1There was besides in our army a Numidian named Gauda, son of Mastanabal and grandson of Masinissa, whom Micipsa had named in his will as second heir, a man worn out by illness and for that reason somewhat weakened in mind. 2When he had asked Metellus to place his seat next to him in the manner of kings, and later also for a squadron of Roman knights as a bodyguard, Metellus had refused both: the honour, because it belonged only to those whom the Roman people had called kings; 2the guard, because it would be an insult to Roman knights if they were handed over as attendants to a Numidian.
3Marius approached this man in his resentment and urged him to seek vengeance with his help for the insults done him by the commander. 3With flattering words he puffed up the man, whose mind was none too strong because of his illnesses: he was a king, a great man, the grandson of Masinissa; 3if Jugurtha were captured or killed, he would have the rule of Numidia without delay; 3and this could come about very soon if Marius himself were sent as consul to that war. 4And so he drove both Gauda and the Roman knights, soldiers and traders alike, some by his own persuasion, most by the hope of peace, to write to their friends at Rome harshly against Metellus about the war, and to demand Marius as commander.
5In this way many people were canvassing for the consulship for him with the most honourable support. 5At the same time in that period the commons, having routed the nobility through the Mamilian law, were raising up new men. 5So everything went forward for Marius.