Bellum Iugurthinum 96

Iug. 96.1Igitur Sulla, utī suprā dictum est, postquam in Āfricam atque in castra Marī cum equitātū vēnit, rudis anteā et ignārus bellī, sollertissumus omnium in paucīs tempestātibus factus est.So Sulla, as was said above, after he came with the cavalry into Africa and into Marius' camp, though before raw and ignorant of war, became the most skilful of all in a short time. Iug. 96.2Ad hoc mīlitēs benignē appellāre, multīs rogantibus, aliīs per sē ipse dare beneficia, invītus accipere, sed ea properantius quam aes mūtuom reddere, ipse ab nūllō repetere, magis id labōrāre, ut illī quam plūrumī dēbērent, iocā atque sēria cum humillumīs agere, in operibus, in agmine atque ad vigiliās multus adesse, neque interim, quod prāva ambitiō solet, cōnsulis aut quoiusquam bonī fāmam laedere, tantummodo neque cōnsiliō neque manū priōrem alium patī, plērōsque antevenīre.Besides, he addressed the soldiers kindly, granted favours to many at their request and to others of his own accord, accepted favours unwillingly but repaid them more promptly than a loan, himself asked repayment from no one, but rather worked to have as many as possible in his debt, joked and talked seriously with the humblest, was much present at the works, on the march and on watch, and did not meanwhile, as perverse ambition is wont to do, injure the reputation of the consul or of any good man, but only allowed no one to surpass him in counsel or in action, and outdid most.

Iug. 96.4Quibus rēbus et artibus brevī Mariō mīlitibusque cārissumus factus.By these deeds and qualities he soon became very dear to Marius and the soldiers.