Sallust

“ Only the soul, itself incorruptible and the eternal ruler of mankind, moves all things and possesses all in perfect freedom. Wherefore there is all the more cause to marvel at the perversity of those who pass their days in luxury and indolence, enslaved to the pleasures of the body, but suffer the mind, than which there is nothing greater or better in this mortal nature, to grow dull through neglect and sloth, notwithstanding that the mind has so many and varied accomplishments at command, whereby it may win to the summits of renown. ”

“ VIII At that time there were in our army not a few, both commoner and noble, who set the winning of wealth above the pursuit of honour and virtue. At home they were turbulent partisans, abroad they made themselves powerful among our allies, and though they made a name, it was not a name of honour. These men enflamed the ambitious heart of Jugurtha by promising that, when Micipsa was dead, he should reign alone over all Numidia, saying that he was a man of great parts and there was naught that money could not buy at Rome. ”

“ But now to live is hateful and death dishonour. Fathers, by your own selves, by your children and those that bore you, by the majesty of the Roman people, I entreat you, help me in my need, redress my wrongs and suffer not your domain of Numidia to fall in ruin under the crimes of blood that now afflict my house!’
Jugurtha’s ambassadors reply that Hiempsal was put to death by his subjects for his cruelty and that Adherbal is the aggressor. The senate allot West Numidia to Jugurtha, East to Adherbal. ”

“ But after the destruction of Numantia, Publius Scipio, having resolved to dismiss his auxiliary forces and himself to return home, first rewarded and praised Jugurtha before all the army and then, taking him apart into his tent, bade him seek the friendship of the Roman people by public acts rather than by private intrigue, nor ever to put his trust in the power of gifts. ‘It is perilous,’ he said, ‘to buy from a few what belongs to many. Continue to exercise those talents that are your own, and glory and power will come unasked. ”

“ And lastly, fathers, Masinissa taught us all to honour none save the Roman people and to have them only for allies, since your friendship would be our sure defence and, if your star set, we too must go down into darkness. Virtue and the blessing of heaven have made you great. All things befriend you and are obedient to your will. Therefore the more easily may you redress the wrongs of your allies. One thing only I fear, lest some of you be led astray through friendship for Jugurtha. They know not how little his friendship is worth. ”

“ But seeing that uprightness alone cannot save me and that it lay not with me whether Jugurtha should be good or bad, I fly to you for refuge, to be (alas!) a burden rather than a profit. Other kings have been granted your friendship after you had conquered them in war, or sought your alliance when their fortunes trembled in the balance. But my house became the friends of Rome during the war with Carthage when Rome, however true, had little power to aid. Those friends were my forefathers; let not Masinissa’s grandson seek your help in vain! ”

“ The ruler and governor of this mortal life is the soul, which, if it follow after fame by the way of virtue, has power, might, and renown in plenty, nor needs help of fortune, since uprightness and energy and all other excellences are beyond her power to give or take away. But if the soul, enslaved by base desire, falls to indolence and sensual indulgence, for a brief space enjoying its disastrous lusts, then so soon as sloth has wasted time, strength, and wit, the blame is laid upon the infirmity of our nature, and the sinner reproaches not himself, but the perversity of things. ”

“ And furthermore you accomplished what is most hard for man’s achievement: you won glory without enkindling enmity. And now, since my end draws near, by this right hand and by the honour of a king, I charge you to love these, your kin by blood and brothers by adoption, nor ever to prize the love of strangers above that of kith and kin. For it is not armies nor treasure that keep kingdoms in security but friends: and they cannot be won by force or bought by gold, but are gotten by loyalty and true service. ”

“ For though ’tis true that by force we may rule our country and our kin and chastise wickedness, yet it is a perilous enterprise, more especially since all changes in government are accompanied by slaughter and banishments and other abominations. But to struggle in vain and get naught from all our toil save hatred is utter madness. And yet some there be that are consumed by base desire to forfeit their own honour and freedom that so they may win the favour of a powerful few. ”

“ I ‘Life is brief and man is weak; chance rules all and virtue goes for naught.’ So cries mankind. But they deceive themselves. Look closer, and what shall you find that is greater or more highly to be praised than man’s nature? ”

“ II For as man is composed of body and soul, so all our possessions and pursuits hang on the nature either of body or of soul. Thus, beauty, great riches, bodily strength, and the like pass swiftly away, but the triumphs of the mind are like the soul immortal. ”

“ But it is like that there will be some, who, because I have resolved to pass my life far from business of state, will brand my labours as mere idleness, great and profitable though they be. Such at least will be the way of those whose utmost effort is confined to greeting the rabble with lavish courtesies and seeking to win men’s love by keeping open house. ”

“ And what closer bond is there than the love of brothers? and what stranger shall be true to you, if you are false to your own kin? Naught shall shake the kingdom that I leave to you, my sons, if only you prove true: play false, and your realm shall have no sure foundation. ”

“ Yet, if men pursued that which is good with that zeal which they give to winning alien things that will profit them naught, but oft bring them to destruction, they would control that chance of which they are now the sport, and would climb to such a height of greatness that in place of this transitory life they should have glory everlasting. ”

“ But who, amid the all-devouring wickedness of these days, does not rather seek to surpass his forefathers in riches and extravagance rather than in energy and uprightness? Even commoners, who in old time were wont to outstrip the nobles by worth alone, now strive to win place and power by stealthy cunning and foul play ”

“ Adherbal besieged in Cirta.
XXII The envoys made all haste to reach Africa, for the news of the battle and of the siege of Cirta had reached Rome as they were setting out, though rumour told less than the truth. Jugurtha after hearing what they had to say, replied that he held nothing greater or more dear than the authority of the senate. ‘I have endeavoured,’ he went on, ‘all my life to win the approval of the best among men. ”

“ III But of all such paths to fame, the least to be desired at this present time are magistracies and commands and service of the state, since worth will not bring a man to public office, while those that win to high places by foul means are none the more secure or honoured in their position of power. ”

“ Its inhabitants are a healthy race, swift of foot and enduring of toil. Most die of old age, except such as fall in war or are killed by wild beasts; for death from disease is very rare, while dangerous animals abound.
Sallust then turns to the inhabitants, basing his account on the writings of Hiempsal II, a later king of Numidia. The original inhabitants were the Gaetulians and Libyans, wild and lawless savages, without fixed habitations. On the death of Hercules in Spain his army broke up, and contingents of Persians, Medes, and Armenians crossed into Africa. ”

“ Jugurtha has Hiempsal assassinated.
XII Primo conventu, quem ab regulis factum supra memoravi, propter dissensionem placuerat dividi thesauros finisque imperi singulis constitui. itaque tempus ad utramque rem decernitur, sed maturius ad pecuniam distribuendam. reguli interea in loca propinqua thesauris alius alio concessere. sed Hiempsal in oppido Thirmida forte eius domo utebatur, qui proxumus lictor Iugurthae carus acceptusque ei semper fuerat. ”

“ VII His difficultatibus circumventus ubi videt neque per vim neque insidiis opprimi posse hominem tam acceptum popularibus, quod erat Iugurtha manu promptus et adpetens gloriae militaris, statuit eum obiectare periculis et eo modo fortunam temptare. igitur bello Numantino Micipsa, cum populo Romano equitum atque peditum auxilia mitteret, sperans vel ostentando virtutem vel hostium saevitia facile eum occasurum, praefecit Numidis, quod in Hispaniam mittebat. sed ea res longe aliter ac ratus erat evenit. ”