Then he suddenly gave the signal and launched his attack.
Paraphrase: Jugurtha attacked Metellus. This was a trap that had been laid down by Jugurtha because he knew he wouldn't win fairly. He let Metellus walk around the village and caught him off guard when he least expected it. Metellus and his army were now trapped. This once again shows change over time of how war has advanced from past wars and different techniques being used.
A few days later the consul with his army alert and ready for battle invaded Numidia, where he found nothing to indicate a state of war; the huts were full of men, and cattle and farmers were to be seen in the fields.
Paraphrase: Mettelus attacked a village that wasn't ready for battle whatsoever. Interpretation: He seems to be paranoid and power hungry. He is attacking everywhere and wouldn't accept any bribes. It's also interesting that the village wasn't ready for war at all. It could show the complexity that they knew they would lose, so they just didn't prepare for anything.
Accordingly, he sent envoys to the consul with tokens of submission, merely asking that his own life and those of his children be spared and leaving all else to the discretion of the Roman people.
Paraphrase: He's trying to save his families life with money. Interpretation: He is once again bribing the enemy, however, now he's just begging to stay alive. He doesn't care about his people and would let them die. This can somewhat give context for how empires would be run by rulers that only cared about themselves now.
Jugurtha meanwhile learned through messengers what Metellus was about, and at the same time received word from Rome that his opponent was incorruptible.
Paraphrase: He was trying to corrupt an opponent of his. Interpretation: This interesting to see that he was trying to bribe an enemy with something. He must've thought that he couldn't win and is hoping to get out of it with possibly money. This shows a change over time because people used to "fight to the death" and "die with honor" but now people are trying to cheat their way to winning.
exclude the guilty parties from the treaty,
Paraphrase: They will get rid of any states that don't follow the peace rules. Interpretation: Why are they kicking them out rather than taking control? They could just make sure the state doesn't take arms against the whole peace treaty.
Congress and those responsible for public safety to see that in the states that are parties to the peace there shall be no executions and banishments contrary to the laws established in those states, no confiscation of property, no partition of lands, no cancelling of debts, and no emancipation of slaves for purposes of revolution.
Paraphrase: This is saying there will be no bad things happening contrary to law. Interpretation: How can they make this a rule if it is against the law in that state. If they are controlling states laws, wouldn't that make them the tyrants?
for it is further stipulated in the compact that anyone who acts as Alexander has acted shall be the enemy of all the other parties to the compact, and his country shall be hostile territory, and all the parties shall unite in a campaign against him. So if we carry out the agreement, we shall treat the restorer of the tyrants as an enemy.
Paraphrase: It's saying Alexander is an enemy to other parties. Interpretation: Is the author part of the parties that would be against him? He talks about how everyone will be against him if they carry out the agreement. It says Alexander is a restorer of tyrants.
Therefore when Alexander, contrary to the oaths and the compacts as set forth in the general peace, restored those tyrants,
Paraphrase: This is saying that Alexander had gone against the oaths set Interpretation: Does this mean this text is against Alexander? I cannot tell yet whether they are calling him a tyrant or saying he set peace.