« Sal. Jug. 51 | Sal. Jug. 52 | Sal. Jug. 53 | About This Work »
52Thus did these two men, both great commanders, struggle with each other; personally they were on an equality but they were ill matched in their resources; 2for Metellus had valiant soldiers but an unfavourable position, while Jugurtha had the advantage in all except his men. 3At last the Romans, realizing that they had no place of refuge and that the foe gave them no opportunity for fighting (and it was already evening), charged up the hill as they had been ordered and broke through. 4Losing that position, the Numidians gave way and fled. A few were killed; the greater number were saved by their quickness and the Romans’ lack of familiarity with the country.
5In the meantime Bomilcar, who had been put in command of the elephants and a part of the infantry by Jugurtha, as I have already said, when Rutilius had passed him, slowly led his forces down into the plain; and while the lieutenant was hastily making his way to the river, to which he had been sent on, Bomilcar drew up his line quietly, as the circumstances demanded, continuing to keep an eye on the enemy’s movements in all parts of the field. 6When he found that Rutilius had encamped and was now easy in mind,while the din from Jugurtha’s battle increased, he feared that the lieutenant, if he knew the critical condition of his countrymen, might go to their aid. Accordingly, wishing to intercept the enemy’s march, he extended his line, which he had drawn up in close order through distrust of his soldiers’ courage, and in that formation approached Rutilius’s camp.
« Sal. Jug. 51 | Sal. Jug. 52 | Sal. Jug. 53 | About This Work »