[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. [266] XCI. After marching the whole night.--He seems to have marched in the night for the sake of coolness. [267] XCII. All his undertakings, etc.--_Omnia non bene consulta in virtutem trahebantur_. "All that he did rashly was attributed to his _consciousness of_ extraordinary power." If they could not praise his prudence, they praised his resolution and energy. [268] Difficult of execution--_Difficilem_. There seemed to be as many impediments to success as in the affair at Capsa, though the undertaking was not of so perilous a nature. [269] In the midst of a plain--_Inter caeteram planitiem_. By _caeteram_ he signifies that _the rest_ of the ground, except the part on which the fort stood, was plain and level. [270] Directed his utmost efforts to take--_Summâ vi capere intendit_. It is to be observed that _summâ vi_ refers to _intendit_, not to _capere_. _Summâ ope_ animum _intendit ut caperet_.