Men Enemies and Friends lay all intermingl'd together nothing was acted by Counsel or Command but Fortune govern'd And now the day began to be far spent and then the Issue was also uncertain But at length both sides being spent with toyl and heat Metellus observing the Numidians fury to abate rallies his Men together by degrees reduces 'em into Order and places four Legionary Cohorts against the Enemies foot To those Cohorts of which the greatest part weary and tir'd had possess'd the upper Grounds Metellus gave good words and desir'd 'em not to desert their fellow Souldiers nor suffer an Enemy half vanquish'd to wrest the Victory out of their hands that they had neither Camp nor Fortification to retreat to but all their hopes was in their Swords Neither was Jugurth idle he rode about exhorted entreated renew'd the fight and in person with the select Guards of his Body try'd all places reliev'd his own press'd furiously upon those that waver'd and against those he could not move he fought at a distance Thus these two famous Generals bestirr'd themselves in Courage and Experience in their Forces not so equally match'd For Metellus had the more valiant Souldiers tho the Ground was disadvantageous Jugurth had all Advantages of his side but only Souldiers At length the Romans understanding they had no place of Refuge and finding that the Enemy would not hazzard a close Fight besides that it was now toward Evening by the Generals Command they briskly charge up Hill and then it was that the Numidians having lost their footing were soon routed and out to flight few were slain in regard that the swiftness of their Heels and the Country unknown to the Roman protected their Lives 51. In the mean time Bomilcar to whom Jugurth had given the Command of his Elephants and part of his Infantry as we have said already when Rutilius was March'd past him brings his own Men into the Champaign ground by degrees and whilst the Legate hastned to the River whither he was sent before orders his Army with great silence as it behov'd him not neglecting however by his Spies to observe the Motions of the Enemy in every place So soon as he understood that Rutilius was Encamp'd in a careless posture and found that Jugurth was engag'd by the hideous Noises that reach'd his Ears from the Battle fearing least the Legate when he understood the cause would hasten to the Assistance of his own Party he extends the Front of his Army which before upon distrust of their Courage he had drawn up thick and close and to stop the March of the Enemy Marches directly toward Rutilius's Camp The Romans of a suddain perceive a prodigious Cloud of Dust for the fields being thick set with low Trees hindr'd a clear Prospect and believes at first that it was rais'd by the Wind but afterwards when they saw it continue and approach nearer and nearer to themselves then readily conjecturing what the matter was they betake themselves to their Arms and range themselves before the Camp according to command When the Enemy drew near both sides joyn Battle with a hideous clamour and noise The Numidians stood fast so long as they thought there was any hope in their Elephants but when they saw them entangl'd among the Boughs and by that means overthrown and surrounded by the Romans they betook themselves to their Heels and throwing away their Arms by the benefit of the Hill and the Night which was then at hand escap'd with little Execution Four Elephants were taken the rest to the number of forty kill'd But the Romans though tir'd with their March with raising the Fortifications of their Camp and the heat of the Battle yet because Metellus staid longer then was expected they March forward Embattl'd as they were and with an extraordinary Resolution to meet him For the Craft of the Numidians will admit of nothing negligent or remiss At first through the darkness of the Night when they came within hearing one of another being taken for Enemies there was nothing but fear and hurry one among another And through imprudence a fatal Accident had like to have happen'd had not the Forelorns on both sides rectify'd the mistake But then their fears were chang'd of a suddain into joy The Souldiers merrily call to one another relate and hearken to one anothers Exploits and every one extols his own Valour to the Skies For such is the Condition of human Affairs that after Victory Cowards have leave to boast but ill success casts a reproach on the most Valiant 52. Metellus stay'd four days in the same Camp orders the wounded to be carefully look'd after those that had well deserv'd in the Battle he well Rewards according to the Military Custom applauds 'em all in general and gives 'em thanks in a Public Assembly As to what was behind which would now prove easy he exhorted 'em to behave themselves with equal Courage that they had already fought sufficiently for Victory their other Toyls woul'd only be for Booty In the mean time he sends the Fugitives and other proper Spies to bring him News where Jugurth was what he was doing what force he had about him and how he brook'd his loss But Jugurth had retir'd himself among the Woods and Places strongly fortify'd by Nature there he levy'd an Army more numerous that he had before but such as had neither Mettle nor Strength Which happen'd so
for this reason because unless it were the Royal Cavalry not one of all the Numidians accompani'd the King in his Flight but every one took his own Course as his Fancy lead him neither is it accounted any shame for a Souldier so to do as being the Custom of the Country Metellus therefore when he found that the Kings Courage was not yet cool'd but that the War would be renew'd which could not then be manag'd but as Jugurth pleas'd himself Moreover that he fought upon unequal terms with an Enemy to whom it was less prejudice to be vanquish'd then to overcome his Men he determin'd to fight no more pitch'd Battles but to carry on the War after another manner Therefore he Marches into the Richest Parts of Numidia harrasses and lays wast all the Country takes and burns several Castles and Towns either slightly fortify'd or else without any Garrisons puts all the Young men to the Sword all other things he gives free Booty to the Souldiers These severe Proceedings cause several to send Pledges to the Romans Corn and all other necessary Provisions are plentifully supply'd and where ever need requir'd there he plac'd a Garrison Which manner of Warlike management terrify'd the King much more then the ill success of a Battle For that be whose hopes of safety were all in flight was now constrain'd to follow And he that could not defend the Territories that were left him was now forc'd to wage War in the Conquests of another But in this distress and exigency of choice he took that course which seem'd to him to be the wisest He orders the Body of his Army still to lie in the same place He himself with a select number of Horse follows Metellus and in regard his Nocturnal Marches and unfrequented ways were not subject to quick Discovery he frequently met with the Roman Forragers and Straglers of which the greatest part were slain or taken nor did one escape unwounded which done before Assistance could be sent from the Camp the Numidians were vanish'd to the next Hills 55. In the mean time there was extraordinary rejoycing at Rome upon the News of Metellus's success that he had govern'd both himself and the Army according to the Custom and Discipline of their Ancestors that in a disadvantageous ground he had obtain'd the Victory by his Valour that he was Master of the Enemies Country and had constrain'd Jugurth vain-gloriously puff'd up and grown insolent through the Cowardice of Aulus to hide his head in Deserts and to place all his hopes of safety in Flight Therefore the Senate order'd Supplications to the Immortal Gods for the success of their Arms The City trembling before and solicitously dreading the Event of the War were all in Festivals and Jollity and Metellus's Fame spread far and near For this reason he labour'd more vigorously after Victory He leaves no stone unturn'd yet provident all the while how he fell into the Ambuscado's of the Enemy mindful that after Glory Envy follows Therefore the greater his Reputation was so much the more Careful and Vigilant also was he neither after the last Attempts of Jugurth would he suffer the Army to forrage at random and therefore when he wanted either Corn or Fodder he sent several Cohorts and all the Cavalry to guard the Forragers He himself led one part of the Army and Marius the other the Country was laid wast rather by Fire then driving of Booty they Encamp'd in two several Places not far distant one from the other When there was occasion for reinforcement they joyn'd both together and when they design'd to clear and ravage the Country and spread the Terror of their Arms then they acted asunder At the same time Jugurth follow'd close at their Heels but still keeping the Mountains VVhere ever he could perceive the Enemy bent their March there he destroy'd all the Forrage and poyson'd the Wells and Fountains of which there was great scarcity Sometimes he would shew himself to Metellus sometimes to Marius by and by fall upon the Rear neither engage in Battle nor suffer 'em to be at rest only to obstruct the Enemies designs 56. Therefore the Roman General when he saw himself tir'd out by a crafty Adversary that would not be drawn to a fair Encounter he determin'd to Besiege a great City called Zama in that Quarter of the Country the Key and Bulwark of the Kingdom believing as it was but rational that Jugurth would come to relieve the Place and so give him the Opportunity of a Battle But he being inform'd by the Fugitives of Metellus's designs with long Marches gets before him encourages the Townsmen to defend their Walls and leaves 'em all his Fugitives to re-inforce their Garrison which were a sort of People the stoutest and most resolute of all the Kings Forces as being under a constraint of being faithful and having thus settl'd his Affairs away he slips into the most private lurking holes he could meet with Soon after he understood that Marius was upon his March being commanded with some few Cohorts to Convoy a considerable quantity of Corn from Sicca Which was the first Town that revolted from the King after his Defeat Thither Jugurth hastens in the Night time with some select Troops of Horse and Engag'd the Romans as they were just Marching out at the Gate and at the same time cry'd out to the Inhabitants to fall upon the Cohorts in the Rear withall encouraging 'em for that Fortune had put into their hands a noble Opportunity which if they laid hold on he should for the future enjoy his Kingdom and they their Liberty in Peace and Tranquillity So that had not Marius fall'n on with all the fury imaginable made his way out of the Town and broke through the Enemy at the same time either all or most of the Inhabitants had chang'd their Fidelity so mutable and inconstant is the Numidian Faith But Jugurth's Souldiers being a while supported by the presence of their Prince when they felt the smart strokes of the Enemy who prest in hard on the thickest and most forward with the loss of some few betook themselves to speedy flight and Marius comes safe to Zama 57. This Town was seated in a Plain rather fortify'd by Industry then Nature provided with all Necessaries and stor'd with Men and Ammunition Metellus therefore having prepar'd all things in readiness so far as the Time and Place would permit surrounds the Walls with his whole Army and gives Orders to the Legates what Posts to take Then upon the Signal given a hideous Clamour fills the Skies on every side but all their noise nothing terrifies the Numidians they stand resolute and fix'd without any Tumult so the Assault begins The Romans plaid their parts as they thought best themselves some fought with Slings and Darts at a distance others make close Approaches some to undermine and some resolv'd to set their Ladders to the Walls and make a speedier trial of
their Swords On the other side the Numidians powr down Stones pointed Stakes and Darts upon those that were nearest together with flaming Fire-brands all besmear'd with Pitch and Tar. Nor could their Fears protect those that kept farthest off For the Darts continually discharg'd from the Engines or else flung out of Hand both reach'd and wounded the greatest part Both the Timorous and the Valiant underwent the same danger though not with equal Reputation 58. While both Sides vigorously thus dispute for Zama Jugurth of a sudden and when least expected falls upon the Roman Camp and forcing the Turn-pike breaks in upon our Men. Who being amaz'd with sudden Fright shift every one for themselves according to custom some fly some betake themselves to their Arms and a great many are either wounded or slain Of all the Number not above Forty remembring they were Romans embody'd together betake themselves to a Rising Ground and made it good notwithstanding the Force of the Assailants the Darts thrown at 'em they return'd again which from a few lighting upon many crowded together did never fall in vain if the Numidians durst approach 'em then they shew'd their Courage with a strange Fury routing killing putting all to flight At the same time Metellus in the heat of the Assault hearing a great Noise and Tumult behind him turn'd about his Horse and perceiving a Rout and that they that fled made toward him he readily conjectur'd what the Matter was Thereupon he sends away all his Cavalry forthwith to the Camp and after them Marius with the Cohorts of the Allies conjuring him with Tears in his Eyes by the Friendship that was between 'em and by the Honour of the Commonwealth not to suffer any Disgrace to stain the Victories of his Army nor to leave the Enemy ere he had had his full Revenge Marius vigorously perform'd his Command So that Jugurth being incumber'd with the Fortifications of the Camp while some threw themselves headlong over the Rampire others crowding through the narrow passages to get out hinder'd one another with the loss of many of his Men retir'd to his Fastnesses Metellus also at the same time not able to prevail in regard that Night drew on retreated with his Army to the Camp 59. The next day before he return'd to the Assault he drew up all his Cavalry before the Camp on that side where he expected a second Attempt from Jugurth and commanded 'em there to keep a strict Watch. The Turn-pikes and Places next adjoyning he commits to the Guard of the Tribunes and then surrounding the Town as he did the day before gives a second general Assault Presently Jugurth makes a second Attempt likewise upon our formost Men who being somewhat terrify'd at first are soon disorder'd but the Reserves fly speedily to their Relief Nor could the Numidians have longer withstood their Force had not their Foot being intermingl'd with the Cavalry made a great Slaughter at the first Charge For being assisted by this intermixture they did not as it is usual in other Charges of the Horse sometimes press forward sometimes give Ground but fell in pell-mell Horse Head to Horse Head thereby incumbring and disordering the Ranks at what time the Foot breaking in had almost routed the Enemy 60. At the same time the Dispute was no less desperate at Zamara Where every Legate or Tribune was posted there most vigorously they perform'd their Duties no man confiding more in another then in himself On the other side the Townsmen made a strenuous Resistance they fought to wonder and provided against all Accidents more eager to wound others then mindful of their own Safety Hideous and different were the Cries of both Parties Encouragements Shouts of Joy and bitter Groans of Lamentation the Clattering of Weapons fill'd the Skies and Showers of Darts fell thick on every side At length they who defended the Walls when they perceiv'd the Fury of the enemy a little to slacken stood still upon the Battlements to behold the Fight between the Roman Jugurth's Cavalry and as Jugurth either prevail'd or lost Ground sometimes you should see 'em overjoy'd then again all in consternation And as far as they could be seen or heard by their fellows some they besought others they encourag'd making Signs with their Hands and Motions of their Bodies like men avoiding or darting forward their missive Weapons Which when Marius perceiv'd for he had the Charge of that Quarter on purpose he slacken'd his Fury and dissembl'd a Mistrust of the Event suffering the Numidians to have an unmolested Prospect of their Princes Bravery But at length while they were busily gazing upon their Fellows Marius attacks the Walls with a more then ordinary violence And the Souldiers by the help of their Scaling Ladders had almost gain'd the Battlements when the Townsmen embodying of a sudden ply'd 'em with Stones Fire-works and other Missive Weapons Our men made stout resistance at first but after two or three of the Ladders were broken they that stood upon 'em were miserably mortify'd the rest few safe every one as best they could shifted for themselves and very few escaping unwounded the most part hurt and maim'd quitted the Assault at length Night parted the bloody Fray 61. When Metellus found such ill Success of his Enterprize and that neither the Town could be taken nor Jugurth drawn to fight but where he had the advantage of Ground or Ambuscado's and that Summer was spent he rais'd his Siege from before Zama and plac'd Garrisons in those Cities which had revolted from him and were either naturally or artificially fortify'd and the rest of the Army he quarter'd in that part of the Province which borders upon Numidia Nor did he spend that Time as others were wont to do in Ease and Luxury but finding Force so little prevail'd he therefore betook himself to Stratagem To this purpose with fair Words and large Promises he attempts Bomilcar This was he who accompany'd Jugurth to Rome and after he had given Sureties for his forth-coming upon the Murder of Massiva secretly made his Escape for fear of being put to death and therefore by reason of his intimacy with Jugurth ' had the fairer opportunity to betray his Friend The first thing Metellus did was to bring him to a private Meeting in the next place he gave him his word That if he would deliver Jugurth into his hands alive or dead the Senate should not only grant him Impunity but his own Demands The Numidian is easily perswaded being not only naturally treacherous but also misdoubting lest if the Romans should make a Peace with his Master he might be excepted out of the Articles and deliver'd up to condign punishment 62. He therefore upon the first Opportunity he could meet with coming to Jugurth and finding him troubl'd and bewailing his Misfortunes with Tears in his Eyes beseeches and conjures him that at length he would take pity of himself his Children and the miserable Estate of the
with the Baggage except only flour for ten days which the Souldiers were to carry in their Snapsacks he also makes great Provision of Leathern Bottles and Casks for his Water He picks up all the Cattle he can find in the Neighbouring Parts and them he orders to be laden with an infinite number of wooden Vessels which they found in the Numidian Cottages Moreover he orders the Borderers that had surrendred themselves after the flight of the King what quantity of Water he expected at their hands and appoints 'em a day and place where they should be ready and then fills his own Vessels from the River which we have already mentioned and thus furnish'd with all things necessary he Marches directly for Thala When he came to that place where the Numidians were Commanded to tarry for him after he had pitch'd his Tents and fortify'd his Camp such violent showers of Rain are reported to have fallen on a suddain from the Sky that there was Water enough and to spare for the whole Army Provisions also were plentiful beyond expectation in regard the Numidians as is usual while the awe of a new Conquest continues had been extreamly double diligent Upon the Souldiers also the Rain had wrought a Superstitious effect while the seeming Miracle gave new boldness to their Courage believing that now the Immortal Gods took care of their Persons and favour'd their Enterprize and thus the next day they arriv'd before Thala contrary to Jugurth's expectation The Townsmen who thought themselves secure by reason of their inaccessible Situation amaz'd to see themselves so unexpectedly surpriz'd were nevertheless industrious to prepare for stout Resistance and with the same alacrity did ours prepare for the Aslault 76. But Jugurth now believing there was nothing impossible to Metellus as one against whose Industry no Arms or Weapons nor inequality of Ground would prevail but had overcome even Nature her self with his Children and the greatest part of his Treasure deserted the Town and fled away in the Night nor did he afterwards tarry in any one place above one day or a Night at most Nevertheless that he might not seem to abandon the Town he pretended urgency of Affairs and new Designs but indeed because he was afraid of Treason which he thought to prevent by a speedy retiring himself for that such contrivances of Treachery were hatch'd by leasure and opportunity On the other side Metellus when he saw the Townsmen resolv'd to defend themselves and that the Town was also strongly fortify'd as well by Nature as by Art he entrenches his Army round about the Walls and then places his Vines and Engines in such places as he thought most proper Behind them he also raises Bulwarks and upon them Towers to desend the Souldiers and Pioneers On the other side the Townsmen labour might and main to frustrate his Approaches neither was any thing of Art or Industry omitted on either side At length after much toyl and several Combats and Onsets the Romans forty days after they sate down before it became Masters of the Town only in regard the Fugitives had set Fire to the Plunder For they when they perceiv'd the Walls began to totter through the fury of the Battering Rams and that their Affairs were in a desperate Condition carry'd all their Gold Silver and other precious moveables into the Kings House where after they had stupify'd their Sences with Wine and good Chear they set Fire to the House and burnt themselves and all that was in it of their own accords inflicting upon themselves the same punishment which they dreaded at the hands of their Enemies 77. But at the same time that Thala was taken certain Messengers sent from Leptis to Metellus arriv'd at the Camp beseeching him to send 'em both a Garrison and a Governor That there was one Hamilcar among 'em a Person of Noble Extraction but Factious who went about to raise disturbances in the City and sollicited the People to revolt Neither was the Power of the Magistrate nor the Authority of the Law sufficient to put a stop to his Proceedings and that unless he made great haste the Safety of the City and their Allegiance to the Romans would be in great danger For the People of Leptis at the first beginning of the Jugurthine War had sent to Bestia the Consul and afterwards to Rome requesting Amity and a mutual League Which after they had obtain'd they continu'd just and faithful and whatever they were commanded by Bestia Albinus or Metellus to do they diligently and sedulously perform'd and for that reason the General readily condescended to their Desires sending 'em a Garrison of sour Ligurian Cohorts and C. Annius for their Governor 78. This Town was built by the Sidonians who being forc'd to abandon their Native Country by reason of Civil Discord came by Sea into those Parts seated between two vast Banks of Sand and derives its Name from the Nature of the Place For upon the utmost Limits of Africa two Bays extend themselves not far distant one from another unequal in Bigness but in Nature both alike The Parts next the Land are very deep the other Parts as the Wind lies sometimes deep sometimes shallow for when the Sea runs high and the Wind blows hard the Billows drive the Sand and Ouze together with the massy loose rocky stones before 'em and thus the whole Surface of the Bottom changes with the violence of the Wind and Tide and therefore are they call'd Syrtes from drawing the Stones and Sands from one place to another The Language of the City is now quite alter'd by their vicinity to the Numidians The most of their Laws and Religious Ceremonies are Sidonian the more easily retain'd because they live remote from the King's Court. Besides that beween them and the inhabited Parts of Numidia lie vast and unfrequented Desarts 79. And now since the Affairs of Leptis have drawn us into these Parts it will not be amiss to rehearse an Action of two Carthaginian Brethren of which the Place it self puts me in mind there being few that more deserve the Remembrance of History At what time the Carthaginians were Masters of the greatest part of Africa the People of Cyrene likewise were both powerful and opulent The Countrey between is sandy and altogether level not so much as a River or Mountain to ascertain the Limits of their Territories which was the occasion of an outragious and lasting War between ' em After many Armies defeated many Sea-Engagements with great Loss on both sides when they had almost ruin'd one another fearing at length both Victors and Vanquish'd their becoming a Prey to a Third Enemy they make a Truce and then an Agreement That upon such a certain day they would send their Ambassadors from home and wheresoever those Ambassadors met that Place should be the certain Bounds of both their Dominions To this purpose two Brothers being sent from Carthage both call'd by the Name of Philaeni they made
all the speed they could the Cyrenians travell'd flowly but whether it were through negligence or by chance I am not able to say Yet in those Places a contrary Wind is no less troublesom to a Traveller then at Sea For when Tempestuous Gusts blow hard and brush those level Sands naked of all manner of Coverture the Dust Pebbles so terribly molest the Sight and Faces of Travellers that not daring to open their Eyes they are no longer able to proceed in their Journey Howere it were the Cyrenians finding they had loyter'd behind and fearing Capital Punishment for their Negligence at their Return quarell'd with the Carthaginians and accus'd 'em of setting forward from home beford their Time made a hideous Bustle ann resolv'd whatere it cost 'em not to reture home Losers Whereupon when thy Carthaginians proffer'd to accept of ane Condition that was but reasonable thr Greeks made this Proposal That eithes the Carthaginians should suffer themselve to be bury'd alive in that Place which they claim'd for the Limits of their Empire or else upon the same Condition That they would travel forward as far as they thought fit Whereupon the Philaeni accepting the Proposal surrender'd themselves and their Lives for the Good of the Commonwealth and were bury'd alive without more ado In remembrance of which pious Act the Carthaginians erected Altars which they consecrated to the Memories of the Two Brethren besides other Honours which were decreed 'em at home Now I return to the Matter in hand 80. Jugurth after the Loss of Thala thought nothing sufficiently secure against the Conduct of Metellus and therefore crossing vast Desarts with a small Retinue at length he comes to the Getulians a fierce and barbarous sort of People and at that time unacquainted with the Roman Name Of these he musters together a vast Multitude and by degrees accustoms 'em to keep their Ranks to follow their Ensigns to obey Commands and several other Points of Military Discipline Moreover by great Gifts and larger Promises he procutes the Favour of such as had the Ear of King Bocchus and by their Assistance addressing himself to the King he perswades him to undertake a War against the Romans Which Bocchus was the more easily inclin'd to do in regard that at the beginning of the Jugurthine War he had sent his Ambassadors to Rome to desire a League and Friendship with the Romans Which Overture most advantageous at the beginning of that War some few obstructed blinded with Covetousness and according to their usual Custom putting all things to Sale both honest and dishonest Besides Jugurth but a little before had marry'd the Daughter of Bocchus But that same Tye of Relation is little valu'd among the Moors and Numidians because they marry several Wives some Ten and others more according to their Estates and Princes consequently a far greater Number So that being thus distracted with variety the King advances none to his Society particularly but looks on all as equally vile and equally inferior 81. Therefore at the Rendezvouz by both appointed both Armies meet and there both Princes giving and taking mutual Oaths of Fidelity and Constancy Jugurth in a set Speech the more to exasperate Bocchus tells him That the Romans were unjust immensely covetous the common Enemies of all Mankind That they would make the same Pretences serve for an occasion of War with Bocchus as with him and other Nations Ambition of Rule as having a perfect Antipathy against Monarchs That at present Himself a little before the Carthaginians and King Perseus were the Objects of their Fury and that hereafter the Power and Opulency of any Prince would be a sufficient Provocation for the Romans to quarrel with him This said away they bend their March for Cirta for that Metellus there had stow'd his Booty Captives and his Baggage Thence Jugurth consider'd That either the taking of the Place would be worth his while or if the Romans attempted to relieve it he should have the opportunity to fight ' em For it was his Policy to make haste to engage Bocchus beyond the Hopes of Peace lest by delay his Mind might vary to accept of any Conditions rather then enter into a War 82. But the General so soon as he had Intelligence that there was a League between the two Kings would not rashly not upon every slight occasion proffer Battel as he was wont to do after he had overthrown Jugurth but having fortify'd his Camp not far from Cirta there he waits the coming of the Kings believing it his wiser course to fight upon Advantage after he had made Trial of the Courage of the Moors as being an Enemy with which he had never yet engag'd In the mean time he had Advice by Letters from Rome that the Province of Numidia was given to Marius for he had heard before that he was elected Consul The News of which so strangely mov'd him beyond all measure and put him so beside himself that he could neither refrain from Tears nor moderate his Tongue a Man so excellent and so accomplish'd in all other things yet not able to brook his inward Vexations Which some attributed to his Pride others to the Generosity of his Naturet that could not suffer an Affront but many to his Indignation that the Victory now as good as won should be wrested out of his Hands But we are satisfy'd that Marius's Honour more tormented him then the Injury done to himself and that he would not have taken it so impatiently had the Province when taken from him been bestow'd upon any other then Marius 83. Metellus therefore sick of this Distemper and because he deem'd it a folly for him to procure Triumphs for another at the haxard of his own Life sends Ambassadors to Bocchus to caution him how he quarrell'd with the People of Rome without any provocation That now he had a fair Opportunity to obtain the League and Alliance which he had before desir'd and which would be far more advantageous to him then War That though he might rely upon his great Power yet 't was not the safest way to hazard Certainties for Uncertainties That a War was easily begun but not so soon ended That the Beginning and Conclusion of it were not at the disposal of the same Person That any Coward might begin a War but the End of it was at the pleasure of the Victor only and therefore that he should consult his own and the welfare of his Kingdom and not adventure his flourishing Prosperity in the same Bottom with Jugurth's Misfortunes To which the King in mild and gentle Terms return'd for Answer That Peace was his desire only he pity'd the miserable Condition of Jugurth so that if he might be included in the Articles all things would be soon concluded Again the General in Answer to Bocchus's Demands sends other Commissioners some things he approv'd others he refus'd and thus by sending to and fro Time wasted and the War was spun out without a
of People for to a Man that aspires to Power and Command the more indigent are still the fittest Instruments upon several occasions in regard they have nothing to care for of their own and therefore look upon all things to be just and honest by which there is any thing to be got Marius therefore putting to Sea with something a larger Number then was Decreed him landed in a few days at Vtica The Army is deliver'd over into his hands by P. Rutilius the Legate For Metellus avoided the sight of Marius that he might not see those things which he could not endure to hear 87. But the Consul having recruited the Legions and auxiliary Cohorts marches into a fruitful Country where he might be sure to find Booty enough There he gave all the Pillage to the Souldiers This done he takes in all the Castles and Towns that were but slightly fortify'd either by Art or Nature and least able to make defence and has several slight Skirmishes with the Enemy some in one place some in another and all the while he order'd the raw Souldiers to stand and look on to behold the Routed kill'd or taken and thereby taught 'em how the most Valiant were still in most Safety That the Sword was the only Protection of their Country their Liberties their Wives and Children and how Honour not Riches was the noblest Aim Thus in a short time both Raw and Veteranes became all one and the Courage of all was equally alike But the Two Kings when they understood of Marius's arrival retir'd several ways into the Fastnesses of the Country This was Jugurth's Design in hopes that the Romans might be surpriz'd so soon as they thought themselves a little more secure For that the Romans like most other People grew careless and remiss in their Guards when once their Fears were over 88. In the mean time Metellus arriving at Româ— contrary to his Expectations was joyfully receiv'd and so soon as once their Passion was over equally belov'd as well by the People as by the Senate But Marius indefatigably and with extraordinary Prudence minded both his own Business and the Motions of the Enemy he was still considering what was advantageous what was prejudicial to both he had his Spies continually abroad to observe the Marches of the Kings thereby to prevent their Designs and Ambuscadoes suffering no remisness in his own nor any security in the Army of his Enemy By which means he often met in his Marches with the Getulians and Jugurth ravaging the Territories of our Allies whom he assoon defeated and not far from Cirta forc'd the King himself to leave his Arms behind him Which being only brave Exploits but no way conducing to the Conclusion of the War he determin'd to besiege all such Towns as either thro' the strength of the Garrison or the situation of the Place were of importance to the Enemy and prejudicial to the Romans By which means Jugurth must be despoyled of all his Garrisons if he lay still or else must come to a Battel For Bocchus had often sent him word that he was for his part desirous of a League and Friendship with the Romans and that he should not need to fear any thing of Hostility at his hands But whether he dissembled in this particular to the end his unexpected Onset might give the greater Blow or whether out of natural instability of Mind it were his Custom to make frequent Exchanges of War and Peace could never be certainly known 89. The Consul however according to his Determination visits all the Towns and strong Holds some he takes by force some through fear surrender and others upon the Offers of large Rewards set open their Gates At first he dealt with those that were less considerable hoping that Jugurth coming to the Rescue of his Subjects would give him the opportunity of a Battel But understanding that he was gone a great way off and busily intent upon other Affairs he thought it time to bestir himself in greater and more difficult Enterprizes On the other side of the Country beyond several wide and spacious Desarts lay a large and strong Town by name Capsa Of which the Libyan Hercules is said to have been the Founder The Inhabitants enjoy'd great Privileges under Jugurth free from Taxes and therefore most faithful to him being not only guarded by their Walls and a strong Garrison well furnish'd with all sort of warlike Ammunition but much more by the difficult situation of the Place For excepting those Fields and Pastures that lay round about the Town all the Country round about lay barren desart and unmanur'd wanting Water and much infested with Serpents whose Fury like that of all other Creatures is the more exasperated through scarcity of Food besides that the pernicious Nature of those Serpents is by nothing more provoked then by Drought Marius was inflam'd with an eager desire to take this Town as well for the Service of the War as for the Difficulty of the Enterprize besides that Metellus highly to his Honour had won the City of Thala not much unlike this Place both for Strength and Situation only that not far from the Walls of Thala there were several Springs They of Capsa had but only one Well of Fountain-Water all the Out-parts supply'd themselves as the Rain happen'd to fall Which both there and in all Africa that lies remote from the Sea and more uncultivated is the more easily endur'd for that the Numidians for the most part feed upon Milk and the Flesh of wild Beasts wanting neither Salt nor any other Sawces to whet their Appetites Their Diet only serv'd 'em to prevent Hunger and Thirst not for Luxury nor yet to please their Palats 90. The Consul therefore having made a full Enquiry into every thing relying certainly upon the Favour of the Gods for humane Wisdom could never provide against so many Difficulties especially there being but small store of Corn in those parts in regard the Numidians delight more in Pasturage then Tillage and what they had upon the Ground by the King's Order was secur'd in their strong Holds besides that the Fields were at that season parch'd up without any Crop at all for it was toward the latter end of Summer however he makes sufficient Provision out of that Plenty which he had ordering the Auxiliary Horse to drive before 'em all the Cattel which they had made Booty of upon their last Incursions A. Manlius the Legate he commands to march with the Light-Armed Cohorts to Laris where he had secur'd his Money for the Souldiers Pay and his Provisions giving out that he would march that way himself within a few days and meet him there And thus concealing his Design he sets forward directly for the River Tana 91. Upon his March he made an equal distribution of his Cattel among the Souldiers so much to the Foot and so much to the Horse of the Hides he caus'd Bottles or Water-Bags to be made
This he did no man knowing his Design to prevent the waste of Corn which was to stand him afterwards in stead Upon the sixth day by that time he came to the River he had an infinite number of Water-Bags ready made There pitching his Tents and slightly fortifying his Camp he order'd his Souldiers to their Repast and commands 'em to be ready to march so soon as the Sun began to set leaving all their Baggage behind only loading themselves and their Beasts of Carriage with Water Then at his time appointed he sets forward and having march'd all Night he makes a Halt all the next day Thus he did the second Night and the third Night long before Day-Break he came to a Place full of Hillocks not above two Miles distant from the Town where as privately as he could he lay close with all his Army But in the Morning when the Numidians least dreaming of an Enemy began to stir abroad about their Occasions he commands all the Cavalry and the swiftest of his Foot to fly to the Town and seize the Gates Immediately he himself follow'd strictly commanding the Souldiers to refrain from Pillage Which when the Townsmen perceiv'd their dangerous Condition unspeakable Consternation Calamity unlookt for and besides all this a great part of the Inhabitants without the walls in the power of the Enemy constrain'd 'em to a speedy Surrender Nevertheless the Town was laid in Ashes the Numidian Youth were put to the Sword all others sold and the Booty divided among the Souldiers Which severe Act of the Consul 's against the Law of Arms neither his Avarice nor his Cruelty urg'd him to commit But because so strong a Place that lay so necessary and convenient for Jugurth was no less difficult of Access to the Romans the People fickle and perfidious neither to be â—urb'd by Fear nor kept in Obedience by mild Usage 92. Marius having thus perform'd an Exploit so considerable without any loss of his own Men as he was great and in high Repute before so was he now ten times greater and more famous then ever Not only what he acted with Prudence and Foresight but whatever prov'd by Fortune successful was all ascrib'd to his Vertue and Conduct The Souldiers under gentle Command and enrich'd withal extoll'd him to the Skies the Numidians dreaded him as if more then Humane in a word both Allies and Enemies believ'd that either he was inspir'd with a Divine Foresight or else that he acted altogether by the immediate Assistance of the Gods The Consul therefore upon this Success hastens to several other Towns of which some he takes after a small Resistance of the Numidians others he finds deserted by the Inhabitants dreading the sad Fate of the Capsensians all which he lays in Ashes nothing but Slaughter and Lamentation over the whole Country Thus having made himself Master of several Places and most without the Loss of my Roman Blood he undertakes another Enterprize not so toilsom as that of Capsa yet no less difficult Not far from the River Mulucha which separates the two Kingdoms of Jugurth and Bocchus stands a Rocky Mountain of a prodigious height in the midst of a large Plain upon the Top of which where there was Space enough stood an indifferent Castle to which there was but one and that a very narrow Ascent For every way else it was by Nature so perpendicularly steep as if it had been the Labour of Art and Industry Which Castle because it was one of the Places where the King's Treasure lay Marius resolves to win whatever it cost him But here his Fortune befriended him above his Conduct For the Castle was furnisht with a strong Garrison and all manner of warlike Ammunition and Provisions a Fountain of Water but no way assailable by the help either of Bulwarks or Towers and as it were standing in defiance of all sorts of Engins whatever besides the Passage to it was narrow and steep on both sides The Vines by which we make our Approaches were brought and set up with vast Labour and Danger for no sooner were they rais'd to something of perfection but they were presently destroy'd with Fire and Stones The Souldiers could neither stand to their Labour by reason of the steepness of the Place nor work secure under the covertures they that were most forward and couragious were slain or wounded others were dismay'd and discourag'd 93. Marius therefore after the Toyl and Labour of many days consum'd in vain perplex'd and pensive began to consider whether he should draw off or wait a favourable opportunity since his Fortune had been hitherto so prosperous Which while he was pondering for several days and Nights together chaf'd and fuming in his Mind by chance a certain Ligurian common Souldier in the Auxiliary Cohorts going out of the Camp to fetch water not far from that side of the Castle which was opposite to that part where the Assaults and Defences were made spy'd several Periwinkles creeping among the Rocks Of which when he had tasted one or two desirous to have more he was got up by degrees ere he knew where he was to the top of the Rock where observing nothing but Silence and Solitude after the custom of humane Curiosity desirous to see what he never had seen before he stands and listens By chance there grew in the same place a Holm-Tree which had made its way through the Stones stooping forward at first then winding back and shooting up to a considerable heighth as it is the Nature of all Vegetables By the help of whose Boughs and the Stones jutting out from the Wall the Ligurian clamber'd so high that he discover'd the whole Platform of the Castle and perceiv'd how the Defendants were all busily employ'd where the Assailants forc'd 'em to make Resistance After he had thus taken a sufficient view of all things that he thought requisite he returns the same way he got up not in haste but leisurely observing and taking notice of every Particular conducing to his purpose This done away he comes to Marius informs him of the Accident and advises him to attempt the Castle on that side and promises to lead the way and be formost in the Danger Immediately Marius sends away with the Ligurian some of those that were then present to examin the Truth of his Information who according to their several Fancies upon their Return reported the Enterprize some to be easie others difficult However the Consul began to pluck up a good heart and liking the Design picks out of all his Trumpets and Cornets five of the nimblest and most active he could meet with and appoints 'em for their Guard four Centurions with their Companies commanding 'em to follow the Ligurian's Instructions and appoints the next day to put the Enterprize in execution And now the time appointed being come and all things fix'd away they go to the Place at what time the Centurions according to the Directions of their Guide chang'd
among whom there was not one that did not value a days wages above his life Now he is a Proconsul in high Command not purchas'd but conferr'd upon him by your selves with Leiutenants as yet Legally obedient and to him resorted Men of all Degrees the most corrupt and vicious inflam'd with lust and want whirl'd to and fro with the Guilt of their Crimes people never at rest but in Sedition in peace most turbulent sowing Tumult upon Tumult and War upon War the Pensioners of Saturninus formerly afterwards of Sulpitius then of Marius and Damasippus and now of Lepidus Besides Hetruria up in Arms and all the Embers of extinguish'd Wars now breaking forth again Both Spains Sollicited to Insurrection Mithridates the next Neighbour to our Tributaries by whom we are as yet supported watches round about an Opportunity for Invasion so that there is nothing but a proper Captain wanting to subvert the whole Body of the Empire Which I beseech and implore ye Conscript Fathers to consider and that you will not suffer Licentious Villany like a pestilence by contagion to infect the sound For when Rewards attend the wicked there 's no man easily will addict himself to vertue gratis Do ye think it fit to wait till with a new embody'd Army they once more invade the City with Fire and Sword Which seems much more like and nearer to its present Condition then from Civil War to Peace and Concord A War which he has inflam'd in contempt of all things both Divine and Human not for any wrong done either to himself or at least as he pretends to others but for the Subversion of our Laws and Liberties For he is tortur'd and harrass'd in his mind with Ambition and dread of ill success void of Counsel and Restless Trying this attempting that he fears Tranquillity hates War foresees a Curb upon his Luxury and Licentiousness and in the mean time makes an Abusive Advantage of your Remissness Which I know not what to call whether Fear or Sloath or Madness While every one singly seems to pray that the threatning mischief may not like Lightning dart upon himself but no man stirs an inch to prevent the gathering Cloud I beseech ye consider how the Natural Order of things is ranvers'd Formerly public Contrivances of mischief against the State were secretly carry`d on the Remedies openly provided and by that means good Men had the Advantage of the Wicked Now Peace and Concord are openly disturb'd but secretly defended They who delight in War and public Calamity are up in Arms and you in fear and Consternation What are your Hopes unless perhaps you are asham`d or look upon it as an irksome Toyl to do your Duty Do the Commands of Lepidus appease your Indignation Who tells ye `t is his pleasure that every Man should have his own yet has nothing but what belongs to other Men who would have all Claims of War cancell`d yet all the while compels by force of Arms who desires the Freedom of the City to be confirm'd yet denies the Citizens their Franchises of which they were depriv'd who for Concords sake would have the Tribunitian Power restor'd to the Commons from maintenance of which all our Discords have deriv'd their Original Most villanous and impudent of all Mankind canst thou be thought to mind the wants the grievances and lamentations of thy Fellow Citizens who canst call nothing thy own unless what forcibly thou hast gain'd by Plunder and Rapine Thou standest for a second Consulship as if thou hadst resign'd the First Thou seek'st for Peace by that same very War by which it was disturb'd when fairly once obtain'd Traytor to Us faithless to Them the Enemy of all good People regardless both of Gods and Men whose Laws Divine and Humane thou hast violated by Treason and Perjury Who being what Thou art I advise thee to continue thy Resolutions and not to quit thy Arms nor to keep Us in continual Cares and Anxieties thy self so restless when Seditions are delay'd Neither Provinces nor Laws nor Houshold Gods allow thee for a Citizen Go on then as thou hast begun that so thou mayst the sooner meet with thy Reward But as for You Conscript Fathers how long will you by tedious lingring suffer the Commonweath to be in jeopardy and only talk of taking Arms in its Defence Souldiers are dayly listed against ye vast sums both publickly and privately extorted The Laws commanded to be serviceable to Ambition Will and Pleasure while you sit voting Lieutenants and considering what Decrees to make And upon my word the more earnestly you sue for Peace so much the sharper the War will be when he finds himself more strongly suported by your fears then by the Justice of his Cause For they that tell ye they abominate Tumults and the Slaughter of their Fellow Citizens and for that reason detain ye unarm'd from opposing Lepidus in Arms believe you will more readily suffer what the vanquish'd must endure when ye so loosely brook what might be in your power to chastise Thus they disswade him from Peace with you and you from War with him If these things please ye if such a Lethargy benum your Sences that forgetful of Cinna's Devastations upon whose return to the City all Majesty and Degrees of Dignity were trampl'd under foot you will nevertheless surrender up your selves your Wives and Children to Lepidus what need of more Decrees to what Purpose the Assistance of Catulus in vain both he and all good men take care to support the Commonwealth Do as you think fit sue to Cethegus and other Traytors for their Protections that long to glut themselves with new Rapines and Conflagrations and to brandish once more their naked Swords against their Houshold Gods But if Liberty and Justice be more acceptable Let your Decrees become your Grandeur and fortify the Commonwealth with men of Vertue and Courage There is a new rais'd Army at hand moreover Colonies of Veterane Souldiers all the Nobility most expert Commanders and Fortune ready to attend the Best In a short while the Forces already muster'd together will disband and melt away through our Remissness Wherefore it is my Opinion clearly since Lepidus of his own head is Marching to the City with an Army compos'd of Russians and Enemies to the Common-wealth in contempt of the Authority of this Senate that Appius Claudius as King pro tempore together with Q. Catulus and others that are at present in Command be appointed to guard the City and to take care that no Detriment befall the Commonwealth The Epistle of Cn. Pompey to the Senate IF as your Enemy and the Enemy of my Country and your Houshold Gods I had undergone as many Hardships and Dangers as from my early Adolescency the most Barbarous of your Foes have been vanquish'd under my Conduct and your Security thereby establish'd you could not have enacted any thing against me in my absence more severely then your present Unkindness Conscript
Fathers makes me sensible of Me whom expos'd to a most cruel Enemy ' ere scarce my Age was capable of Action together with an Army most deserving as much as lies within your power you have betray'd to perish for want of Food the most miserable of all Deaths Was it with this Design the Roman People sent their Sons to War Are these the Guerdons of our Wounds and Blood so often shed for the Honour of our Country Tyr'd out with writing and sending Messengers I have wasted all my private Wealth and Hopes While you for three Years time have scarce allow'd me a single Years Expence I call the Immortal Gods to witness whether you think me to be a Bottomless Exchequer and whether I am able to Support an Army without Food or Pay I must confess indeed I hasten'd to this War with a more eager desire then prudent Consideration as one who having from you receiv'd the Title of General in forty days levy'd an Army and from the Alpes drave back the Enemy already pressing upon the Neck of Italy into Spain Through them I open'd another Passage more then ever Hannibal did and more convenient for our Marches I recover'd Gallia the Pyrenaeans Laceâ—ania and Jergetum and with raw Souldiers and much fewer in number stood the first shock of Victor Sertorius and surrounded with a cruel and barbarous Enemy winter'd in the field not in warm Quarters nor of my own choice But why should I enumerate Battels or winter Expeditions Towns levell'd with the Earth or taken by Composition Deeds are more prevalent then Words The Enemies Camp surpriz'd nere the River Subro the Battel by the River Durius and C. Heremius chief Leader of a Potent Adversary vanquish'd and his Army with the City of Valencia utterly ruin'd are sufficient Testimonies of the Truths I utter For which most grateful Fathers you repay Us with want and starving Hunger So that the Condition of mine is no better then that of the Enemies Army Neither of the two are paid and both ready to March Victors into Italy Of which I put ye in mind and beseech ye to take care That I may not be constrain'd to take private Resolutions in the midst of these Necessities The hither Spain of which the Enemy has no part either our selves or Sertorius have laid wast even to utter destruction unless some Maritime Towns which are rather a burthen and a charge to Us. The last year Gallia supply'd the Army of Metellus with Corn and Money Which now by reason of bad and blasted Harvests is scarce able to support it self And for my own part I have not only wasted my particlar Estate but lost all my Credit Our last Hopes are in your selves who unless you relieve our distresses must expect no other then what I now foretel ye and which I never shall be able to prevent that the Army will March from hence and with it all the whole War of Spain must be remov'd into Italy The Oration of Marcus Licinius Tribune of the People to the Commonalty of Rome IF Worthy Romans you were not well acquainted with the difference between the Rights and Privileges which you inherit from your Ancestors and that same servitude design'd by Sylla my Discourse would then require a longer time and it behov'd me to instruct ye for what Oppressions and how oft the Armed Commons made a separation from the Fathers Now it suffices only to encourage ye and first to lead the way which I esteem most proper to redeem our Liberty Nor am I ignorant how vast a Power and Interest among the Nobility I am about to pull down from domineering Usurpation my self alone without assistance and unguarded only with the shadow of Magistracy and how much safer it is for a whole Faction to act in Combination then for Persons innocent to move singly by themselves But besides the good Hopes which I have in you This has overcome all my fears that the Misfortunes of Contending are far more satisfactory to a generous Courage then never at all to have contested Tho all others who have been created Tribunes to secure your Franchises have turn'd all their Power and Authority to your prejudice o'er sway'd by Favour Hopes or by Rewards and rather chose to sin for Hire then do justly Gratis For these reasons they all submitted under the Domination of a Few who by their Reputation in War have got Possession of the public Treasure Armies Kingdoms Provinces and make your spoils their Towre of safety while you the Multitude like to many Sheep surrender your selvs in Vassalage to this and t'other Paramounting Lord dispoyl'd of all those Blessings which your Fore-fathers left you But perhaps it is because as formerly you gave your Suffrages for Rulers now you give the same for Masters Therefore all your Tribunes flock to them and if it be your chance to recover your own again you shall see 'em upon the Turn of the Tyde return to you again For few have the Courage to defend what best they like the t'other are the stonger Party that fight in their own wrong But can you dream of meeting an Obstruction when unanimous and resolute from those that fear'd ye when remiss and negligent unless you think that Cotta a Consul of the middle Faction restor'd some certain Privileges to the Tribunes for any other reason then out of fear for tho L. Sicinius first adventuring to open his Mouth in behalf of the Tribunitian Power was disappointed while you only mutter'd at it yet they that oppos'd him first began to dread your Hatred ' ere you would be brought to resent the Oppression At which I never can sufficiently admire most worthy Romans For you knew it was a vanity to tire your Expectations After the Death of Sylla who impos'd that heavy Bondage you thought that then the end of all your Mischiefs was at hand But there sprung up a far more Cruel Catulus A Tumult brake out when Brutus and Aemilius Mamerous were Consuls But then C. Curio play'd the Tyrant even to the fatal destruction of the innocent Tribune You saw last year how furiously Lueullus threatned L. Quinctius and wrought him from his Purpose And lastly now how I am plagu'd and harrass'd among ' em A needless Trouble would they but once surcease their Usurpation before you made an end of serving Especially seeing whatever are the pretences for their civil Broils the main Contest on both sides is for Dominion over you Those other Figments of Licentiousness Hatred or Avarice are but Flashes that extinguish in a short Time Only one thing continues permanent the end at which both sides with ardour drive at and that is to dispoilye perpetually of the Tribunitial Power the only Buckler which your Ancestors provided to shield your Liberty which I admonish and beseech ye to consider and that you would not odly changing the Names of things to favour sloth call Servitude Tranquillity which it were not
Guards were put upon Him that would not suffer him to take a wink of Rest Eumenes whose Friendship they pretended so highly to value they betray'd to Antiochus the Price of Peace Attelus the Guardian only of a subjugated Country after they had rendred him ridiculous by their Taxes and their Contumelies of a Sovereign Prince they made the meanest of their Slaves and having forg'd an impious Will led his Son Aristonicus in Triumph like an Enemy because he only laid claim to his Paternal Inheritance Asia is by them entirely usurp'd and lastly Nicomedes being dead they have laid violent hands on all Bithynia tho' the Son of Nysa to whom they had been pleas'd to give the Title of Queen were then without doubt among the Living For wherefore should I name my self with whom though every way distinctly bounded from their Empire by Kingdoms and Tetrarchies because reported opulent and one that would not be a slave they found a way to quarrel and set upon Me Nicomedes not ignorant of their Impiety and as it happen'd afterwards before attesting that only the Cretans and Ptolemy liv'd free and uncontroul'd at that Time However in revenge of that Injustice I expell'd Nicomedes out of Bithynia recover'd Asia the spoils of King Antiochus and rescu'd Greece from ponderous Servitude My farther Progresses the basest of my Vassals Archelaus put a stop to by betraying my Army and they who either through Cowardice or wicked subtlety withdrew the Assistance of their Arms thinking to be secure by the Hardships I endur'd now reap the fatal harvest of their Treachery Ptolomy well brib'd can find no just occasion for a War The Cretans already assaulted are to expect no other Issue but utter devastation Assuredly for my own part when I understood that by reason of their Intestine Broils Battle and Bloodshed rather were delay'd then peace confirm'd contrary to the Opinion of Tigranes who too late approv'd my Counsel and notwithstanding thy remoter distance while my Neighbours were their Slaves and Vassals yet I undertook a second War at what time I overthrew by Land M. Cotta the Roman General nere Chalcedon and by Sea despoil'd 'em of a goodly Fleet of Ships But sitting down before Cyzicum and lingring there with a numerous Army Provision fail'd me without the least Relief of all my Allies and more then that the Winter debarr'd me the benefit of the Sea Thus without any molestation of the Enemy was I constrain'd to retreat into my own Kingdom no less unfortunate in the Loss of the best of my Souldiers together with my Fleets that were Shipwrackt within sight of Para and Heraclea But then having recruited my Army Cabira after several Conflicts between Me and Lucullus both Armies labour'd under pressing Necessities However Lucullus had at his devotion the Kingdom of Ariobarzanes as yet untouch'd by War I retreated into Armenia all the Countries round about Me being utterly destroy'd and laid wast At what time the Romans following not alone but their Custom of subverting all Kingdoms because the Nature of the Country would not suffer Multitudes to engage in set Battels they boasted the rash imprudence of Tigranes for a Victory Now consider I beseech thee whether if we should be subdu'd it would be advantageous any way to thee to make a more powerful Resistance or whether it be thy Opinion that then the War will be at end I know thee to be vastly Opulent and stor'd to infinite abundance with Men with Arms and Money And for that Reason 't is we covet such an Associate in the War They such an Enemy for booty But 't is the judgment of Tigranes while his Kingdom remains entire that the War may be made an end of against an Enemy far from home with little labour by the Valour of my own well disciplin'd and experienc'd Souldiers since we can neither vanquish nor be vanquish'd without hazard and prejudice to thy self Canst thou be ignorant that the Romans after the Ocean had set limits to their Western Conquests turn'd the fury of their Arms upon these parts That from the begining they ne'er had any thing but what they got by violence not so much as their Wives and Houses much less their Lands and Empire A medley of Vagabonds having neither Country nor Kindred born to be the Plague and Destruction of the whole World Whom neither Laws divine nor human no fear of Gods or Men can restrain from Ransack Ravage and Destruction both of Friends and Allies whether remote or neighbours Powerful or Indigent profess'd and mortal Enemies of all Mankind that are not Vassals to themselves of Soveraign Princes more especially For only few desire Liberty the greatest Part are contented with just Masters So we are suspected to be their Rivals and dreaded perhaps least we should prove the future Chastizers of their Insolencies But thou the Monarch of Seleucia the biggest of Cities and Soveraign Lord of Persia what canst Thou from Them expect but Treachery at the Present and War hereafter The Romans draw their Swords against all Nations and People yet most keenly sharpen'd against those who being vanquish'd yield the richest spoils By daring and deceiving and raising War they are become Potent By such havocks and destructive Courses as these they will either extirpate all before 'em or perish themselves which Latter seems not so improbable to happen if thou from Mesopotamia and We from Armenia surround their Armies wanting Provision and destitute of all Assistance and only secure by some strange favour of Fortune through our own Divisions or our Cowardice And then will that Renown attend Thee having succour'd once two mighty Kings to have subdu'd the grand Robbers of the Nations Which I admonish and exhort thee to do unless thou hadst rather to our perdition a while prolong thy single Empire till they have leisure to subdue thee then be a Conqueror by our Alliance The Oration of C. Cotta the Consul to the People MAny dangers most worthy Romans have befallen me in Peace and as many Misfortunes have I met with in War of which some I have been forc'd to undergo others I have warded off by the Assistance of the Gods and my own Vertue In all which neither my Courage was wanting to my Business nor my Industry fail'd my Resolutions Adversity and Prosperity made an Alteration in my Estate but not of my Natural Inclinations On the other side in these Calamities all things deserted me when Fortune left me Moreover Old age cumbersom of it self re-doubles my cares considering my self in that miserable Condition that it is not permitted Me to hope for so much as an honest death For if I have been the Parricide of your security and being born by Restoration from Exile have dishonour'd my Houshold Gods my Country and the highest Degree of Magistracy what Torment can be thought sufficient for Me living or what punishment after my Decease From my first years of Adolescency your Eyes were still upon
me both a private Person and a Public Magistrate They who desir'd it had all my Elocution my Advice my Money at their Service nor did I ever make a Crafty use of Eloquence to uphold the Knacks of Law or Exercise my Parts in Mischief But covetous of private favour was forc'd to bow under the weight of ponderous Animosities for the good of the Commonwealth At what time depress'd when she was quite subdu'd and expecting dayly nothing but utter ruin You most worthy Romans restor'd me to my Country and my Houshold Gods with accumulations of Dignity For which excess of Favours I could not shew my self too grateful should I for every single Kindness expend as many Lives For Life and Death are only Claims and Rights of Nature but for a Man to live blameless among his fellow-Citizens entire in his Fortunes and his Reputation that 's a gift kindly as well bestow'd as acceptably receiv'd You have made us Consuls most worthy Romans now that the Commonweath is in a most distracted Condition For the Generals in Spain demand Money Souldiers Arms and Provisions and 't is but what necessity constrains 'em to For that by reason of the revolt of our Allies and the Flight of Sertorius among the Mountains they neither can come to blows nor get the necessary supports of Nature The Excessive Power of Mithridates compels us to maintain great Armies both in Asia and Cilicia Macedonia is crouded with Enemies Nor are the Maritime Coasts of Italy and the Provinces less infested In the mean time our Tributes being small and by reason of the Wars but ill and uncertainly paid hardly defray a part of the Expences So that we are forc'd to lessen the number of our Ships that us'd to carry and convoy our Provisions These things whether they befal Us through fraud or negligence do you consider and as you find it punish the Offenders But if it be a general Misfortune and Calamity that attends Us wherefore is it that ye enterprize things both unworthy of your selves of Us and the Commonwealth For my own part whose years are near the Precipice of death I do not wish one minute longer of Life if that might prove the least Advantage to your safety not deeming this same free-born Body of mine can more be honour'd then by submitting to its dissolution for your welfare Here then behold the Consul Caius Cotta ready ready to do what oft our Ancestors have done in times of dubious War I freely devote and offer up my self a Victim for the Commonwealth Of which to whom you afterwards shall recommend the Care your selves be circumspect For no good Man will be covetous of such an Honour when either he must give an account of the success of Peace or War by others carry'd on or suffer ignominious death Only remember this that I was not cut off for acts of Villany or Avarice but willingly surrendred up my Life in gratitude for exceeding favours For your own sakes therefore most worthy Romans and by the Glory of your Ancestors I conjure ye a while to be patient in your adversity and consult the welfare of the Commonwealth Great is the Care and many are the toyles that accompany supream Command which in vain ye refuse yet seek the Opulency of Peace when all our Provinces Kingdoms Seas and Lands are harrass'd and tyr'd with the Calamities and Hardships of War Two * Orations to C. Caesar attributed to Salust * MAny Learned Men have made a Question whether these Orations were really written by Salust or no. But Douza one of his Commentators stiffly maintains 'em to be the Genuine Productions of the same Author Nor are the Arguments he brings without great probability and reason For he alledges not only the Consent and Agreement of the Vellum Originals but the congruity of stile and censorious Notions natural only to that Satyrical and Grave Historian Further he asserts that there is not that Purity of Latin in Tacitus besides the vast difference between the Writers of the Flavian and Julian Times Whereas it is objected that there is not the same conciseness in these Orations as in the rest of Salust's Writings that seems of little moment since there can be nothing more concise nor more agreeable to Salustian brevity then the Stile and Language of these Orations But the same Commentator mislikes the Title of Orations and that not without just Cause since the Author himself gives them the Appellation of Epistles Forsitan says he Impera tor perlectis Literis decernes c. So that allowing these two small Peices to be the Works of Salust and no other we shall only alter the Title and call 'em Two Epistles concerning the Ordering of a Commonwealth directed to C. Caesar The First Epistle IT was the Common Opinion that formerly the Roman people by Fortune had Kingdoms and Empires in her Gift besides those other things which Mortal Men so greedily thirst after because they are frequently possess'd by Persons without Desert conferr'd as it were at Will and Pleasure and never any Man could boast 'em stable and permament to himself But experience has taught us how true it is what Appius tells us in his Verses That every Man is the Architect of his own Fortune A sentence more especially verify'd in Thee who hast so far out-gone all others that Men are tyr'd first with applauding thy Atchievements ere thou art weary of performing Deeds deserving Praise But vertuous Acquisitions like sumptuous Edifices are still to be preserv'd with sedulous Industry least through negligence they run to decay or fall to the ground while the foundations fail For no Man willingly surrenders Empire and Command to another And though he be Just and Mild who is in Power yet because it is at his Choice to be rigorous and tyrannical he is dreaded This comes to pass because the most that are in high Authority take wrong Measures believing themselves so much the more secure by how much the more pusillanimous and servile the People are whom they Command But quite the contrary to this ought chiefly to be aim'd at that is to say being Vertuous and Brave thyself thou shouldst endeavour to Command the best of Subjects for he that is lewd himself impatiently brooks a Ruler But thou hast a more difficult Task then all that were before thee to settle what thou hast won by force of Arms. For thou hast wag'd a War more soft and gentle then the Peace of others besides the Victors demand their Booty and the vanquish'd are thy fellow-Citizens In the midst of these difficulties there is an honest Medium to be found out that the Public Welfare may be establish'd not by force as a Foreign Enemy is curb'd but which is more noble and much more difficult by the profitable Arts of Peace Therefore is this a Matter of such importance as summons together all Men as well those of great as of moderate Wisdom for every one to give the best advice he