nothing but flaughter and booty, roving and warlike as well by inclination as ne- ceffity, would have haraffed by continual inroads, a people which had let them fee that they were at once richer and weaker than themfelves. The prudent firmness of the Senate, and the valour of Marius faved Rome for this time from the danger under which it afterwards funk. All the citizens now turned their eyes towards the conqueror of Jugurtha, as their laft and only fupport. They decreed him confular honours for the fourth time, and affociated with him Ca- tulus Luctatius, a perfon fcarcely inferior to him in military fkill, and who far ex- celled him in all the other qualities, which make a great ſtateſman.
Marius having quickly difcovered that the ill fuccefs of his predeceffors was the effect of their imprudence, formed to him- felf a very different plan of conduct. In particular, he refolved not to join battle with the enemy, till their furious ardour was abated, and till his foldiers familiarized to the fight of them, fhould no longer con- fider themfelves as conquered before they came to blows. Their former victo- ries, their tallnefs of ftature, rendered ftill more terrible by their drefs, their ferocious air, their barbarous fhouts, and unufual manner of fighting, had all contributed to
