[383] _Indicio patefacto_ is a kind of pleonasm, as _indicio facto_ would be sufficient; for _indicium fit, res ipsa_ (that is, _conjuratio_) _patefit_--'the denunciation is made, the conspiracy is revealed.' [384] _Plebs--acceperant_ for _acceperat_, _plebs_ being a collective noun. Zumpt, S 366. [385] 'However, the party-zeal was in both men more decisive than either their virtues or their faults.' _Moderata sunt_, from the deponent _moderor_, 'I determine,' 'I guide;' as in Cicero, _mens moderatur omnia_, 'the mind determines everything.' _Sua bona aut mala_, 'their own virtues or vices,' in apposition to the party-zeal of others. _Suus_ here is not reflective, but only designates something as opposed to that which belongs to another. See Zumpt, S 550. [386] _Arcessere_, 'to summon before a court of justice,' with the genitive of the crime or punishment. The forms _arcessere_ and _accersere_ have the same meaning, but _arcessere_ is more frequent in the sense of 'to summon,' or 'to accuse.' [387] _Res fidesque_, 'property and credit.' [388] 'Crowded around Marius,' whenever he appeared in public, to show him their attachment. _Post honorem Marii ducerent_, the same, as _postponerent honori Marii_, the preposition in this sense being commonly joined to the verb. Compare _Cat_. chap. 23. [389] From this instance, we see that the popular assembly was sovereign in the Roman state; that is, when the people were called upon to decide a question, which happened but rarely, since it was customary to leave to the senate the provinces and the current administration of foreign affairs. 74. Eodem tempore Jugurtha amissis amicis, quorum plerosque ipse necaverat, ceteri formidine, pars ad Romanos, alii ad regem Bocchum[390] profugerant, quum neque bellum geri sine administris posset, et novorum fidem in tanta perfidia veterum experiri periculosum duceret, varius incertusque agitabat. Neque illi res neque consilium aut quisquam hominum satis placebat; itinera praefectosque in dies mutare, modo adversum hostes, interdum in solitudines pergere, saepe in fuga ac post paulo in armis spem habere, dubitare, virtuti an fidei popularium minus crederet; ita quocunque intenderat, res adversae erant. Sed inter eas moras repente sese Metellus cum exercitu ostendit. Numidae ab Jugurtha pro tempore parati instructique; dein proelium incipitur. Qua in parte rex pugnae affuit, ibi aliquamdiu certatum, ceteri ejus omnes milites primo congressu pulsi fugatique. Romani signorum et armorum aliquanto numero;[391] hostium paucorum potiti; nam ferme Numidas in omnibus proeliis magis pedes quam arma tuta sunt.[392]