priusquam hujuscemodi rei initium expedio, pauca supra repetam, quo ad
cognoscendum omnia illustria magis magisque in aperto sint.[37] Bello
Punico secundo, quo dux Carthaginiensium Hannibal post magnitudinem
nominis Romani[38] Italiae opes maxime attriverat, Masinissa rex
Numidarum, in amicitiam receptus a P. Scipione, cui postea Africano[39]
cognomen ex virtute fuit, multa ei praeclara[40] rei militaris facinora
fecerat; ob quae victis Carthaginiensibus et capto Syphace, cujus in
Africa magnum atque late imperium valuit,[41] populus Romanus quascunque
urbes et agros manu ceperat, regi dono dedit. Igitur amicitia Masinissae
bona atque honesta nobis permansit. Sed imperii vitaeque ejus finis idem
fuit. Dein Micipsa filius regnum solus obtinuit, Mastanabale et Gulussa
fratribus morbo absumptis. Is Adherbalem et Hiempsalem ex sese genuit,
Jugurthamque, filium Mastanabalis fratris, quem Masinissa, quod ortus ex
concubina erat, privatum dereliquerat,[42] eodem cultu quo liberos suos
domi habuit.

[36] Respecting the special meaning of this periphrastic conjugation,
see Zumpt, S 498. Sallust states that he wishes to describe this
war separately, because during its progress there was kindled at
Rome that struggle between the populares and the optimates, which
was in the end carried on with such senseless vehemence, that only
the devastation of Italy put a stop to the civil discord (_studiis
civilibus_), and that only a military despotism (first of Caesar, and
afterwards of the triumvirs) was able to restore peace. This part of
the description of the Jugurthine war, accordingly, is of the
greatest importance, in forming a correct idea of the history of Rome
at that time.
[37] The same meaning might have been expressed by _ut omnia ad
cognoscendum illustriora et apertiora sint_. See Zumpt, S 106.
[38] That is, 'after the Roman name had become great;' for in earlier