1Beset by these difficulties, when he saw that a man so popular with his people could be crushed neither by force nor by ambush, since Jugurtha was ready with his hand and eager for military glory, he decided to expose him to dangers and so to put fortune to the test. 2Therefore in the Numantine War, when Micipsa was sending auxiliaries of cavalry and infantry to the Roman people, hoping that he would easily perish either through displaying his valour or through the savagery of the enemy, he put him in command of the Numidians whom he was sending to Spain. 3But the affair turned out far otherwise than he had expected.
3For Jugurtha, being of an energetic and keen intellect, as soon as he came to know the character of Publius Scipio, who was then the Roman commander, and the ways of the enemy, had by great toil and great care, and besides by obeying most modestly and often going to meet dangers, soon attained such renown that he was greatly loved by our men and a source of the greatest terror to the Numantines. 5And indeed, what is especially difficult, he was both vigorous in battle and good in counsel, of which the one usually brings timidity through foresight, the other rashness through boldness. 6Accordingly the commander conducted almost every difficult enterprise through Jugurtha, counted him among his friends, and embraced him more and more each day, since none of his counsels or undertakings was ever in vain.
7To this were added a generous spirit and a shrewd intellect, qualities by which he had bound many of the Romans to himself in close friendship.