1When the people of Vaga noticed that an army was advancing towards them, at first, thinking it was Metellus, as was in fact the case, they shut their gates; 1then, when they saw that their fields were not being laid waste and that those in the lead were Numidian horsemen, believing it was Jugurtha after all, they went out to meet them with great joy. 2Suddenly, at a given signal, some of the horse and foot cut down the crowd that had poured out of the town, others hurried to the gates, part seized the towers: anger and the hope of plunder were stronger than weariness. 3So the people of Vaga rejoiced in their treachery for two days only; 3the city, great and wealthy, was given up wholly to punishment or plunder.
4Turpilius, the commander of the town, who, as I showed above, alone of all escaped, was ordered by Metellus to defend himself, and when he failed to clear himself, he was condemned, flogged and put to death; 4for he was a citizen from Latium.