fuisse supra docuimus, inter laetitiam plebis et suorum fugam, trepida
etiamtum civitate quum ex Mamili regatione tres quaesitores rogarentur,
effecerat, uti ipse in eo numero crearetur.[239] Sed quaestio exercita
aspere violenterque ex[240] rumore et libidine plebis; ut saepe
nobilitatem, sic ea tempestate plebem ex secundis rebus insolentia
ceperat.

[237] In a few manuscripts we read _neglegisset_, respecting which see
Zumpt, S 195.
[238] _Quin faterentur_, 'without confessing.' See Zumpt, S 539.
[239] M. Scaurus, who, as Sallust stated before, was himself bribed
by Jugurtha, had availed himself of the time when the people were
rejoicing at his victory, when the city was still under apprehensions
respecting the war, and when many other nobles, from a consciousness
of guilt, kept back; and there can be no doubt that, through the
influence of his friends, he contrived to be himself elected one of
the commissioners who had to institute inquiries about these
briberies, and thus escaped being tried himself.
[240] _Ex_ here signifies 'with respect to.' The people after this
victory were insolent, so that the commissioners yielded to the
wishes of the multitude.

41. Ceterum mos partium popularium et senatus factionum,[241] ac deinde
omnium malarum artium paucis ante annis Romae ortus est otio atque
abundantia earum rerum, quae prima mortales ducunt.[242] Nam ante
Carthaginem deletam populus et senatus Romanus placide modesteque inter
se rem publicam tractabant, neque gloriae neque dominationis certamen
inter cives erat; metus hostilis in bonis artibus civitatem retinebat.
Sed ubi illa formido mentibus decessit, scilicet[243] ea, quae res
secundae amant, lascivia atque superbia incessere. Ita, quod in adversis