Iug. 40.1Interim Rōmae C. Mamilius Limetanus tribūnus plēbis rogātiōnem ad populum prōmulgat, utī quaererētur in eōs, quōrum cōnsiliō Iugurtha senātī dēcrēta neglēxisset, quīque ab eō in lēgātiōnibus aut imperiīs pecūniās accēpissent, quī elephantōs quīque perfugās trādidissent, item quī dē pāce aut bellō cum hostibus pactiōnēs fēcissent.Meanwhile at Rome Gaius Mamilius Limetanus, tribune of the plebs, published a bill before the people that an inquiry should be held into those on whose advice Jugurtha had disregarded the decrees of the senate, those who had taken money from him on embassies or in commands, those who had handed over elephants and deserters, and likewise those who had made agreements with the enemy about peace or war. Iug. 40.2Huic rogātiōnī partim cōnsciī sibi, aliī ex partium invidiā perīcula metuentēs, quoniam apertē resistere nōn poterant, quīn illa et alia tālia placēre sibi fatērentur, occultē per amīcōs ac māxumē per hominēs nōminis Latīnī et sociōs Italicōs impedīmenta parābant.Against this bill some, conscious of their guilt, others fearing danger from the hatred of the parties, since they could not resist it openly without admitting that these and similar acts pleased them, secretly prepared obstacles through their friends, and above all through men of the Latin name and the Italian allies.
Iug. 40.3Sed plēbēs incrēdibile memorātū est quam intenta fuerit quantāque vī rogātiōnem iusserit, magis odiō nōbilitātis, quoi mala illa parābantur, quam cūrā reī pūblicae: tanta lubīdō in partibus erat.But it is incredible to relate how determined the plebs was and with what force it passed the bill, more from hatred of the nobility, against whom those troubles were being prepared, than from concern for the state: so great was the passion of party. Iug. 40.4Igitur cēterīs metū perculsīs M. Scaurus, quem lēgātum Bēstiae fuisse suprā docuimus, inter laetitiam plēbis et suōrum fugam, trepidā etiam tum cīvitāte, quom ex Mamiliā rogātiōne trēs quaesītōrēs rogārentur, effēcerat, utī ipse in eō numerō creārētur.So, while the rest were struck with fear, Marcus Scaurus, who we have shown above had been Bestia's legate, amid the rejoicing of the plebs and the flight of his own party, while the city was still in alarm, when three commissioners were being appointed under the Mamilian bill, had managed to have himself elected among their number. Iug. 40.5Sed quaestiō exercita asperē violenterque ex rūmōre et lubīdine plēbis: utī saepe nōbilitātem, sīc eā tempestāte plēbem ex secundīs rēbus īnsolentia cēperat.But the inquiry was conducted harshly and violently, on hearsay and at the caprice of the plebs: as success had often made the nobility insolent, so at that time it had made the plebs.