acquired by murder and usurpation, and sent ten commissioners to divide it between him and Adher’bal. 5.  The commissioners, of whom Opim’ius, the enemy of Gracchus, was one, willing to follow the example which the senate had set them, were also bribed to bestow the richest and most populous parts of that kingdom upon the usurper. 6.  But Jugur’tha resolved to possess himself of the whole:  and willing to give a colour to his ambition, he only made, in the beginning, incursions in order to provoke reprisals, which he knew how to convert into seeming aggression. 7.  This scheme failing, he resolved to throw off the mask, and besieging Adher’bal in Cirta, his capital, he at length got him into his power, and murdered him. 8.  The Roman people, who had still some generosity remaining, unanimously complained of this treachery, and procured a decree that Jugur’tha should be summoned in person before them, to give an account of all such as had accepted bribes. 9.  Jugur’tha made no difficulty of throwing himself upon the clemency of Rome; but not giving the people satisfaction, he had orders to depart the city.[1] 10.  In the meantime, Alba’nus, the consul, was sent with an army to follow him, who giving up the direction of it to Au’lus, his brother; a person who was every way unqualified for the command, the Romans were compelled to hazard a battle upon disadvantageous terms; and the whole army, to avoid being cut to pieces, was obliged to pass under the yoke.

11.  In this condition Metel’lus, the succeeding consul, found affairs upon his arrival in Numid’ia; officers in whom the soldiers had no confidence, an army without discipline, and an enemy ever watchful and intriguing. 12.  However, by his great attention to business, and by integrity that shuddered at corruption, he soon began to retrieve the affairs of Rome, and the credit of the army.  In the space of two years, Jugur’tha was overthrown in several battles, forced out of his own dominions, and constrained to beg a peace. 13.  Thus all things promised Metel’lus a happy termination of the war; but he was frustrated in his expectations by the intrigues of Ca’ius Ma’rius, his lieutenant, who came in to reap that harvest of glory which the other’s industry had sown. 14.  Ca’ius Ma’rius was born in a village near Apin’ium, of poor parents, who gained their living by their labour.  As he had been bred up in a participation of their toils, his manners were as rude as his countenance was frightful.  He was a man of extraordinary stature, incomparable strength, and undaunted bravery.

15.  When Metel’lus was obliged to solicit at Rome for a continuance of his command, Ma’rius, whose ambition knew no bounds, was resolved to obtain it for himself, and thus gain all the glory of putting an end to the war. 16.  To that end he privately inveighed against Metel’lus by his emissaries at Rome, and having excited a spirit of discontent against him, he had leave granted him to go there to stand for the consulship, which he obtained, contrary to the expectation and interest of the nobles.