希腊罗马名人传(Caius Marius)

we are altogether ignorant of any third name of caius marius； asalso of quintus sertorius, that possessed himself of spain or of luciusmummius that destroyed corinth, though this last was surnamed achaicusfrom his conquests, as scipio was called africanus, and metellus,macedonicus. hence posidonius draws his chief argument to confutethose that hold the third to be the roman proper name, as camillus,marcellus, cato； as in this case, those that had but two names wouldhave no proper name at all. he did not, however, observe that by hisown reasoning he must rob the women absolutely of their names； fornone of them have the first, which posidonius imagines the propername with the romans. of the other two, one was common to the wholefamily, pompeii, manlii, cornelii （as with us greeks, the heraclidae,and pelopidae）, the other titular, and personal, taken either fromtheir natures, or actions, or bodily characteristics, as macrinus,torquatus, sylla； such as are mnemon, grypus, or callinicus amongthe greeks. on the subject of names, however, the irregularity ofcustom, would we insist upon it, might furnish us with discourse enough.

there is a likeness of marius in stone at ravenna, in gaul, whichi myself saw quite corresponding with that roughness of characterthat is ascribed to him. being naturally valiant and warlike, andmore acquainted also with the discipline of the camp than of the city,he could not moderate his passion when in authority. he is said neverto have either studied greek, or to have use of that language in anymatter of consequence； thinking it ridiculous to bestow time in thatlearning, the teachers of which were little better than slaves. soafter his second triumph, when at the dedication of a temple he presentedsome shows after the greek fashion, coming into the theatre, he onlysat down and immediately departed. and, accordingly, as plato usedto say to xenocrates the philosopher, who was thought to show morethan ordinary harshness of disposition, "i pray you, good xenocrates,sacrifice to the graces；" so if any could have persuaded marius topay his devotions to the greek muses and graces, he had never broughthis incomparable actions, both in war and peace, to so unworthy aconclusion, or wrecked himself, so to say, upon an old age of crueltyand vindictiveness, through passion, ill-timed ambition, and insatiablecupidity. but this will further appear by and by from the facts.

he was born of parents altogether obscure and indigent, who supportedthemselves by their daily labour； his father of the same name withhimself, his mother called fulcinia. he had spent a considerable partof his life before he saw and tasted the pleasures of the city； havingpassed previously in cirrhaeaton, a village of the territory of arpinum,a life, compared with city delicacies, rude and unrefined, yet temperate,and conformable to the ancient roman severity. he first served asa soldier in the war against the celtiberians, when scipio africanusbesieged numantia； where he signalized himself to his general by couragefar above his comrades, and particularly by his cheerfully complyingwith scipio's reformation of his army, being almost ruined by pleasuresand luxury. it is stated, too, that he encountered and vanquishedan enemy in single combat, in his general's sight. in consequenceof all this he had several honours conferred upon him； and once whenat an entertainment a question arose about commanders, and one ofthe company （whether really desirous to know, or only in complaisance）asked scipio where the romans, after him, should obtain such anothergeneral, scipio, gently clapping marius on the shoulder as he satnext him, replied, "here, perhaps." so promising was his early youthof his future greatness, and so discerning was scipio to detect thedistant future in the present first beginnings. it was this speechof scipio, we are told, which, like a divine admonition, chiefly emboldenedmarius to aspire to a political career. he sought, and by the assistanceof caecilius metellus, of whose family he as well as his father weredependents, obtained the office of tribune of the people. in whichplace, when he brought forward a bill for the regulation of voting,which seemed likely to lessen the authority of the great men in thecourts of justice, the consul cotta opposed him, and persuaded thesenate to declare against the law, and called marius to account forit. he, however, when this decree was prepared, coming into the senate,did not behave like a young man newly and undeservedly advanced toauthority, but, assuming all the courage that his future actions wouldhave warranted, threatened cotta, unless he recalled the decree, tothrow him into prison. and on his turning to metellus, and askinghis vote, and metellus, rising up to concur with the consul, marius,calling for the officer outside, commanded him to take metellus intocustody. he appealed to the other tribunes, but not one of them assistedhim； so that the senate, immediately complying, withdrew the decree.marius came forth with glory to the people and confirmed his law,and was henceforth esteemed a man of undaunted courage and assurance,as well as a vigorous opposer of the senate in favour of the commons.but he immediately lost their opinion of him by a contrary action；for when a law for the distribution of corn was proposed, he vigorouslyand successfully resisted it, making himself equally honoured by bothparties, in gratifying neither, contrary to the public interest.

after his tribuneship, he was candidate for the office of chief aedile；there being two orders of them, one the curules, from the stool withcrooked feet on which they sat when they performed their duty； theother and inferior, called aediles of the people. as soon as theyhave chosen the former, they give their voices again for the latter.marius, finding he was likely to be put by for the greater, immediatelychanged and stood for the less； but because he seemed too forwardand hot, he was disappointed of that also. and yet though he was inone day twice frustrated of his desired preferment （which never happenedto any before）, yet he was not at all discouraged, but a little whileafter sought for the praetorship and was nearly suffering a repulse,and then, too, though he was returned last of all, was neverthelessaccused of bribery.

cassius sabaco's servant, who was observed within the rails amongthose who voted, chiefly occasioned the suspicion, as sabaco was anintimate friend of marius； but on being called to appear before thejudges, he alleged, that being thirsty by reason of the heat, he calledfor cold water, and that his servant brought him a cup, and as soonas he had drunk, departed； he was, however, excluded from the senateby the succeeding censors, and not undeservedly either, as was thought,whether it might be for his false evidence, or his want of temperance.caius herennius was also cited to appear as evidence, but pleadedthat it was not customary for a patron （the roman word for protector）to witness against his clients, and that the law excused them fromthat harsh duty； and both marius and his parents had always been clientsto the family of herennii. and when the judges would have acceptedof this plea, marius himself opposed it, and told herennius, thatwhen he was first created magistrate he ceased to be his client； whichwas not altogether true. for it is not every office that frees clientsand their posterity from the observance due to their patrons, butonly those to which the law has assigned a curule chair. notwithstanding,though at the beginning of the suit it went somewhat hard with marius,and he found the judges no way favourable to him, yet at last, theirvoices being equal, contrary to all expectation, he was acquitted.

in his praetorship he did not get much honour, yet after it he obtainedthe further spain； which province he is said to have cleared of robbers,with which it was much infested, the old barbarous habits still prevailing,and the spaniards, in those days, still regarding robbery as a pieceof valour. in the city he had neither riches nor eloquence to trustto, with which the leading men of the time obtained power with thepeople, but his vehement disposition, his indefatigable labours, andhis plain way of living, of themselves gained him esteem and influence；so that he made an honourable match with julia, of the distinguishedfamily of the caesars, to whom that caesar was nephew who was afterwardsso great among the romans, and, in some degree, from his relationship,made marius his example, as in his life we have observed.

marius is praised for both temperance and endurance, of which latterhe gave a decided instance in an operation of surgery. for having,as it seems, both his legs full of great tumours, and disliking thedeformity, he determined to put himself into the hands of an operator；when, without being tied, he stretched out one of his legs, and silently,without changing countenance, endured most excessive torments in thecutting, never either flinching or complaining； but when the surgeonwent to the other, he declined to have it done, saying, "i see thecure is not worth the pain."

the consul caecilius metellus, being declared general in the war againstjugurtha in africa took with him marius for lieutenant； where, eagerhimself to do great deeds and services that would get him distinction,he did not, like others, consult metellus's glory and the servinghis interest, and attributing his honour of lieutenancy not to metellus,but to fortune, which had presented him with a proper opportunityand theatre of great actions, he exerted his utmost courage. thatwar, too, affording several difficulties, he neither declined thegreatest, nor disdained undertaking the least of them, but surpassinghis equals in counsel and conduct, and matching the very common soldiersin labour and abstemiousness, he gained great popularity with them；as indeed any voluntary partaking with people in their labour is feltas an easing of that labour, as it seems to take away the constraintand necessity of it. it is the most obliging sight in the world tothe roman soldier to see a commander eat the same bread as himself,or lie upon an ordinary bed, or assist the work in the drawing a trenchand raising a bulwark. for they do not so much admire those that conferhonours and riches upon them, as those that partake of the same labourand danger with themselves； but love them better that will vouchsafeto join in their work, than those that encourage their idleness.

marius thus employed, and thus winning the affections of the soldiers,before long filled both africa and rome with his fame, and some, too,wrote home from the army that the war with africa would never be broughtto a conclusion unless they chose caius marius consul. all which wasevidently unpleasing to metellus； but what more especially grievedhim was the calamity of turpillius. this turpillius had, from hisancestors, been a friend of metellus, and kept up a constant hospitalitywith him, and was now serving in the war in command of the smithsand carpenters of the army. having the charge of a garrison in vaga,a considerable city, and trusting too much to the inhabitants, becausehe treated them civilly and kindly, he unawares fell into the enemy'shands. they received jugurtha into the city； yet nevertheless, attheir request, turpillius was dismissed safe and without receivingany injury； whereupon he was accused of betraying it to the enemy.marius, being one of the council of war, was not only violent againsthim himself, but also incensed most of the others, so that metelluswas forced, much against his will, to put him to death. not long afterthe accusation proved false, and when others were comforting metellus,who took heavily the loss of his friend, marius, rather insultingand arrogating it to himself, boasted in all companies that he hadinvolved metellus in the guilt of putting his friend to death.

henceforward they were at open variance； and it is reported that metellusonce, when marius was present, said insultingly, "you, sir, designto leave us to go home and stand for the consulship, and will notbe content to wait and be consul with this boy of mine？" metellus'sson being a mere boy at the time. yet for all this marius being veryimportunate to be gone, after several delays, he was dismissed abouttwelve days before the election of consuls； and performed that longjourney from the camp to the seaport of utica in two days and a night,and there doing sacrifice before he went on shipboard, it is saidthe augur told him that heaven promised him some incredible good fortune,and such as was beyond all expectation. marius, not a little elatedwith his good omen, began his voyage, and in four days, with a favourablewind, passed the sea； he was welcomed with great joy by the people,and being brought into the assembly by one of the tribunes, sued forthe consulship, inveighing in all ways against metellus, and promisingeither to slay jugurtha or take him alive.

he was elected triumphantly, and at once proceeded to levy soldierscontrary both to law and custom, enlisting slaves and poor people；whereas former commanders never accepted of such, but bestowed arms,like other favours, as a matter of distinction, on persons who hadthe proper qualification, a man's property being thus a sort of securityfor his good behaviour. these were not the only occasions of ill-willagainst marius； some haughty speeches, uttered with great arroganceand contempt, gave great offence to the nobility； as, for example,his saying that he had carried off the consulship as a spoil fromthe effeminacy of the wealthy and high-born citizens, and tellingthe people that he gloried in wounds he had himself received for them,as much as others did in the monuments of dead men, and images oftheir ancestors. often speaking of the commanders that had been unfortunatein africa, naming bestia, for example, and albinus, men of very goodfamilies, but unfit for war, and who had miscarried through want ofexperience, he asked the people about him if they did not think thatthe ancestors of these nobles had much rather have left a descendantlike him, since they themselves grew famous not by nobility, but bytheir valour and great actions？ this he did not say merely out ofvanity and arrogance, or that he were willing, without any advantage,to offend the nobility； but the people always delighting in affrontsand scurrilous contumelies against the senate, making boldness ofspeech their measure of greatness of spirit, continually encouragedhim in it, and strengthened his inclination not to spare persons ofrepute, so he might gratify the multitude.

as soon as he arrived again in africa, metellus, no longer able tocontrol his feelings of jealousy, and his indignation that now whenhe had really finished the war, and nothing was left but to securethe person of jugurtha, marius, grown great merely through his ingratitudeto him, should come to bereave him both of his victory and triumph,could not bear to have any interview with him； but retired himself,whilst rutilius, his lieutenant, surrendered up the army to marius,whose conduct, however, in the end of the war, met with some sortof retribution, as sylla deprived him of the glory of the action ashe had done metellus. i shall state the circumstances briefly hereas they are given at large in the life of sylla. bocchus was kingof the more distant barbarians, and was father-in-law to jugurtha,yet sent him little or no assistance in his war, professing fearsof his unfaithfulness, and really jealous of his growing power； butafter jugurtha fled, and in his distress came to him as his last hope,he received him as a suppliant, rather because ashamed to do otherwisethan out of real kindness； and when he had him in his power, he openlyentreated marius on his behalf, and interceded for him with bold words,giving out that he would by no means deliver him. yet privately designingto betray him, he sent for lucius sylla, quaestor to marius, and whohad on a previous occasion befriended bocchus in the war. when sylla,relying on his word, came to him, the african began to doubt and repentof his purpose, and for several days was unresolved with himself,whether he should deliver jugurtha or retain sylla； at length he fixedupon his former treachery, and put jugurtha alive into sylla's possession.thus was the first occasion given of that fierce and implacable hostilitywhich so nearly ruined the whole roman empire. for many that enviedmarius attributed the success wholly to sylla, and sylla himself gota seal made, on which was engraved bocchus betraying jugurtha to him,and constantly used it, irritating the hot and jealous temper of marius,who was naturally greedy of distinction, and quick to resent any claimto share in his glory, and whose enemies took care to promote thequarrel, ascribing the beginning and chief business of the war tometellus and its conclusion to sylla； that so the people might giveover admiring and esteeming marius as the worthiest person.

but these envyings and calumnies were soon dispersed and cleared awayfrom marius by the danger that threatened italy from the west； whenthe city, in great need of a good commander, sought about whom shemight set at the helm to meet the tempest of so great a war, no onewould have anything to say to any members of noble or potent familieswho offered themselves for the consulship, and marius, though thenabsent, was elected.

jugurtha's apprehension was only just known, when the news of theinvasion of the teutones and cimbri began. the accounts at first exceededall credit, as to the number and strength of the approaching army,but in the end report proved much inferior to truth, as they werethree hundred thousand effective fighting men, besides a far greaternumber of women and children. they professed to be seeking new countriesto sustain these great multitudes, and cities where they might settleand inhabit, in the same way as they had heard the celti before themhad driven out the tyrrhenians, and possessed themselves of the bestpart of italy. having had no commerce with the southern nations, andtravelling over a wide extent of country, no man knew what peoplethey were, or whence they came, that thus like a cloud burst overgaul and italy； yet by their grey eyes and the largeness of theirstature they were conjectured to be some of the german races dwellingby the northern sea； besides that, the germans call plunderers cimbri.

there are some that say that the country of the celti, in its vastsize and extent, reaches from the furthest sea and the arctic regionsto the lake maeotis eastward, and to that part of scythia which isnear pontus, and that there the nations mingle together； that theydid not swarm out of their country all at once, or on a sudden, butadvancing by force of arms, in the summer season, every year, in thecourse of time they crossed the whole continent. and thus, thougheach party had several appellations, yet the whole army was calledby the common name of celto-scythians. others say that the cimmerii,anciently known to the greeks, were only a small part of the nation,who were driven out upon some quarrel among the scythians, and passedall along from the lake maeotis to asia, under the conduct of onelygdamis； and that the greater and more warlike part of them stillinhabit the remotest regions lying upon the outer ocean. these, theysay, live in a dark and woody country hardly penetrable by the sunbeams,the trees are so close and thick, extending into the interior as faras the hercynian forest； and their position on the earth is underthat part of heaven where the pole is so elevated that, by the declinationof the parallels, the zenith of the inhabitants seems to be but littledistant from it； and that their days and nights being almost of anequal length, they divide their year into one of each. this was homer'soccasion for the story of ulysses calling up the dead, and from thisregion the people, anciently called cimmerii, and afterwards, by aneasy change, cimbri, came into italy. all this, however, is ratherconjecture than an authentic history.

their numbers, most writers agree, were not less, but rather greaterthan was reported. they were of invincible strength and fiercenessin their wars, and hurried into battle with the violence of a devouringflame； none could withstand them： all they assaulted became theirprey. several of the greatest roman commanders with their whole armies,that advanced for the defence of transalpine gaul, were ingloriouslyoverthrown, and, indeed, by their faint resistance, chiefly gave themthe impulse of marching towards rome. having vanquished all they hadmet, and found abundance of plunder, they resolved to settle themselvesnowhere till they should have razed the city and wasted all italy.the romans, being from all parts alarmed with this news, sent formarius to undertake the war, and nominated him the second time consul,though the law did not permit any one that was absent, or that hadnot waited a certain time after his first consulship, to be againcreated. but the people rejected all opposers, for they consideredthis was not the first time that the law gave place to the commoninterest； nor the present occasion less urgent than that when, contraryto law, they made scipio consul, not in fear for the destruction oftheir own city, but desiring the ruin of that of the carthaginians.

thus it was decided； and marius, bringing over his legions out ofafrica on the very first day of january, which the romans count thebeginning of the year, received the consulship, and then, also, enteredin triumph, showing jugurtha a prisoner to the people, a sight theyhad despaired of ever beholding, nor could any, so long as he lived,hope to reduce the enemy in africa； so fertile in expedients was heto adapt himself to every turn of fortune, and so bold as well assubtle. when, however, he was led in triumph, it is said that he felldistracted, and when he was afterwards thrown into prison, where sometore off his clothes by force, and others, whilst they struggled forhis golden earring, with it pulled off the tip of his ear, and whenhe was, after this, cast naked into the dungeon, in his amazementand confusion, with a ghastly laugh, he cried out, "o hercules！ howcold your bath is！" here for six days struggling with hunger, andto the very last minute desirous of life, he was overtaken by thejust reward of his villainies. in this triumph was brought, as isstated, of gold three thousand and seven pounds weight, of silverbullion five thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, of money ingold and silver coin two hundred and eighty-seven thousand drachmas.after the solemnity, marius called together the senate in the capitol,and entered, whether through inadvertency or unbecoming exultationwith his good fortune, in his triumphal habit； but presently observingthe senate offended at it, went out, and returned in his ordinarypurple-bordered robe.

on the expedition he carefully disciplined and trained his army whilstthey were on their way, giving them practice in long marches, andrunning of every sort, and compelling every man to carry his own baggageand prepare his own victuals； insomuch that thenceforward laborioussoldiers, who did their work silently without grumbling, had the nameof "marius's mules." some, however, think the proverb had a differentoccasion； that when scipio besieged numantia, and was careful to inspectnot only their horses and arms, but their mules and carriages too,and see how well equipped and in what readiness each one's was, mariusbrought forth his horse which he had fed extremely well, and a mulein better case, stronger and gentler than those of others； that thegeneral was very well pleased, and often afterwards mentioned marius'sbeasts； and that hence the soldiers, when speaking jestingly in thepraise of a drudging laborious fellow, called him marius's mule.

but to proceed； very great fortune seemed to attend marius, for bythe enemy in a manner changing their course, and falling first uponspain, he had time to exercise his soldiers, and confirm their courage,and, which was most important, to show them what he himself was. forthat fierce manner of his in command, and inexorableness in punishing,when his men became used not to do amiss or disobey, was felt to bewholesome and advantageous, as well as just, and his violent spirit,stern voice, and harsh aspect, which in a little while grew familiarto them, they esteemed terrible not to themselves, but only to theirenemies. but his uprightness in judging more especially pleased thesoldiers, one remarkable instance of which is as follows. one caiuslusius, his own nephew, had a command under him in the army, a mannot in other respects of bad character, but shamefully licentiouswith young men. he had one young man under his command called trebonius,with whom notwithstanding many solicitations he could never prevail.at length one night he sent a messenger for him and trebonius came,as it was not lawful for him to refuse when he was sent for, and beingbrought into his tent, when lusius began to use violence with him,he drew his sword and ran him through. this was done whilst mariuswas absent. when he returned, he appointed trebonius a time for histrial, where, whilst many accused him, and not any one appeared inhis defence, he himself boldly related the whole matter, and broughtwitness of his previous conduct to lusius, who had frequently offeredhim considerable presents. marius, admiring his conduct and much pleased,commanded the garland, the usual roman reward of valour, to be brought,and himself crowned trebonius with it, as having performed an excellentaction, at a time that very much wanted such good examples.

this being told at rome, proved no small help to marius towards histhird consulship； to which also conduced the expectation of the barbariansat the summer season, the people being unwilling to trust their fortuneswith any other general but him. however, their arrival was not soearly as was imagined, and the time of marius's consulship was againexpired. the election coming on, and his colleague being dead, heleft the command of the army to manius aquilius, and hastened to rome,where, several eminent persons being candidates for the consulship,lucius saturninus, who more than any of the other tribunes swayedthe populace, and of whom marius himself was very observant, exertedhis eloquence with the people, advising them to choose marius consul.he playing the modest part, and professing to decline the office,saturninus called him traitor to his country if, in such apparentdanger, he would avoid command. and though it was not difficult todiscover that he was merely helping marius in putting this pretenceupon the people, yet, considering that the present juncture much requiredhis skill, and his good fortunes too, they voted him the fourth timeconsul, and made catulus lutatius his colleague, a man very much esteemedby the nobility and not unagreeable to the commons.

marius, having notice of the enemy's approach, with all expeditionpassed the alps, and pitching his camp by the river rhone, took carefirst for plentiful supplies of victuals： lest at any time he shouldbe forced to fight at a disadvantage for want of necessaries. thecarriage of provision for the army from the sea, which was formerlylong and expensive, he made speedy and easy. for the mouth, of therhone, by the influx of the sea, being barred and almost filled upwith sand and mud mixed with clay, the passage there became narrow,difficult, and dangerous for the ships that brought their provisions.hither, therefore, bringing his army, then at leisure, he drew a greattrench： and by turning the course of a great part of the river, broughtit to a convenient point on the shore where the water was deep enoughto receive ships of considerable burden, and where there was a calmand easy opening to the sea. and this still retains the name it tookfrom him.

the enemy dividing themselves into two parts, the cimbri arrangedto go against catulus higher up through the country of the norici,and to force that passage； the teutones and ambrones to march againstmarius by the seaside through liguria. the cimbri were a considerabletime in doing their part. but the teutones and ambrones with all expeditionpassing over the interjacent country, soon came in sight, in numbersbeyond belief, of a terrible aspect, and uttering strange cries andshouts. taking up a great part of the plain with their camp, theychallenged marius to battle； he seemed to take no notice of them,but kept his soldiers within their fortification, and sharply reprehendedthose that were too forward and eager to show their courage, and who,out of passion, would needs be fighting, calling them traitors totheir country, and telling them they were not now to think of theglory of triumphs and trophies, but rather how they might repel suchan impetuous tempest of war and save italy.

thus he discoursed privately with his officers and equals, but placedthe soldiers by turns upon the bulwarks to survey the enemy, and somade them familiar with their shape and voice, which were indeed altogetherextravagant and barbarous, and he caused them to observe their arms,and the way of using them, so that in a little time what at firstappeared terrible to their apprehensions, by often viewing becamefamiliar. for he very rationally supposed that the strangeness ofthings often makes them seem formidable when they are not so； andthat by our better acquaintance, even things which are really terriblelose much of their frightfulness. this daily converse not only diminishedsome of the soldiers' fears, but their indignation warmed and inflamedtheir courage when they heard the threats and insupportable insolenceof their enemies； who not only plundered and depopulated all the countryround, but would even contemptuously and confidently attack the ramparts.

complaints of the soldiers now began to come to marius's ears. "whateffeminacy does marius see in us, that he should thus like women lockus up from encountering our enemies？ come on, let us show ourselvesmen, and ask him if he expects others to fight for italy； and meansmerely to employ us in servile offices, when he would dig trenches,cleanse places of mud and dirt, and turn the course of the rivers？it was to do such works as these, it seems, that he gave us all ourlong training； he will return home, and boast of these great performancesof his consulships to the people. does the defeat of carbo and caepio,who were vanquished by the enemy, affright him？ surely they were muchinferior to marius both in glory and valour, and commanded a muchweaker army： at the worst, it is better to be in action, though wesuffer for it like them, than to sit idle spectators of the destructionof our allies and companions." marius, not a little pleased to hearthis, gently appeased them, pretending that he did not distrust theirvalour, but that he took his measures as to the time and place ofvictory from some certain oracles.

and, in fact, he used solemnly to carry about in a litter a syrianwoman, called martha, a supposed prophetess, and to do sacrifice byher directions. she had formerly been driven away by the senate, towhom she addressed herself, offering to inform them about these affairs,and to foretell future events； and after this betook herself to thewomen, and gave them proofs of her skill, especially marius's wife,at whose feet she sat when she was viewing a contest of gladiators,and correctly foretold which of them should overcome. she was forthis and the like predictings sent by her to marius and the army,where she was very much looked up to, and, for the most part, carriedabout in a litter. when she went to sacrifice, she wore a purple robelined and buckled up, and had in her hand a little spear trimmed withribbons and garlands. this theatrical show made many question whethermarius really gave any credit to her himself, or only played the counterfeit,when he showed her publicly, to impose upon the soldiers.

what, however, alexander the myndian relates about the vultures doesreally deserve admiration； that always before marius's victories thereappeared two of them, and accompanied the army, which were known bytheir brazen collars （the soldiers having caught them and put theseabout their necks, and so let them go, from which time they in a mannerknew and saluted the soldiers）, and whenever these appeared in theirmarches, they used to rejoice at it, and thought themselves sure ofsome success. of the many other prodigies that then were taken noticeof, the greater part were but of the ordinary stamp； it was, however,reported that at ameria and tuder, two cities in italy, there wereseen at nights in the sky flaming darts and shields, now waved about,and then again clashing against one another, all in accordance withthe postures and motions soldiers use in fighting； that at lengthone party retreating, and the other pursuing, they all disappearedwestward. much about the same time came bataces, one of cybele's priests,from pessinus, and reported how the goddess had declared to him outof her oracle that the romans should obtain the victory. the senategiving credit to him, and voting the goddess a temple to be builtin hopes of the victory, aulus pompeius, a tribune, prevented bataces,when he would have gone and told the people this same story, callinghim impostor, and ignominiously pulling him off the hustings； whichaction in the end was the main thing that gained credit for the man'sstory, for aulus had scarce dissolved the assembly, and returned home,when a violent fever seized him, and it was matter of universal remark,and in everybody's mouth, that he died within a week after.

now the teutones, whilst marius lay quiet, ventured to attack hiscamp； from whence, however, being encountered with showers of darts,and losing several of their men, they determined to march forward,hoping to reach the other side of the alps without opposition, and,packing up their baggage, passed securely by the roman camp, wherethe greatness of their number was especially made evident by the longtime they took in their march, for they were said to be six days continuallygoing on in passing marius's fortifications； they marched pretty near,and revilingly asked the romans if they would send any commands bythem to their wives, for they would shortly be with them. as soonas they were passed and had gone on a little distance ahead, mariusbegan to move, and follow them at his leisure, always encamping atsome small distance from them； choosing also strong positions, andcarefully fortifying them, that he might quarter with safety. thusthey marched till they came to the place called sextilius's waters,from whence it was but a short way before being amidst the alps, andhere marius put himself in readiness for the encounter.

he chose a place for his camp of considerable strength, but wherethere was a scarcity of water； designing, it is said, by this means,also, to put an edge on his soldiers' courage； and when several werenot a little distressed, and complained of thirst, pointing to a riverthat ran near the enemy's camp； "there," said he, "you may have drink,if you will buy it with your blood." "why, then," replied they, "doyou not lead us to them, before our blood is dried up in us？" he answered,in a softer tone, "let us first fortify our camp," and the soldiers,though not without repining, proceeded to obey. now a great companyof their boys and camp followers, having neither drink for themselvesnor for their horses, went down to that river； some taking axes andhatchets, and some, too, swords and darts with their pitchers, resolvingto have water though they fought for it. these were first encounteredby a small party of the enemies； for most of them had just finishedbathing, and were eating and drinking, and several were still bathing,the country thereabouts abounding in hot springs； so that the romanspartly fell upon them whilst they were enjoying themselves and occupiedwith the novel sights and pleasantness of the place. upon hearingthe shouts, great numbers still joining in the fight, it was not alittle difficult for marius to contain his soldiers, who were afraidof losing the camp servants； and the more warlike part of the enemies,who had overthrown manlius and caepio （they were called ambrones,and were in number, one with another, above thirty thousand）, takingthe alarm, leaped up and hurried to arms.

these, though they had just been gorging themselves with food, andwere excited and disordered with drink, nevertheless did not advancewith an unruly step, or in mere senseless fury, nor were their shoutsmere inarticulate cries； but clashing their arms in concert and keepingtime as they leapt and bounded onward, they continually repeated theirown name, "ambrones！" either to encourage one another, or to strikethe greater terror into their enemies. of all the italians in marius'sarmy, the ligurians were the first that charged； and when they caughtthe word of the enemy's confused shout, they, too, returned the same,as it was an ancient name also in their country, the ligurians alwaysusing it when speaking of their descent. this acclamation, bandiedfrom one army to the other before they joined, served to rouse andheighten their fury, while the men on either side strove, with allpossible vehemence, the one to overshout the other.

the river disordered the ambrones； before they could draw up all theirarmy on the other side of it, the ligurians presently fell upon thevan, and began to charge them hand to hand. the romans, too, comingto their assistance, and from the higher ground pouring upon the enemy,forcibly repelled them, and the most of them （one thrusting anotherinto the river） were there slain, and filled it with their blood anddead bodies. those that got safe over, not daring to make head, wereslain by the romans, as they fled to their camp and wagons； wherethe women meeting them with swords and hatchets, and making a hideousoutcry, set upon those that fled as well as those that pursued, theone as traitors, the other as enemies, and mixing themselves withthe combatants, with their bare arms pulling away the romans' shields,and laying hold on their swords, endured the wounds and slashing oftheir bodies to the very last with undaunted resolution. thus thebattle seems to have happened at that river rather by accident thanby the design of the general.

after the romans were retired from the great slaughter of the ambrones,night came on； but the army was not indulged, as was the usual custom,with songs of victory, drinking in their tents, and mutual entertainmentsand （what is most welcome to soldiers after successful fighting） quietsleep, but they passed that night, above all others, in fears andalarm. for their camp was without either rampart or palisade, andthere remained thousands upon thousands of their enemies yet unconquered；to whom were joined as many of the ambrones as escaped. there wereheard from these all through the night wild bewailings, nothing likethe sighs and groans of men, but a sort of wild-beast-like howlingand cursing joined with threats and lamentations rising from the vastmultitude, and echoed among the neighbouring hills and hollow banksof the river. the whole plain was filled with hideous noise, insomuchthat the romans were not a little afraid and marius himself was apprehensiveof a confused tumultuous night engagement. but the enemy did not stireither this night or the next day, but were employed in disposingand drawing themselves up to the greatest advantage.

of this occasion marius made good use； for there were beyond the enemiessome wooded ascents and deep valleys thickly set with trees, whitherhe sent claudius marcellus, secretly, with three thousand regularsoldiers, giving him orders to post them in ambush there, and showthemselves at the rear of the enemies when the fight was begun. theothers, refreshed with victuals and sleep, as soon as it was day hedrew up before the camp, and commanded the horse to sally out intothe plain, at the sight of which the teutones could not contain themselvestill the romans should come down and fight them on equal terms, buthastily arming themselves, charged in their fury up the hillside.marius, sending officers to all parts, commanded his men to standstill and keep their ground； when they came within reach, to throwtheir javelins, then use their swords, and joining their shields,force them back； pointing out to them that the steepness of the groundwould render the enemy's blows inefficient, nor could their shieldsbe kept close together, the inequality of the ground hindering thestability of their footing.

this counsel he gave them, and was the first that followed it； forhe was inferior to none in the use of his body, and far excelled allin resolution. the romans accordingly stood for their approach, and,checking them in their advance upwards, forced them little by littleto give way and yield down the hill, and here, on the level ground,no sooner had the ambrones begun to restore their van into a postureof resistance, but they found their rear disordered. for marcellushad not let slip the opportunity； but as soon as the shout was raisedamong the romans on the hills, he, setting his men in motion, fellin upon the enemy behind, at full speed, and with loud cries, androuted those nearest him, and they, breaking the ranks of those thatwere before them, filled the whole army with confusion. they madeno long resistance after they were thus broke in upon, but havinglost all order, fled.

the romans, pursuing them, slew and took prisoners above one hundredthousand, and possessing themselves of their spoil, tents, and carriages,voted all that was not purloined to marius's share, which, thoughso magnificent a present, yet was generally thought less than hisconduct deserved in so great a danger. other authors give a differentaccount, both about the division of the plunder and the number ofthe slain. they say, however, that the inhabitants of massilia madefences round their vineyards with the bones, and that the ground,enriched by the moisture of the putrefied bodies （soaked with therain of the following winter）, yielded at the season a prodigiouscrop, and fully justified archilochus, who said, that the fallowsthus are fattened. it is an observation, also, that extraordinaryrains pretty generally fall after great battles； whether it be thatsome divine power thus washes and cleanses the polluted earth withshowers from above, or that moist and heavy evaporations, steamingforth from the blood and corruption, thicken the air, which naturallyis subject to alteration from the smallest causes.

after the battle, marius chose out from amongst the barbarians' spoilsand arms those that were whole and handsome, and that would make thegreatest show in his triumph； the rest he heaped upon a large pile,and offered a very splendid sacrifice. whilst the army stood roundabout with their arms and garlands, himself attired （as the fashionis on such occasions） in the purple-bordered robe, and taking a lightedtorch, and with both hands lifting it up towards heaven, he was thengoing to put it to the pile, when some friends were espied with allhaste coming towards him on horseback. upon which every one remainedin silence and expectation. they, upon their coming up, leapt offand saluted marius, bringing him the news of his fifth consulship,and delivered him letters to that effect. this gave the addition ofno small joy to the solemnity； and while the soldiers clashed theirarms and shouted, the officers again crowned marius with a laurelwreath, and he thus set fire to the pile, and finished his sacrifice.

but whatever it be which interferes to prevent the enjoyment of prosperityever being pure and sincere, and still diversifies human affairs withthe mixture of good and bad, whether fortune or divine displeasure,or the necessity of the nature of things, within a few days mariusreceived an account of his colleague, catulus, which, as a cloud inserenity and calm, terrified rome with the apprehension of anotherimminent storm. catulus, who marched against the cimbri, despairingof being able to defend the passes of the alps, lest, being compelledto divide his forces into several parties, he should weaken himself,descended again into italy, and posted his army behind the river adige；where he occupied the passages with strong fortifications on bothsides the river, and made a bridge, that so he might cross to theassistance of his men on the other side, if so be the enemy, havingforced their way through the mountain passes, should storm the fortresses.the barbarians, however, came on with such insolence and contemptof their enemies, that to show their strength and courage, ratherthan out of any necessity, they went naked in the showers of snow,and through the ice and deep snow climbed up to the tops of the hills,and from thence, placing their broad shields under their bodies, letthemselves slide from the precipices along their vast slippery descents.

when they had pitched their camp at a little distance from the river,and surveyed the passage, they began to pile it up, giant-like, tearingdown the neighbouring hills； and brought trees pulled up by the roots,and heaps of earth to the river, damming up its course； and with greatheavy materials which they rolled down the stream and dashed againstthe bridge, they forced away the beams which supported it； in consequenceof which the greatest part of the roman soldiers, much affrighted,left the camp and fled. here catulus showed himself a generous andnoble general, in preferring the glory of his people before his own；for when he could not prevail with his soldiers to stand to theircolours, but saw how they all deserted them, he commanded his ownstandard to be taken up, and running to the foremost of those thatfled, he led them forward, choosing rather that the disgrace shouldfall upon himself than upon his country, and that they should notseem to fly, but, following their captain, to make a retreat. thebarbarians assaulted and took the fortress on the other side the adige；where much admiring the few romans there left, who had shown extremecourage, and had fought worthily of their country, they dismissedthem upon terms, swearing them upon their brazen bull, which was afterwardstaken in the battle, and carried, they say, to catulus's house, asthe chief trophy of victory.

thus falling in upon the country destitute of defence, they wastedit on all sides. marius was presently sent for to the city； where,when he arrived, every one supposing he would triumph, the senate,too, unanimously voting it, he himself did not think it convenient：whether that he were not willing to deprive his soldiers and officersof their share of the glory, or that, to encourage the people in thisjuncture, he would leave the honour due to his past victory on trust,as it were, in the hands of the city and its future fortune； deferringit now to receive it afterwards with the greater splendour. havingleft such orders as the occasion required, he hastened to catulus,whose drooping spirits he much raised, and sent for his own army fromgaul； and as soon as it came, passing the river po, he endeavouredto keep the barbarians out of that part of italy which lies southof it.

they professed they were in expectation of the teutones, and sayingthey wondered they were so long in coming deferred the battle； eitherthat they were really ignorant of their defeat or were willing toseem so. for they certainly much maltreated those that brought themsuch news, and, sending to marius, required some part of the countryfor themselves and their brethren, and cities fit for them to inhabit.when marius inquired of the ambassadors who their brethren were, upontheir saying the teutones, all that were present began to laugh； andmarius scoffingly answered them, "do not trouble yourself for yourbrethren, for we have already provided lands for them, which theyshall possess for ever." the ambassadors, understanding the mockery,broke into insults, and threatened that the cimbri would make himpay for this and the teutones, too, when they came. "they are notfar off," replied marius, "and it will be unkindly done of you togo away before greeting your brethren." saying so, he commanded thekings of the teutones to be brought out, as they were, in chains；for they were taken by the sequani among the alps, before they couldmake their escape. this was no sooner made known to the cimbri, butthey with all expedition came against marius, who then lay still andguarded his camp.

it is said that, against this battle marius first altered the constructionof the roman javelins. for before at the place where the wood wasjoined to the iron it was made fast with two iron pins； but now mariuslet one of them alone as it was, and pulling out the other, put aweak wooden peg in its place, thus contriving that when it was driveninto the enemy's shield, it should not stand right out, but the woodenpeg breaking, the iron should bend, and so the javelin should holdfast by its crooked point and drag. boeorix, king of the cimbri, camewith a small party of horse to the roman camp, and challenged mariusto appoint the time and place where they might meet and fight forthe country. marius answered that the romans never consulted theirenemies when to fight, however, he would gratify the cimbri so far；and so they fixed upon the third day after and for the place, theplain near vercellae, which was convenient enough for the roman horse,and afforded room for the enemy to display their numbers.

they observed the time appointed, and drew out their forces againsteach other. catulus commanded twenty thousand three hundred, and mariusthirty-two thousand, who were placed in the two wings, leaving catulusthe centre. sylla, who was present at the fight, gives this account；saying, also, that marius drew up his army in this order, becausehe expected that the armies would meet on the wings since it generallyhappens that in such extensive fronts the centre falls back, and thushe would have the whole victory to himself and his soldiers, and catuluswould not be even engaged. they tell us, also, that catulus himselfalleged this in vindication of his honour, accusing, in various ways,the enviousness of marius. the infantry of the cimbri marched quietlyout of their fortifications, having their flanks equal to their front；every side of the army taking up thirty furlongs. their horse, thatwere in number fifteen thousand, made a very splendid appearance.they wore helmets, made to resemble the head and jaws of wild beasts,and other strange shapes, and heightening these with plumes of feathers,they made themselves appear taller than they were. they had breastplatesof iron and white glittering shields； and for their offensive armsevery one had two darts, and when they came hand to hand, they usedlarge and heavy swords.

the cavalry did not fall directly upon the front of the romans, but,turning to the right, they endeavoured to draw them on in that directionby little and little, so as to get them between themselves and theirinfantry, who were placed in the left wing. the roman commanders soonperceived the design, but could not contain the soldiers； for onehappening to shout out that the enemy fled, they all rushed to pursuethem, while the whole barbarian foot came on, moving like a greatocean. here marius, having washed his hands, and lifting them up towardsheaven, vowed an hecatomb to the gods； and catulus, too, in the sameposture, solemnly promised to consecrate a temple to the "fortuneof that day." they say, too, that marius, having the victim shownto him as he was sacrificing, cried out with a loud voice, "the victoryis mine."

however, in the engagement, according to the accounts of sylla andhis friends, marius met with what might be called a mark of divinedispleasure. for a great dust being raised, which （as it might veryprobably happen） almost covered both the armies, he, leading on hisforces to the pursuit, missed the enemy, and having passed by theirarray, moved for a good space, up and down the field； meanwhile theenemy, by chance, engaged with catulus, and the heat of the battlewas chiefly with him and his men, among whom sylla says he was； adding,that the romans had great advantage of the heat and sun that shonein the faces of the cimbri. for they, well able to endure cold, andhaving been bred up （as we observed before） in cold and shady countries,were overcome with the excessive heat； they sweated extremely, andwere much out of breath, being forced to hold their shields beforetheir faces； for the battle was fought not long after the summer solstice,or, as the romans reckon, upon the third day before the new moon ofthe month now called august and then sextilis. the dust, too, gavethe romans no small addition to their courage, inasmuch as it hidthe enemy. for afar off they could not discover their number； butevery one advancing to encounter those that were nearest to them,came to fight hand to hand before the sight of so vast a multitudehad struck terror into them. they were so much used to labour, andso well exercised, that in all the heat and toil of the encounter,not one of them was observed either to sweat or to be out of breath；so much so, that catulus himself, they say, recorded it in commendationof his soldiers.

here the greatest part and most valiant of the enemies were cut inpieces； for those that fought in the front, that they might not breaktheir ranks, were fast tied to one another, with long chains put throughtheir belts. but as they pursued those that fled to their camp theywitnessed a most fearful tragedy； the women, standing in black clotheson their wagons, slew all that fled, some their husbands, some theirbrethren, others their fathers； and strangling their little childrenwith their own hands, threw them under the wheels and the feet ofthe cattle, and then killed themselves. they tell of one who hungherself from the end of the pole of a wagon, with her children tieddangling at her heels. the men, for want of trees, tied themselves,some to the horns of the oxen, others by the neck to their legs, thatso pricking them on, by the starting and springing of the beasts,they might be torn and trodden to pieces. yet for all they thus massacredthemselves, above sixty thousand were taken prisoners, and those thatwere slain were said to be twice as many.

the ordinary plunder was taken by marius's soldiers, but the otherspoils, as ensigns, trumpets, and the like, they say, were broughtto catulus's camp； which he used for the best argument that the victorywas obtained by himself and his army. some dissensions arising, aswas natural, among the soldiers, the deputies from parma, being thenpresent, were made judges of the controversy； whom catulus's men carriedabout among their slain enemies and manifestly showed them that theywere slain by their javelins, which were known by the inscriptions,having catulus's name cut in the wood. nevertheless the whole gloryof the action was ascribed to marius, on account of his former victory,and under colour of his present authority； the populace more especiallystyling him the third founder of their city, as having diverted adanger no less threatening than was that when the gauls sacked rome；and every one, in their feasts and rejoicings at home with their wivesand children, made offerings and libations in honour of "the godsand marius；" and would have had him solely have the honour of boththe triumphs. however, he did not do so, but triumphed together withcatulus, being desirous to show his moderation even in such greatcircumstances of good fortune； besides he was not a little afraidof the soldiers in catulus's army, lest, if he should wholly bereavetheir general of the honour, they should endeavour to hinder him ofhis triumph.

marius was now in his fifth consulship, and he sued for his sixthin such a manner as never any man before him had done, even for hisfirst； he courted the people's favour and ingratiated himself withthe multitude by every sort of complaisance； not only derogating fromthe state and dignity of his office, but also belying his own character,by attempting to seem popular and obliging, for which nature had neverdesigned him. his passion for distinction did, indeed, they say, makehim exceedingly timorous in any political matters, or in confrontingpublic assemblies； and that undaunted presence of mind he always showedin battle against the enemy forsook him when he was to address thepeople； he was easily upset by the most ordinary commendation or dispraise.it is told of him, that having at one time given the freedom of thecity to one thousand men of camerinum who had behaved valiantly inthis war, and this seeming to be illegally done, upon some one orother calling him to an account for it, he answered, that the lawspoke too softly to be heard in such a noise of war； yet he himselfappeared to be more disconcerted and overcome by the clamour madein the assemblies. the need they had of him in time of war procuredhim power and dignity； but in civil affairs, when he despaired ofgetting the first place, he was forced to betake himself to the favourof the people, never caring to be a good man so that he were but agreat one.

he thus became very odious to all the nobility； and above all, hefeared metellus, who had been so ungratefully used by him, and whosetrue virtue made him naturally an enemy to those that sought influencewith the people, not by the honourable course, but by subservienceand complaisance. marius, therefore, endeavoured to banish him fromthe city, and for this purpose he contracted a close alliance withglaucia and saturninus a couple of daring fellows, who had the greatmass of the indigent and seditious multitude at their control； andby their assistance he enacted various laws, and bringing the soldiers,also, to attend the assembly, he was enabled to overpower metellus.and as rutilius relates （in all other respects a fair and faithfulauthority, but, indeed, privately an enemy to marius）, he obtainedhis sixth consulship by distributing vast sums of money among thetribes, and by this bribery kept out metellus, and had valerius flaccusgiven him as his instrument, rather than his colleague, in the consulship.the people had never before bestowed so many consulships on any oneman, except on valerius corvinus only, and he, too, they say, wasforty-five years between his first and last； but marius, from hisfirst, ran through five more, with one current of good fortune.

in the last, especially, he contracted a great deal of hatred, bycommitting several gross misdemeanours in compliance with the desiresof saturninus； among which was the murder of nonius whom saturninusslew because he stood in competition with him for the tribuneship.and when, afterwards, saturninus, on becoming tribune, brought forwardhis law for the division of lands, with a clause enacting that thesenate publicly swear to confirm whatever the people should vote,and not to oppose them in anything, marius, in the senate, cunninglyfeigned to be against this provision, and said that he would not takeany such oath, nor would any man, he thought, who was wise； for ifthere were no ill design in the law, still it would be an affrontto the senate to be compelled to give their approbation, and not todo it willingly and upon persuasion. this he said, not that it wasagreeable to his own sentiments, but that he might entrap metellusbeyond any possibility of escape. for marius, in whose ideas virtueand capacity consisted largely in deceit, made very little accountof what he had openly professed to the senate； and knowing that metelluswas one of a fixed resolution, and, as pindar has it, esteemed "truththe first principle of heroic virtue," he hoped to ensnare him intoa declaration before the senate, and on his refusing, as he was sureto do, afterwards to take the oath, he expected to bring him intosuch odium with the people as should never be wiped off. the designsucceeded to his wish. as soon as metellus had declared that he wouldnot swear to it, the senate adjourned. a few days after on saturninusciting the senators to make their appearance, and take the oath beforethe people, marius stepped forth amidst a profound silence, everyone being intent to hear him, and bidding farewell to those fine speecheshe had before made in the senate, said, that his back was not so broadthat he should think himself bound, once for all, by any opinion oncegiven on so important a matter； he would willingly swear and submitto the law, if so be it were one, a proviso which he added as a merecover for his effrontery. the people, in great joy at his taking theoath, loudly clapped and applauded him, while the nobility stood byashamed and vexed at his inconstancy； but they submitted out of fearof the people, and all in order took the oath, till it came to metellus'sturn. but he, though his friends begged and entreated him to takeit, and not to plunge himself irrecoverably into the penalties whichsaturninus had provided for those that should refuse it, would notflinch from his resolution, nor swear； but, according to his fixedcustom, being ready to suffer anything rather than do a base, unworthyaction, he left the forum, telling those that were with him that todo wrong things is base, and to do well where there is no danger,common； the good man's characteristic is to do so where there is danger.

hereupon saturninus put it to the vote, that the consuls should placemetellus under their interdict, and forbid him fire, water, and lodging.there were enough, too, of the basest of people ready to kill him.nevertheless, when many of the better sort were extremely concerned,and gathered about metellus, he would not suffer them to raise a seditionupon his account, but with this calm reflection left the city, "eitherwhen the posture of affairs is mended and the people repent, i shallbe recalled, or if things remain in their present condition, it willbe best to be absent." but what great favour and honour metellus receivedin his banishment, and in what manner he spent his time at rhodes,in philosophy, will be more fitly our subject when we write his life.

marius, in return for this piece of service, was forced to conniveat saturninus now proceeding to the very height of insolence and violence,and was, without knowing it, the instrument of mischief beyond endurance,the only course of which was through outrages and massacres to tyrannyand the subversion of the government. standing in some awe of thenobility, and, at the same time, eager to court the commonalty, hewas guilty of a most mean and dishonest action. when some of the greatmen came to him at night to stir him up against saturninus, at theother door, unknown to them, he let him in； then making the same pretenceof some disorder of body to both, he ran from one party to the other,and staying at one time with them and another with him, he instigatedand exasperated them one against another. at length when the senateand equestrian order concerted measures together, and openly manifestedtheir resentment, he did bring his soldiers into the forum, and drivingthe insurgents into the capitol, and then cutting off the conduits,forced them to surrender by want of water. they, in this distress,addressing themselves to him, surrendered, at it is termed, on thepublic faith. he did his utmost to save their lives, but so whollyin vain, that when they came down into the forum they were all baselymurdered. thus he had made himself equally odious both to the nobilityand commons, and when the time was come to create censors, thoughhe was the most obvious man, yet he did not petition for it； but fearingthe disgrace of being repulsed, permitted others, his inferiors, tobe elected, though he pleased himself by giving out that he was notwilling to disoblige too many by undertaking a severe inspection intotheir lives and conduct.

there was now an edict preferred to recall metellus from banishment；this he vigorously, but in vain, opposed both by word and deed, andwas at length obliged to desist. the people unanimously voted forit； and he, not able to endure the sight of metellus's return, madea voyage to cappadocia and galatia； giving out that he had to performthe sacrifices which he had vowed to cybele； but actuated really byother less apparent reasons. for, in fact, being a man altogetherignorant of civil life and ordinary politics, he received all hisadvancement from war； and supposing his power and glory would by littleand little decrease by his lying quietly out of action, he was eagerby every means to excite some new commotions, and hoped that by settingat variance some of the kings, and by exasperating mithridates, especially,who was then apparently making preparations for war, he himself shouldbe chosen general against him, and so furnish the city with new matterof triumph, and his own house with the plunder of pontus and the richesof its king. therefore, though mithridates entertained him with allimaginable attention and respect, yet he was not at all wrought uponor softened by it； but said, "o king, either endeavour to be strongerthan the romans, or else quietly submit to their commands." with whichhe left mithridates as he indeed had often heard the fame of the boldspeaking of the romans, but now for the first time experienced it.

when marius returned again to rome, he built a house close by theforum, either, as he himself gave out, that he was not willing hisclients should be tried with going far, or that he imagined distancewas the reason why more did not come. this, however, was not so； thereal reason was, that, being inferior to others in agreeableness ofconversation and the arts of political life, like a mere tool andimplement of war, he was thrown aside in time of peace. amongst allthose whose brightness eclipsed his glory, he was most incensed againstsylla, who had owed his rise to the hatred which the nobility boremarius； and had made his disagreement with him the one principle ofhis political life. when bocchus, king of numidia, who was styledthe associate of the romans, dedicated some figures of victory inthe capitol, and with them a representation in gold of himself deliveringjugurtha to sylla, marius upon this was almost distracted with rageand ambition, as though sylla had arrogated this honour to himself,and endeavoured forcibly to pull down these presents； sylla, on theother side, as vigorously resisted him； but the social war, then ona sudden threatening the city, put a stop to this sedition when justready to break out. for the most warlike and best-peopled countriesof all italy formed a confederacy together against rome, and werewithin a little of subverting the empire； as they were indeed strong,not only in their weapons and the valour of their soldiers, but stoodnearly upon equal terms with the romans as to the skill and daringof their commanders.

as much glory and power as this war, so various in its events andso uncertain as to its success, conferred upon sylla, so much it tookaway from marius, who was thought tardy, unenterprising, and timid,whether it were that his age was now quenching his former heat andvigour （for he was above sixty-five years old）, or that having, ashe himself said, some distemper that affected his muscles, and hisbody being unfit for action, he did service above his strength. yet,for all this, he came off victor in a considerable battle, whereinhe slew six thousand of the enemies, and never once gave them anyadvantage over him； and when he was surrounded by the works of theenemy, he contained himself, and though insulted over, and challenged,did not yield to the provocation. the story is told that when publiussilo, a man of the greatest repute and authority among the enemies,said to him, "if you are indeed a great general, marius, leave yourcamp and fight a battle," he replied, "if you are one, make me doso." and another time, when the enemy gave them a good opportunityof a battle, and the romans through fear durst not charge, so thatboth parties retreated, he called an assembly of his soldiers, andsaid, "it is no small question whether i should call the enemies oryou the greater cowards, for neither did they dare to face your backs,nor you to confront theirs." at length, professing to be worn outwith the infirmity of his body, he laid down his command.

afterwards when the italians were worsted, there were several candidatessuing with the aid of the popular leaders for the chief command inthe war with mithridates. sulpicius, tribune of the people, a boldand confident man, contrary to everybody's expectation, brought forwardmarius, and proposed him as proconsul and general in that war. thepeople were divided； some were on marius's side, others voted forsylla, and jeeringly bade marius go to the baths at baiae, to curehis body, worn out, as himself confessed, with age and catarrhs. mariushad indeed, there, about misenum, a villa more effeminately and luxuriouslyfurnished than seemed to become one that had seen service in so manyand great wars and expeditions. this same house cornelia bought forseventy-five thousand drachmas, and not long after lucius lucullus,for two million five hundred thousand； so rapid and so great was thegrowth of roman sumptuosity. yet, in spite of all this, out of a mereboyish passion for distinction, affecting to shake off his age andweakness, he went down daily to the campus martius, and exercisinghimself with the youth, showed himself still nimble in his armour,and expert in riding； though he was undoubtedly grown bulky in hisold age, and inclining to excessive faintness and corpulency.

some people were pleased with this, and went continually to see himcompeting and displaying himself in these exercises； but the bettersort that saw him pitied the cupidity and ambition that made one whohad risen from utter poverty to extreme wealth, and out of nothinginto greatness, unwilling to admit any limit to his high fortune,or to be content with being admired, and quietly enjoying what hehad already got； why, as if he still were indigent, should he at sogreat an age leave his glory and his triumphs to go into cappadociaand the euxine sea, to fight archelaus and neoptolemus, mithridates'sgenerals？ marius's pretences for this action of his seemed very ridiculous；for he said he wanted to go and teach his son to be a general.

the condition of the city, which had long been unsound and diseasedbecame hopeless now that marius found so opportune an instrument forthe public destruction as sulpicius's insolence. this man professed,in all other respects, to admire and imitate saturninus； only he foundfault with him for backwardness and want of spirit in his designs.he, therefore, to avoid this fault, got six hundred of the equestrianorder about him as his guard, whom he named anti-senators； and withthese confederates he set upon the consuls, whilst they were at theassembly, and took the son of one of them who fled from the forumand slew him. sylla, being hotly pursued, took refuge in marius'shouse, which none could suspect, by that means escaping those thatsought him, who hastily passed by there, and, it is said, was safelyconveyed by marius himself out at the other door, and came to thecamp. yet sylla, in his memoirs, positively denies that he fled tomarius, saying he was carried thither to consult upon the mattersto which sulpicius would have forced him, against his will, to consent；that he, surrounding him with drawn swords, hurried him to marius,and constrained him thus, till he went thence to the forum and removed,as they required him to do, the interdict on business.

sulpicius, having thus obtained the mastery, decreed the command ofthe army to marius, who proceeded to make preparations for his march,and sent two tribunes to receive the charge of the army from sylla.sylla hereupon exasperating his soldiers, who were about thirty-fivethousand full-armed men, led them towards rome. first falling uponthe tribunes marius had sent, they slew them； marius having done asmuch for several of sylla's friends in rome, and now offering theirfreedom to the slaves on condition of their assistance in the war；of whom, however, they say, there were but three who accepted hisproposal. for some small time he made head against sylla's assault,but was soon overpowered and fled； those that were with him, as soonas he had escaped out of the city, were dispersed, and night comingon, he hastened to a country-house of his, called solonium. hencehe sent his son to some neighbouring farms of his father-in-law, mucius,to provide necessaries； he went himself to ostia, where his friendnumerius had prepared him a ship, and hence, not staying for his son,he took with him his son-in-law granius, and weighed anchor.

young marius, coming to mucius's farms, made his preparations； andthe day breaking, was almost discovered by the enemy. for there camethither a party of horse that suspected some such matter； but thefarm steward, foreseeing their approach, hid marius in a cart fullof beans, then yoking in his team and driving toward the city, metthose that were in search of him. marius, thus conveyed home to hiswife, took with him some necessaries, and came at night to the seaside；where, going on board a ship that was bound for africa, he went awaythither. marius, the father, when he had put to sea, with a stronggale passing along the coast of italy, was in no small apprehensionof one geminius, a great man at terracina, and his enemy； and thereforebade the seamen hold off from that place. they were indeed willingto gratify him, but the wind now blowing in from the sea and makingthe waves swell to a great height, they were afraid the ship wouldnot be able to weather out the storm, and marius, too, being indisposedand sea-sick, they made for land, and not without some difficultyreached the shore near circeium.

the storm now increasing and their victuals failing, they left theirship, and wandered up and down without any certain purpose, simplyas in great distresses people shun the present as the greatest evil,and rely upon the hopes of uncertainties. for the land and sea wereboth equally unsafe for them； it was dangerous to meet with people,and it was no less so to meet with none, on account of their wantof necessaries. at length, though late, they lighted upon a few poorshepherds, that had not anything to relieve them； but knowing marius,advised him to depart as soon as might he, for they had seen a littlebeyond that place a party of horse that were gone in search of him.finding himself in a great strait, especially because those that attendedhim were not able to go further, being spent with their long fasting,for the present he turned aside out of the road, and hid himself ina thick wood, where he passed the night in great wretchedness. thenext day, pinched with hunger, and willing to make use of the littlestrength he had, before it were all exhausted, he travelled by theseaside, encouraging his companions not to fall away from him beforethe fulfillment of his final hopes, for which, in reliance on someold predictions, he professed to be sustaining himself. for when hewas yet but very young, and lived in the country, he caught in theskirt of his garment an eagle's nest, as it was falling, in whichwere seven young ones, which his parents seeing and much admiring,consulted the augurs about it, who told them he should become thegreatest man in the world, and that the fates had decreed he shouldseven times be possessed of the supreme power and authority. someare of opinion that this really happened to marius, as we have relatedit； others say, that those who then and through the rest of his exileheard him tell these stories, and believed him, have merely repeateda story that is altogether fabulous； for an eagle never hatches morethan two； and even musaeus was deceived, who, speaking of the eagle,says that-

"she lays three eggs, hatches two, and rears one." however this be,it is certain marius, in his exile and greatest extremities, wouldoften say that he should attain a seventh consulship.

when marius and his company were now about twenty furlongs distantfrom minturnae, a city in italy, they espied a troop of horse makingup toward them with all speed, and by chance, also, at the same time,two ships under sail. accordingly, they ran every one with what speedand, strength they could to the sea, and plunging into it swam tothe ships, those that were with granius, reaching one of them, passedover to an island opposite, called aenaria； marius himself, whosebody was heavy and unwieldy, was with great pains and difficulty keptabove the water by two servants, and put into the other ship. thesoldiers were by this time come to the seaside, and from thence calledout to the seamen to put to shore, or else to throw out marius, andthen they might go whither they would. marius besought them with tearsto the contrary, and the masters of the ship, after frequent changes,in a short space of time, of their purpose, inclining first to one,then to the other side, resolved at length to answer the soldiersthat they would not give up marius. as soon as they had ridden offin a rage, the seamen, again changing their resolution, came to land,and casting anchor at the mouth of the river liris, where it overflowsand makes a marsh, they advised him to land, refresh himself on shore,and take some care of his discomposed body, till the wind came fairer；which, said they, will happen at such an hour, when the wind fromthe sea will calm, and that from the marshes rise. marius, followingtheir advice, did so, and when the seamen had set him on shore, helaid him down in an adjacent field, suspecting nothing less than whatwas to befall him. they, as soon as they had got into the ship, weighedanchor and departed, as thinking it neither honourable to delivermarius into the hands of those that sought him, nor safe to protecthim.

he thus, deserted by all, lay a good while silently on the shore；at length collecting himself, he advanced with pain and difficulty,without any path, till, wading through deep bogs and ditches fullof water and mud, he came upon the hut of an old man that worked inthe fens, and falling at his feet besought him to assist and preserveone who, if he escaped the present danger, would make him returnsbeyond his expectation. the poor man, whether he had formerly knownhim, or were then moved with his superior aspect, told him that ifhe wanted only rest his cottage would be convenient； but if he wereflying from anybody's search, he would hide him in a more retiredplace. marius desiring him to do so, he carried him into the fensand bade him hide himself in an hollow place by the river-side, wherehe laid upon him a great many reeds, and other things that were light,and would cover, but not oppress him. but within a very short timehe was disturbed with a noise and tumult from the cottage, for geminiushad sent several from terracina in pursuit of him； some of whom happeningto come that way, frightened and threatened the old man for havingentertained and hid an enemy of the romans. whereupon marius, arisingand stripping himself, plunged into a puddle full of thick muddy water；and even there he could not escape their search, but was pulled outcovered with mire, and carried away naked to minturnae and deliveredto the magistrates. for there had been orders sent through all thetowns to make public search for marius, and if they found him to killhim； however, the magistrates thought convenient to consider a littlebetter of it first, and sent him prisoner to the house of one fannia.

this woman was supposed not very well affected towards him upon anold account. one tinnius had formerly married this fannia； from whomshe afterwards, being divorced, demanded her portion, which was considerable,but her husband accused her of adultery； so the controversy was broughtbefore marius in his sixth consulship. when the case was examinedthoroughly, it appeared both that fannia had been incontinent, andthat her husband, knowing her to be so, had married and lived a considerabletime with her. so that marius was severe enough with both, commandinghim to restore her portion, and laying a fine of four copper coinsupon her by way of disgrace. but fannia did not then behave like awoman that had been injured, but as soon as she saw marius, rememberednothing less than old affronts； took care of him according to herability, and comforted him. he made her his returns and told her hedid not despair, for he had met with a lucky omen, which was thus.

when he was brought to fannia's house, as soon as the gate was opened,an ass came running out to drink at a spring hard by, and giving abold and encouraging look, first stood still before him, then brayedaloud and pranced by him. from which marius drew his conclusion, andsaid, that the fates designed his safety, rather by sea than land,because the ass neglected his dry fodder, and turned from it to thewater. having told fannia this story, he bade the chamber door tobe shut and went to rest.