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
to fall upon the back of the Enemies In the mean time Sylla who was first Attacqu'd after some few Exhortations to his Men with several single Troops joyning Horse head to Horse head he and several others charge the Moors the rest keeping firm in their Places cover their Bodies from the Darts that were flung at a distance and if any of the Enemy came within their reach he was sure to pay for his venturing While the Horse were thus engag'd Bocchus with the Forces which his Son Volux had brought to reinforce his Army and which were not in the last Fight having stay'd by the way charges the Rear of the Romans Then was Marius in the Front where Jugurth found him play with a numerous Body but the Numidian understanding that Bocchus had charg'd the Romans in the Rear privately with a small Company conveighs himself to the Foot and their crys out in Latine which he had learnt to speak at Numantia that our Souldiers fought to no purpose for that he had slain Marius but a little before with his own hand and at the same time brandish'd his Sword all besmear'd with the blood of a Common Trooper whom after he had long fought him hand to hand at length he slew Which when the Souldiers heard they were more astonish'd at the Cruelty of the Fact then the Relation of the Messenger at what time the Enemy resuming fresh Courage press in more eagerly upon the Romans And indeed they were within a very little of betaking themselves to their Heels when Sylla returning from the Rout of those which he first encounter'd and charging the Moors in Front put Bocchus immediately to flight As for Jugurth while he labours to support his own Men and to keep the advantage of a Victory almost gain'd being surrounded on every side by the Horse and all his followers slain breaks through the thickest of his Enemies alone Marius in the mean time having put the Horse to flight hastens to the Relief of his own Men who as he was told were ready to give ground But then the Enemy being utterly broken and routed on every side hideous was the Tragic Spectacle that presented it self over all the Field Pursuing flying killing taking many wounded bleeding striving and staggering along till fainting down they fell the surface of the Earth as far as you could see all strew'd with Weapons Arms and mangl'd Carcases and all the spaces between fill'd up with clotted gore 102. Thus the Consul after two great Victories obtain'd arriv'd at Cirta where about five days after the last Battel he was attended by Embassadors from Bocchus who in the Name of the King their Master request the General to send him two Commissioners of his most faithful Friends with whom he had a desire to treat of several things that concern'd both his own and the welfare of the Roman People Thereupon the Consul presently orders L. Sylla and A. Manlius to go along with the Embassadors These Gentlemen though they were sent for by the King and ought first to have heard his proposals yet they were clearly for speaking first either to abate his Courage if they found him incens'd against the Romans or else render him more plyable to their Conditions if they perceiv'd him inclinable to Peace Whereupon Sylla to whose Eloquence not his years Manlius gave the precedency in few words deliver'd himself to this effect King Bocchus more then ordinary has been our joy for that the Gods have inspir'd the Breast of such a Man at length rather to make choice of Peace then War nor any longer to contaminate thy Dignity by intermixing Interests thy self the best of Men with the worst of Caitiffs Jugurth while we at the same time are freed from a bitter necessity of prosecuting as well Thee beguil'd and led astray as Him debauch'd in Villany Besides that from the very Infancy of their State the Romans have always deem'd it much more noble to covet Friends then Slaves as thinking it more safe to Rule the wilingly submissive then such as they constrain'd to forc'd Subjection Nor can any Mortal reap a greater benefit from our Friendship then thy self as being in the first place far remote So that the occasions of injury can seldom or never happen but the opportunities of mutual assistance will be as equally balanc'd as if we were near at hand In the next place we have Subjects enow but neither we nor any Potentate living can boast to have more friends then are needful And I wish to Heav'n thou hadst follow'd those determinations at the beginning for certainly by this time thou hadst reap'd far greater Advantages from the Roman People then hitherto thou hast suffer'd prejudice But in regard that Fortune governs the greatest part of human Affairs and since it has been her Pleasure Thou shouldst make tryal as well of our Force as of our Favour now since she affords the Opportunity make hast to embrace it as thou hast begun proceed Thou hast many and fair Advantages to redeem thy former oversights by succeding Kindnesses Lastly let this descend into thy Breast that the Roman People were never out-done in Gratitude For what their Courage is in War thou knowest thy self To this Bocchus briefly returns a fair and plausible Answer in extenuation of his former Errors That he did not take Arms with any Hostile design but only to secure the Kingdom for that he could not brook that Part of Numidia whence Jugurth had been expell'd being his own by right of War should be laid wast by Marius besides that having sent his Embassadors formerly to Rome his friendship was rejected but that now laying aside all past Grudges with the good liking of Marius he would send another Embassy to the Senate But after he had obtain'd leave the Barbarian alter'd his Resolutions overrul'd by the Importunity of his Friends whom Jugurth understanding of Manlius and Sylla's being sent to the King and mistrusting their Errand had Brib'd with great Presents 103. Marius in the mean while haing dispos'd of his Army into their Winter Quarters with the Light Armed Cohorts and part of the Cavalry takes a swift March toward the Desarts to besige the Royal Tower where Jugurth had plac'd all his Fugitives in Garrison And then again it was that Bocchus either considering with himself what had befallen him in the two last Battels or else being better advis'd by his Friends and Favourites whom Jugurth had left unbrib'd or else scorn'd his Pensions out of the vast variety of his Kindred and Relations of which he had a numerous Train he picks five the most Trusty and the most able he could make choice of These he sends his Embassadors first to Marius and from thence if he thought fit orders likewise to go in the same Quality to Rome with Plenipotentiary power upon any Terms to put an end to the War and in all other Matters to act and conclude at their Discretion They make hast to the Winter
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
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