[417] The Nomades of the great desert Sahara, and of the oases in it, in the south of Numidia and Mauretania, as far as the southern countries inhabited by real negroes. [418] _Pronum_, that which, when once commenced, proceeds without obstacle or difficulty. This is a figurative sense taken from an inclined plane. [419] The Roman rulers thus demanded money from Bocchus before they would grant his request to be declared a friend and ally of the Roman people, although Bocchus no doubt considered his offer of friendship as a matter of no small value to the Romans. [420] 'But kings so much the more;' namely, surpass others in the numbers of their wives. [421] 'None (no wife) maintains her position as a sharer;' that is, none is recognised as sharing with her husband all the relations of life and rank. 81. Igitur in locum ambobus placitum[422] exercitus conveniunt; ibi fide data et accepta Jugurtha Bocchi animum oratione accendit: Romanes injustos, profunda avaritia,[423] communes omnium hostes esse; eandem illos causam belli cum Boccho habere quam secum et cum aliis gentibus, libidinem imperitandi, quis[424] omnia regna adversa sint; tum sese,[425] paulo ante Carthaginienses, item regem Persen, post, uti quisque opulentissimus videatur, ita Romanis hostem fore. His atque aliis talibus dictis ad Cirtam oppidum iter constituunt, quod ibi Metellus praedam captivosque et impedimenta locaverat. Ita Jugurtha ratus aut capta urbe[426] operae pretium fore aut, si Romanus auxilio suis venisset, proelio sese certaturos. Nam callidus id modo festinabat, Bocchi pacem imminuere,[427] ne moras agitando aliud quam bellum mallet. [422] _In locum placitum_, 'at a fixed place,' at a place where it had been agreed to meet. The participle _placitus_ is formed irregularly from the neuter verb _placeo_, as such verbs generally have no passive voice. But _placeo_ is used also as an impersonal verb, _placet_, and, as such, its perfect is either _placuit_ or _placitum est_, 'it pleased,' or 'was decreed.' The same is the case with other impersonal verbs; and as in this manner the regular passive form gradually ceased to be offensive, _placitus, a, um_, came to be used in the sense of _is qui, ea quae, id quod placuit_. Compare Zumpt, SS 142, 225. [423] 'Of an insatiable avarice;' for _profundus_ is often used figuratively of passions and desires which have no bottom or end. [424] _Quis_ (_quibus_) refers to the preceding _illos_; that is, _Romanos_. [425] _Tum, sese_; supply _hostem Romanis esse_, which infinitive must be taken from the following _fore_. The _tum_ must be rendered in English by 'now,' as it refers to present time. See Zumpt, S 732; and regarding _Persen_ for _Perseum_, S 52. [426] _Capta urbe_, 'if the town were taken,' it would be worth while. [427] _Pacem imminuere_, to disturb or spoil the peace with Bocchus intended to conclude with the Romans.