[256] LXXXVII. Having filled up his legions, etc. Their numbers had been thinned in actions with the enemy, and Metellus perhaps took home some part of the army which did not return to it.
[257] Their country and parents, etc—Patriam parentesque, etc. Sallust means to say that the soldiers would see such to be the general effect and result of vigorous warfare; not that they had any country or parents to protect in Numidia. But the observation has very much of the rhetorician in it.
[258] LXXXVIII. From our allies—Ex sociis nostris. The people of the province.
[259] Obliged the king himself—to take flight without his arms Ipsumque regem—armis exuerat. He attacked Jugurtha so suddenly and vigorously that he was compelled to flee, leaving his arms behind him.
[260]: LXXXIX. The Libyan Hercules—Hercules Libys. "He is one of the forty and more whom Varro mentions, and who, it is probable, were leaders of trading expeditions or colonies. See supra, c. 18. A Libyan Hercules is mentioned by Solinus xxvii." Bernouf.
[261] Marius conceived a strong desire—Marium maxima cupido invaserat. "A strong desire had seized Marius."
[262] Wild beasts' flesh—Ferinâ carne. Almost all our translators have rendered this "venison." But the Africans lived on the flesh of whatever beasts they took in the chase.
[263] XC. The consul, etc.—Here is a long and awkward parenthesis. I have adhered to the construction of the original. The "yet," tamen, that follows the parenthesis, refers to the matter included in it.
[264] He consigned to the care, etc.—Equitibus auxiliariis agendum attribuit. "He gave to be driven by the auxiliary cavalry."
[265] The town of Lares—Oppidum Laris. Cortius seems to have been right in pronouncing Laris to be an accusative plural. Gerlach observes that Lares occurs in the Itinerary of Antonius and in St. Augustine, Adv. Donatist., vi. 28.