some magistracies this was forbidden by law; in that of tribunes of
the people, it occurs rather frequently in the early times, that they
were re-elected twice or oftener in successive years. The last in
stance of a tribuneship lasting for two years is that of G. Gracchus,
in B.C. 123 and 122; and even then this re-election was the cause of
violent commotions, and it was impossible to carry it for the third
year.
[224] Around the wall, which had been built on the extreme edge of a
precipitous rock, the clayey soil had formed a marsh. Respecting
_extremum_ used substantively, see Zumpt, S 435.

38. At Jugurtha, cognita vanitate atque imperitia legati, subdolus ejus
augere amentiam, missitare[225] supplicantes legatos, ipse quasi
vitabundus per saltuosa loca et tramites exercitum ductare. Denique Aulum
spe pactionis perpulit, uti relicto Suthule in abditas regiones sese
veluti cedentem insequeretur; 'ita delicta occultiora fore.' Interea per
homines callidos die noctuque exercitum temptabat; centuriones ducesque
turmarum partim uti transfugerent corrumpere, alii signo dato locum uti
desererent.[226] Quae postquam ex sententia instruit, intempesta nocte de
improviso multitudine Numidarum Auli castra circumvenit. Milites Romani,
perculsi tumultu insolito, arma capere alii, alii se abdere, pars
territos confirmare, trepidare[227] omnibus locis; vis magna hostium,
coelum nocte atque nubibus obscuratum, periculum anceps,[228] postremo
fugere an manere tutius foret, in incerto erat. Sed ex eo numero, quos
paulo ante corruptos diximus, cohors una Ligurum cum duabus turmis
Thracum et paucis gregariis militibus transiere ad regem,[229] et
centurio primi pili[230] tertiae legionis per munitionem, quam uti
defenderet acceperat, locum hostibus introeundi dedit, eaque Numidae
cuncti irrupere. Nostri foeda fuga, plerique abjectis armis, proximum
collem occupavere. Nox atque praeda castrorum hostes, quo minus victoria