1But when Jugurtha began through envoys to tempt him with money and to point out the harshness of the war he was conducting, his mind, sick with avarice, was easily turned. 2Moreover Scaurus was taken on as partner and assistant in all his plans; although at the beginning, when most of his party had been bribed, he had attacked the king most fiercely, he was nevertheless dragged away from the good and honourable into wickedness by the greatness of the sum. 3But Jugurtha at first was only buying off the war, thinking that meanwhile he would achieve something at Rome by bribery or influence. 3But after he learned that Scaurus was a partner in the business, he was led into the greatest hope of recovering peace, and decided to negotiate with them in person about all the terms.
4Meanwhile, as a pledge of good faith, the quaestor Sextius was sent by the consul to Jugurtha's town of Vaga. 4The pretext for this was the receipt of grain, which Calpurnius had openly demanded of the envoys, since a truce was being observed while the surrender was delayed. 5So the king, as he had decided, came to the camp, and after speaking briefly before the council about the odium of his deed and asking to be received in surrender, he settled the rest in secret with Bestia and Scaurus. 5Then on the following day, the opinions having been sought, as it were, in a lump, he was received in surrender.
6But, as had been ordered before the council, thirty elephants, many cattle and horses, together with a small weight of silver, were handed over to the quaestor. 7Calpurnius set out for Rome to conduct the election of magistrates. 7In Numidia and in our army peace was kept.