Iug. 32.1Haec atque alia huiusce modī saepe dīcundō Memmius populō persuādet, utī L. Cassius, quī tum praetor erat, ad Iugurtham mitterētur eumque interpositā fidē pūblicā Rōmam dūceret, quō facilius indiciō rēgis Scaurī et reliquōrum, quōs pecūniae captae arcessēbat, dēlicta patefierent.By saying these and other things of this kind repeatedly, Memmius persuaded the people that Lucius Cassius, who was then praetor, should be sent to Jugurtha and should bring him to Rome under a pledge of public faith, so that the misdeeds of Scaurus and the others whom he was accusing of taking money might more easily be exposed by the king's evidence. Iug. 32.2Dum haec Rōmae geruntur, quī in Numidiā relictī ā Bēstiā exercituī praeerant, secūtī mōrem imperātōris suī plūruma et flāgitiōsissuma facinora fēcēre.While these things were being done at Rome, those who had been left by Bestia in Numidia in command of the army followed the example of their general and committed very many most disgraceful acts. Iug. 32.3Fuēre quī aurō corruptī elephantōs Iugurthae trāderent, aliī perfugās vēndere, pars ex pācātīs praedās agēbant: tanta vīs avāritiae in animōs eōrum velutī tābēs invāserat.There were some who, corrupted by gold, handed back the elephants to Jugurtha, others sold deserters, and some drove off plunder from peaceful districts: so violently had avarice invaded their minds, like a plague.
Iug. 32.5At Cassius praetor perlātā rogātiōne ā C. Memmiō ac perculsā omnī nōbilitāte ad Iugurtham proficīscitur eīque timidō et ex cōnscientiā diffīdentī rēbus suīs persuādet, quoniam sē populō Rōmānō dedisset, nē vim quam misericordiam eius experīrī māllet.But Cassius the praetor, once the bill had been carried by Gaius Memmius and the whole nobility had been struck with dismay, set out to Jugurtha, and persuaded him, fearful as he was and, from a guilty conscience, distrustful of his position, that since he had surrendered himself to the Roman people he should not choose to experience their force rather than their mercy. Iug. 32.5Prīvātim praetereā fidem suam interpōnit, quam ille nōn minōris quam pūblicam dūcēbat: tālis eā tempestāte fāma dē Cassiō erat.Privately, besides, he pledged his own word, which Jugurtha valued no less than the public pledge: such was the reputation of Cassius at that time.