[514] _Pergit_; namely, _Ligus_. [515] 'That it might proceed more easily.' [516] 'In order that, if they stumbled against anything, they might make less noise.' [517] 'And the roots which, owing to their old age, were standing forth;' for the roots of old trees rise out of the ground, and such knots remain on the surface even when the trees no longer exist. [518] 'He himself foremost (_potissimus_) tried those places which it was doubtful (dangerous) to climb up.' [519] 'And then immediately withdrawing;' namely, in order to make room for those who followed. [520] 'The inconsiderate boldness of Marius (of attacking an impregnable fortress), when it became adjusted (justified, _correcta_) by chance, found praise instead of blame.' The sudden terror of the Numidians on their hearing the military music of the Romans in their rear, was, according to Sallust, most advantageous to the Romans; for if the Numidians, while engaged in fighting, had despatched fifty men, they might easily have thrown down the few Romans who had found their way up; for the number of four centurions for the protection of the trumpeters is indeed surprisingly small, and we might almost be inclined to suppose that these centurions were followed by their centuries at some distance. 95. Ceterum dum ea res geritur, L. Sulla quaestor cum magno equitatu in castra venit, quos[521] uti ex Latio et a sociis cogeret, Romae relictus erat. Sed quoniam nos tanti viri res admonuit,[522] idoneum visum est de natura cultuque ejus paucis dicere; neque enim alio loco de Sullae rebus dicturi sumus, et L. Sisenna optime et diligentissime omnium, qui eas res dixere, persecutus,[523] parum mihi libero ore locutus videtur. Igitur Sulla gentis patriciae nobilis fuit, familia prope jam extincta majorum ignavia,[524] litteris Graecis atque Latinis juxta, atque doctissime,[525] eruditus, animo ingenti, cupidus voluptatum, sed gloriae cupidior, otio luxurioso esse; tamen, ab negotiis nunquam voluptas remorata, nisi quod[526] de uxore potuit honestius consuli; facundus, callidus et amicitia facilis;[527] ad simulanda negotia altitudo ingenii incredibilis;[528] multarum rerum ac maxime pecuniae largitor. Atque illi, felicissimo omnium ante civilem victoriam, nunquam super industriam fortuna fuit,[529] multique dubitavere, fortior an felicior esset; nam postea quae fecerit, incertum habeo, pudeat magis an pigeat disserere.