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
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
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-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
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
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