1While the struggle went on in this way at Zama, Jugurtha unexpectedly attacked the enemy's camp with a large force; 1while those on guard duty were slack and expecting anything rather than a battle, he burst through the gate. 2But our men, stricken with sudden fear, each looked out for himself according to his character; 2some fled, others seized arms; 2a large part were wounded or killed. 3Yet out of the whole multitude not more than forty, mindful of the Roman name, formed a group and seized a position a little higher than the rest, and could not be dislodged from there by the greatest force, but threw back the missiles thrown at them from a distance, and few against many, missed less often; 3if, however, the Numidians came nearer, then indeed they showed their valour and cut them down, routed them and put them to flight with the greatest force.
4Meanwhile Metellus, while he was pressing the attack most fiercely, heard the shouting of the enemy behind him; then, turning his horse, he saw that the flight was coming towards him, which showed that it was of his countrymen. 5So he hastily sent all the cavalry to the camp, and at once Gaius Marius with the cohorts of the allies, and in tears he begged him, by their friendship and by the commonwealth, not to allow any disgrace to remain on a victorious army nor the enemy to get away unpunished. 6He quickly carried out his orders. 6But Jugurtha, hampered by the fortifications of the camp, as some were thrown headlong over the rampart while others in their haste got in each other's way in the narrow spaces, withdrew to strong positions after losing many men.
7Metellus, his task unaccomplished, since night was coming on, returned to camp with the army.