1After the kingdom had been divided and the envoys had left Africa, and Jugurtha saw that, contrary to his fears, he had obtained the rewards of his crime, he took it as certain, as he had heard from his friends at Numantia, that everything at Rome was for sale; at the same time he was fired by the promises of those whom he had lately loaded with gifts, and he turned his mind to the kingdom of Adherbal. 2He himself was keen and warlike; 2but the man he was attacking was quiet, unwarlike, of a mild disposition, open to injury, more fearful than to be feared. 3So without warning he invaded his territory with a large band, captured many people together with cattle and other plunder, burned buildings, and approached most places with his cavalry as an enemy; then he turned back with his whole host into his own kingdom, thinking that Adherbal, stirred by resentment, would avenge his wrongs by force, and that this would be a cause for war.
5But Adherbal, because he thought himself no match in arms and relied more on the friendship of the Roman people than on the Numidians, sent envoys to Jugurtha to complain of his wrongs. 5Although they had brought back insulting replies, he still resolved to endure everything rather than take up war, because when he had tried it before it had turned out badly. 6Yet Jugurtha's greed was not lessened by this at all, since in his mind he had already seized the whole of Adherbal's kingdom. 7And so he began to wage war not, as before, with a raiding band, but with a great army that he had raised, and openly to seek the rule of all Numidia.
8Moreover, wherever he went, he laid waste cities and fields, drove off plunder, and increased the courage of his own men and the terror of the enemy.