Iug. 28.1At Iugurtha contrā spem nūntiō acceptō, quippe quoi Rōmae omnia vēnīre in animō haeserat, fīlium et cum eō duōs familiāris ad senātum lēgātōs mittit iīsque utī Illīs, quōs Hiempsale interfectō mīserat, praecipit, omnīs mortālīs pecūniā aggrediantur.But Jugurtha, receiving the news against his expectation, since the idea that everything at Rome was for sale had stuck fast in his mind, sent his son and with him two close friends as envoys to the senate, and instructed them, as he had those he had sent after Hiempsal was killed, to assail everyone with money. Iug. 28.2Quī postquam Rōmam adventābant, senātus ā Bēstiā cōnsultus est, placērētne lēgātōs Iugurthae recipī moenibus, iīque dēcrēvēre, nisi regnum ipsumque dēditum vēnissent, utī in diēbus proxumīs decem Ītaliā dēcēderent.As they were approaching Rome, Bestia consulted the senate as to whether Jugurtha's envoys should be received within the walls, and the senators decreed that, unless they had come to surrender the kingdom and the king himself, they must leave Italy within the next ten days. Iug. 28.3Cōnsul Numidīs ex senātūs dēcrētō nūntiārī iubet.The consul ordered the Numidians to be told of the senate's decree.
Iug. 28.3Ita īnfectīs rēbus illī domum discēdunt.So they went home with their business unaccomplished. Iug. 28.4Interim Calpurnius parātō exercitū lēgat sibi hominēs nōbilīs factiōsōs, quōrum auctōritāte quae dēlīquisset mūnīta fore spērābat.Meanwhile Calpurnius, having made his army ready, chose as his officers men of noble birth and of party spirit, by whose authority he hoped that whatever wrongs he committed would be protected. Iug. 28.4In quīs fuit Scaurus, quoius dē nātūrā et habitū suprā memorāvimus.Among them was Scaurus, of whose character and habits we have spoken above. Iug. 28.5Nam in cōnsule nostrō multae bonaeque artēs et animī et corporis erant, quās omnis avāritia praepediēbat: patiēns labōrum, ācrī ingeniō, satis prōvidēns, bellī haud ignārus, firmissumus contrā perīcula et īnsidiās.For in our consul there were many good qualities of both mind and body, all of which avarice hampered: he was patient of toil, of a keen intellect, sufficiently far-sighted, by no means ignorant of war, and very steadfast against dangers and plots. Iug. 28.6Sed legiōnēs per Ītaliam Rēgium atque inde Siciliam, porrō ex Siciliā in Āfricam trānsvectae.But the legions were conveyed through Italy to Rhegium and from there to Sicily, and then from Sicily to Africa.
Iug. 28.7Igitur Calpurnius initiō parātīs commeātibus ācriter Numidiam ingressus est, multōsque mortālīs et urbīs aliquot pugnandō cēpit.So Calpurnius, having first got his supplies ready, entered Numidia vigorously, and by fighting took many people and a number of cities.