Iug. 97.1At Iugurtha, postquam oppidum Capsam aliōsque locōs mūnītōs et sibi ūtilīs simul et magnam pecūniam āmīserat, ad Bocchum nūntiōs mittit: quam prīmum in Numidiam cōpiās addūceret;But Jugurtha, after he had lost the town of Capsa and other fortified places useful to him, and with them a great sum of money, sends messengers to Bocchus: he should lead his forces into Numidia as soon as possible; Iug. 97.1proelī faciundī tempus adesse.the time had come to fight a battle. Iug. 97.2Quem ubi cūnctārī accēpit et dubium bellī atque pācis ratiōnēs trahere, rūrsus utī anteā proxumōs eius dōnīs corrūpit, ipsīque Maurō pollicētur Numidiae partem tertiam, sī aut Rōmānī Āfricā expulsī aut integrīs suīs fīnibus bellum conpositum foret.When he learned that Bocchus was hesitating and weighing doubtfully the considerations of war and peace, he again, as before, bribed those closest to him with gifts, and promises the Moor himself a third part of Numidia, if either the Romans were driven out of Africa or the war were settled with his own territory intact. Iug. 97.3Eō praemiō illectus Bocchus cum magnā multitūdine Iugurtham adcēdit.Lured by this reward, Bocchus joins Jugurtha with a great host.
Iug. 97.3Ita ambōrum exercitū coniūnctō Marium, iam in hīberna proficīscentem, vix decumā parte diē reliquā invādunt, ratī noctem, quae iam aderat, et victīs sibi mūnīmentō fore et, sī vīcissent, nūllō impedīmentō, quia locōrum scientēs erant, contrā Rōmānīs utrumque cāsum in tenebrīs difficiliōrem fore.So, with the armies of both united, they attack Marius, who was already setting out for winter quarters, when barely a tenth part of the day remained, thinking that the night, which was now at hand, would be a protection to them if beaten and, if they won, no hindrance, since they knew the country, whereas for the Romans either outcome would be harder in the dark. Iug. 97.4Igitur simul cōnsul ex multīs dē hostium adventū cognōvit, et ipsī hostēs aderant, et prius quam exercitus aut īnstruī aut sarcinās conligere, dēnique ante quam signum aut imperium ūllum accipere quīvit, equitēs Maurī atque Gaetūlī, nōn aciē neque ūllō mōre proelī sed catervātim, utī quōsque fors conglobāverat, in nostrōs incurrunt.So at the same moment as the consul learned from many sources of the enemy's approach, the enemy themselves were upon him, and before the army could either form up or gather its baggage, before indeed it could receive any signal or order, the Moorish and Gaetulian horsemen charge upon our men, not in line or in any fashion of battle, but in swarms, just as chance had massed each group together.
Iug. 97.5Quī omnēs trepidī inprōvīsō metū ac tamen virtūtis memorēs aut arma capiēbant aut capientīs aliōs ab hostibus dēfēnsābant;All our men, alarmed by the unexpected fear, yet mindful of their courage, either took up arms or defended from the enemy others who were taking them up; Iug. 97.5pars equōs ēscendere, obviam īre hostibus;some mounted their horses and went to meet the enemy; Iug. 97.5pugna latrōciniō magis quam proeliō similis fierī.the fight became more like a brigands' raid than a battle. Iug. 97.5Sine signīs, sine ōrdinibus equitēs peditēsque permixtī cēdere aliī, aliī obtruncārī, multī contrā advorsōs ācerrumē pugnantēs ab tergō circumvenīrī;Without standards, without ranks, cavalry and infantry mixed together, some gave ground, others were cut down, many, while fighting most fiercely against those in front, were surrounded from behind; Iug. 97.5neque virtūs neque arma satis tegere, quia hostēs numerō plūrēs et undique circumfūsī erant.neither courage nor arms protected them enough, because the enemy were more numerous and had poured round them on every side. Iug. 97.5Dēnique Rōmānī veterēs et ob ea scientēs bellī, sī quōs locus aut cāsus coniūnxerat, orbīs facere atque ita ab omnibus partibus simul tēctī et īnstrūctī hostium vim sustentābant.At last the Roman veterans, and therefore men skilled in war, wherever place or chance had brought any together, formed circles, and so, protected and drawn up on all sides at once, held off the enemy's attack.