propulsarent. Nam in Jugurtha tantus dolus tantaque peritia locorum et militiae erat, ut absens an praesens, pacem an bellum gerens perniciosior esset, in incerto haberetur. [262] _Supplicia_ here, as elsewhere, are _supplices preces_, 'humble prayers,' or 'petitions.' Compare chap. 66. [263] 'He applies to the ambassadors one by one;' that is, he tries them one by one, _temptat singulos_. [264] _Maxime_, the same as _potissimum_. Compare chap. 35. [265] 'What would be in accordance with his wish;' namely, the granting of his request. [266] The plural _equitatus_ is rare; here it refers to different troops of cavalry, as in Caesar, _Bell. Civ._ i. 61. To _propulsarent_ supply _eos_. See Zumpt, S 766. 47. Erat haud longe ab eo itinere, quo Metellus pergebat, oppidum Numidarum, nomine Vaga, forum rerum venalium totius regni maxime celebratum,[267] ubi et incolere et mercari consueverant Italici generis multi mortales. Huc consul simul temptandi gratia, et si paterentur, opportunitate loci, praesidium imposuit;[268] praeterea imperavit frumentum et alia, quae bello usui forent, comportare,[269] ratus id quod res monebat, frequentiam negotiatorum et commeatum juvaturum exercitum et jam paratis rebus munimento fore. Inter haec negotia Jugurtha impensius modo[270] legatos supplices mittere, pacem orare, praeter suam liberorumque vitam omnia Metello dedere. Quos item, uti priores, consul illectos ad proditionem domum dimittebat, regi pacem quam postulabat neque abnuere neque polliceri et inter eas moras promissa legatorum exspectare. [267] 'Most frequented;' for _celeber_, _bris_, _bre_, is commonly used of densely peopled or much frequented places. [268] Metellus placed a garrison in the city, partly to test the sentiments of the inhabitants, and partly on account of the advantages offered to him by the nature of the place, in case the inhabitants should not object to a garrison of the Romans. The common reading, _si paterentur opportunitates loci_, must be rejected, for the words _si paterentur_ must refer to the inhabitants of the place, and explain the preceding _temptandi gratia_. Another reading, _opportunitatis_, to which _gratia_ must be supplied by the mind, has the same meaning as _opportunitate_, the ablative of cause. [269] 'He believed that the great number of merchants (in the town) and the corn would be of use to the army, and protect the provisions (of the Roman army) already accumulated,' so that the Roman stores might be saved. [270] _Impensius modo_; that is, _praeter modum_, 'beyond measure,' 'immoderately;' literally, 'stronger than the measure observed in such matters.'