17.  Marius, being thus invested with the supreme power of managing the war, showed himself every way fit for the commission.  His vigilance was equal to his valour, and he quickly made himself master of the cities which Jugur’tha had yet remaining in Numid’ia.[2] 18.  This unfortunate prince, finding himself unable to make opposition singly was obliged to have recourse for assistance to Bocchus, king of Maurita’nia, to whose daughter he was married.  A battle soon after ensued, in which the Numid’ians surprised the Roman camp by night, and gained a temporary advantage.  However, it was but of short continuance, for Ma’rius soon after overthrew them in two signal engagements, in one of which not less than ninety thousand of the African army were slain. 19.  Bocchus now finding the Romans too powerful to be resisted, did not think it expedient to hazard his own crown, to protect that of his ally; he, therefore, determined to make peace, upon whatever conditions he might obtain it; and accordingly sent to Rome, imploring protection. 20.  The senate received the ambassadors with their usual haughtiness, and without complying with their request, granted the suppliant, not their friendship, but their pardon.  Notwithstanding, after some time, he was given to understand, that the delivering up of Jugur’tha to the Romans would, in some measure, conciliate their favour, and soften their resentment. 21.  At first the pride of Bocchus struggled against such a proposal; but a few interviews with Sylla reconciled him to this treacherous measure, and Jugur’tha was given up, being drawn into an ambuscade by the specious pretences of his ally, who deluded him by desiring a conference; and being made a prisoner, he was loaded with chains, and carried by Ma’rius to Rome, a deplorable instance of blighted ambition. 22.  He did not long survive his overthrow, being condemned by the senate to be starved to death in prison, a short time after he had been made to adorn the triumph of the conqueror.[3]

23.  Ma’rius, by this and two succeeding victories over the Gauls, having become very formidable to distant nations in war, became soon after much more dangerous to his fellow-citizens in peace. 24.  The strength which he had given to the popular party every day grew more conspicuous, and the Italians, being frustrated by the intrigues of the senate in their aims of gaining the freedom of Rome, resolved upon obtaining by force, what was refused them as a favour.  This gave rise to the Social War, in which most of the states of Italy entered into a confederacy against Rome, in order to obtain a redress of their grievances.

25.  After a lapse of two years, this war having continued to rage with doubtful success, the senate began to reflect that, whether conquered or conquerors, the power of the Romans was in danger of being destroyed. 26.  To soften, therefore, their compliance by degrees, they began by giving the freedom of the city to such of the Italian states as had not revolted.  They then offered it to such as would lay down their arms. 27.  This unexpected bounty had its effect; the allies, with mutual distrust, offered each a separate treaty; the senate took them one by one into favour, but gave the freedom of the city in such a manner, that, not being empowered to vote until all the other tribes had given their suffrages, they had very little weight in the constitution.