1At that time there were in our army a number of new men and nobles, to whom riches were preferable to what was good and honourable, partisans at home, powerful among the allies, famous rather than honourable, who inflamed Jugurtha's by no means modest ambition by promising that, if King Micipsa should die, he would gain sole power over Numidia: there was the greatest merit in him, and at Rome everything was for sale. 2But when, after Numantia had been destroyed, Publius Scipio decided to dismiss the auxiliaries and himself return home, he presented Jugurtha with gifts and praised him splendidly before the assembled troops, then led him away into his headquarters and there advised him in private to cultivate the friendship of the Roman people publicly rather than privately, and not to get into the habit of giving bribes to particular men: it was dangerous to buy from a few what belonged to many.
2If he would persist in his own good qualities, both glory and a kingdom would come to him of their own accord; 2but if he went on too hastily, he would fall headlong, ruined by his own money.