1After this the consul, now beyond doubt the victor, arrived at the town of Cirta, which had been his objective when he first set out. 2There, on the fifth day after the barbarians had fought unsuccessfully for the second time, envoys come from Bocchus, who in the king's words asked Marius to send to him two men he trusted most, saying that he wished to discuss with them his own interest and that of the Roman people. 2Marius at once orders Lucius Sulla and Aulus Manlius to go. 3Although they were going at the king's invitation, they nevertheless decided to make a speech before him, in order either to sway his disposition if it was hostile or to kindle it more strongly if it was eager for peace.
4So Sulla, to whose eloquence, not to his age, Manlius deferred, spoke a few words to this effect: 'King Bocchus, it is a great joy to us that the gods have advised a man such as you at last to prefer peace to war, and not to stain yourself, a most excellent man, by associating with Jugurtha, the worst of all, and at the same time to relieve us of the bitter necessity of pursuing you in your error alike with that utter villain. 6Besides, to the Roman people, even from the beginning when it was poor, it seemed better to seek friends than slaves, and they thought it safer to rule over the willing than over the coerced.
7But to you no friendship is more advantageous than ours, first because we are far away, so that there is least occasion for offence, while our goodwill is the same as if we were close at hand; 7next because, while we have subjects in abundance, of friends neither we nor anyone else has ever had enough. 8And would that this had pleased you from the beginning: you would certainly by this time have received far more good things from the Roman people than the evils you have suffered. 9But since fortune governs most human affairs, and it has evidently pleased her that you should experience both our force and our favour, now, since she allows it, make haste and continue as you have begun.
10You have many opportune means of more easily outweighing your errors by your services. 11Finally, take this to heart: that the Roman people has never been outdone in kindnesses. 11For what it can do in war, you know for yourself.' 12To this Bocchus replies calmly and courteously, and at the same time says a few words in excuse for his offence: that he had taken up arms not in a hostile spirit but to protect his kingdom. 13For the part of Numidia from which he had driven Jugurtha by force had become his by the law of war; 13he could not allow it to be laid waste by Marius. 13Besides, when he had earlier sent envoys to Rome, he had been refused friendship.
14However, he would let bygones be bygones, and would now, if Marius permitted, send envoys to the senate. 15Then, when permission had been given, the barbarian's mind was turned by his friends, whom Jugurtha, having learned of the mission of Sulla and Manlius and fearing what was being prepared, had bribed with gifts.