of their illustrious statesmen and warriors, but even their bodily
appearance.
[30] _Scilicet_, in this passage, is not a conjunction as usual, but, as
in the earlier Latinity of Plautus and Terence, it is used for _scire
licet_, 'one may perceive,' or 'it is self-evident,' and is
accordingly followed by the accusative with the infinitive.
[31] 'The flame of their noble ambition did not become extinguished until
their merit had obtained the fame and glory' (namely, of those
ancestors).
[32] _His moribus_, 'in the present state of morality;' an ablative
absolute.
[33] Instead of _neque_, the author might have used _aut_, for both
particles are used to continue a negative statement. See Zumpt,
S 337.
[34] _Homines novi_, 'new men,' so called by the Romans, were those
persons who were the first of their family to rise to curule offices,
as Cato Censorius, and at a later time Cicero. In former times,
Sallust says, such _homines novi_ distinguished themselves by their
ability, while now they rise by base means, especially by party
strife and party interest, which he contemptuously calls
_latrocinium_.
[35] _Proinde quasi_, 'just as if,' and afterwards _perinde habentur ut_,
'they are considered as of equal value.' Compare Zumpt, SS 282 and
340.

5. Bellum scripturus sum,[36] quod populus Romanus cum Jugurtha rege
Numidarum gessit; primum quia magnum et atrox variaque victoria fuit,
dein quia tunc primum superbiae nobilitatis obviam itum est; quae
contentio divina et humana cuncta permiscuit eoque vecordiae processit,
uti studiis civilibus bellum atque vastitas Italiae finem faceret. Sed