§24.48.1eodem anno P. et Cn. Cornelii, cum in Hispania res prosperae essent multosque et veteres reciperent socios et novos adicerent, in Africam quoque spem extenderunt. §24.48.2Syphax erat rex Numidarum, subito Carthaginiensibus hostis factus: §24.48.3ad eum centuriones tres legatos miserunt, qui cum eo amicitiam societatemque facerent et pollicerentur, si perseveraret urguere bello Carthaginienses, gratam eam rem fore senatui populoque Romano et adnisuros, ut in tempore et bene cumulatam gratiam referant. §24.48.4grata ea legatio barbaro fuit; conlocutusque cum legatis de ratione belli gerundi, ut veterum militum verba audivit, quam multarum rerum ipse ignarus esset, ex conparatione tam ordinatae disciplinae animum advertit. §24.48.5tum primum, ut pro bonis ac fidelibus sociis facerent, oravit, ut duo legationem referrent ad imperatores suos, unus apud sese magister rei militaris resisteret.
In the same year, Publius and Gnaeus Cornelius, since matters were prosperous in Spain and they were recovering many ancient allies and adding new ones, extended their hope to Africa as well. Syphax was the king of the Numidians, having suddenly become an enemy to the Carthaginians. To him they sent three centurions as ambassadors, to establish friendship and alliance with him and to promise that, if he persisted in pressing the Carthaginians with war, this thing would be pleasing to the senate and the Roman people, and that they would strive to return a well-accumulated gratitude in due time. This embassy was pleasing to the barbarian; and having conversed with the ambassadors about the method of waging war, as he heard the words of the veteran soldiers, he noticed, from a comparison with such orderly discipline, how many things he himself was ignorant of. Then for the first time, in order to act as good and faithful allies, he begged that two should carry the embassy back to their commanders, and one should remain with him as an instructor of military affairs.
rudem ad pedestria bella Numidarum gentem esse, equis tantum habilem; §24.48.6ita iam inde a principiis gentis maiores suos bella gessisse, ita se a pueris insuetos.
He said that the nation of the Numidians was rude in infantry battles, being fit only for horses; that thus from the very beginnings of the race their ancestors had waged wars, and thus they themselves had been unaccustomed from boyhood.
sed habere hostem pedestri fidentem Marte, cui si aequari robore virium velit, et sibi pedites comparandos esse. §24.48.7et ad id multitudine hominum regnum abundare, sed armandi ornandique et instruendi eos artem ignorare.
But they had an enemy relying on infantry warfare, with whom if he wished to be equaled in strength of forces, infantry had to be acquired by him as well. And for this purpose, though the kingdom abounded in a multitude of men, they were ignorant of the art of arming, equipping, and drawing them up.
omnia, velut forte congregata turba, soluta ac temeraria esse. §24.48.8facturos se in praesentia quod vellet, legati respondent fide accepta, ut remitteret extemplo eum, si imperatores sui non comprobassent factum. §24.48.9Q. Statorio nomen fuit, qui ad regem remansit.
Everything was loose and reckless, like a crowd gathered by chance. The ambassadors replied that they would do what he wished for the present, after a pledge was received that he would immediately send him back if their commanders did not approve of the action. Quintus Statorius was the name of the man who remained with the king.
cum duobus Romanis rex Numidas legatos in Hispaniam misit ad accipiendam fidem ab imperatoribus Romanis. §24.48.10isdem mandavit, ut protinus Numidas, qui intra praesidia Carthaginiensium auxiliares essent, ad transitionem perlicerent. §24.48.11et Statorius ex multa iuventute regi pedites conscripsit ordinatosque proxime morem Romanum instruendo et decurrendo signa sequi et servare ordines docuit et operi aliisque iustis militaribus ita adsuefecit, §24.48.12ut brevi rex non equiti magis fideret quam pediti conlatisque aequo campo signis iusto proelio Carthaginiensem hostem superaret. §24.48.13Romanis quoque in Hispania legatorum regis adventus magno emolumento fuit; namque ad famam eorum transitiones crebrae ab Numidis coeptae fieri.
With the two Romans, the king sent Numidian ambassadors to Spain to receive a pledge from the Roman commanders. He charged the same men to entice the Numidians, who were serving as auxiliaries within the garrisons of the Carthaginians, to desert immediately. And Statorius enlisted infantry for the king from the abundant youth and, having organized them very nearly in the Roman fashion, taught them by drawing up and maneuvering to follow the standards and keep their ranks, and so accustomed them to work and other proper military duties, that in a short time the king trusted his infantry no less than his cavalry, and in a regular battle, having joined standards in an open field, he overcame the Carthaginian enemy. For the Romans also in Spain, the arrival of the king's ambassadors was of great benefit; for at the report of them, frequent desertions by the Numidians began to take place.
ita cum Syphace Romanis coepta amicitia est.
Thus the friendship between the Romans and Syphax was begun.
quod ubi Carthaginienses acceperunt, extemplo ad Galam in parte altera Numidiae — Maesulii ea gene vocatur — regnantem legatos mittunt.
When the Carthaginians heard of this, they immediately sent ambassadors to Gala, who was reigning in the other part of Numidia—the tribe is called the Maesulii.