CAIUS MARIUS

We are altogether ignorant of any third name of Caius Marius; as also

of Quintus Sertorius, that possessed himself of Spain; or of Lucius

Mummius that destroyed Corinth, though this last was surnamed

Achaicus from his conquests, as Scipio was called Africanus, and

Metellus, Macedonicus. Hence Posidonius draws his chief argument to

confute those that hold the third to be the Roman proper name, as

Camillus, Marcellus, Cato; as in this case, those that had but two

names would have no proper name at all. He did not, however, observe

that by his own reasoning he must rob the women absolutely of their

names; for none of them have the first, which Posidonius imagines the

proper name with the Romans. Of the other two, one was common to the

whole family, Pompeii, Manlii, Cornelii, (as with us Greeks, the

Heraclidae, and Pelopidae,) the other titular, and personal, taken

either from their natures, or actions, or bodily characteristics, as

Macrinus, Torquatus, Sylla; such as are Mnemon, Grypus, or Callinicus

among the Greeks. On the subject of names, however, the irregularity

of custom, would we insist upon it, might furnish us with discourse

enough.

There is a likeness of Marius in stone at Ravenna, in Gaul, which I

myself saw, quite corresponding with that roughness and harshness of

character that is ascribed to him. Being naturally valiant and

warlike, and more acquainted also with the discipline of the camp

than of the city, he could not moderate his passion when in

authority. He is said never to have either studied Greek, or to have

made use of that language in any matter of consequence; thinking it

ridiculous to bestow time in that learning, the teachers of which

were little better than slaves. So after his second triumph, when at

the dedication of a temple he presented some shows after the Greek

fashion, coming into the theater, he only sat down and immediately

departed. And, accordingly, as Plato often used to say to Xenocrates

the philosopher, who was thought to show more than ordinary harshness

of disposition, "I pray you, good Xenocrates, sacrifice to the

Graces"; so if any could have persuaded Marius to pay his devotions

to the Greek Muses and Graces, he had never brought his incomparable

actions, both in war and peace, to so unworthy a conclusion, or

wrecked himself, so to say, upon an old age of cruelty and

vindictiveness, through passion, ill-timed ambition, and insatiable

cupidity. But this will further appear by and by from the facts.

He was born of parents altogether obscure and indigent, who supported

themselves by their daily labor; his father of the same name with

himself, his mother called Fulcinia. He had spent a considerable

part of his life before he saw and tasted the pleasures of the city;

having passed 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 as a soldier in the war against the

Celtiberians, when Scipio Africanus besieged Numantia; where he

signalized himself to his general by courage far above his comrades,

and, particularly, by his cheerfully complying with Scipio's

reformation of his army, before almost ruined by pleasures and

luxury. It is stated, too, that he encountered and vanquished an

enemy in single combat, in his general's sight. In consequence of

all this he had several honors conferred upon him; and once when at

an entertainment a question arose about commanders, and one of the

company (whether really desirous to know, or only in complaisance)

asked Scipio where the Romans, after him, should obtain such another

general, Scipio, gently clapping Marius on the shoulder as he sat

next him, replied, "Here, perhaps." So promising was his early youth

of his future greatness, and so discerning was Scipio to detect the

distant future in the present first beginnings. It was this speech

of Scipio, we are told, which, like a divine admonition, chiefly

emboldened Marius to aspire to a political career. He sought, and by

the assistance of Caecilius Metellus, of whose family he as well as

his father were dependents, obtained the office of tribune of the

people. In which place, when he brought forward a bill for the

regulation of voting, which seemed likely to lessen the authority of

the great men in the courts of justice, the consul Cotta opposed him,

and persuaded the senate to declare against the law, and call Marius

to account for it. He, however, when this decree was prepared,

coming into the senate, did not behave like a young man newly and

undeservedly advanced to authority, but, assuming all the courage

that his future actions would have warranted, threatened Cotta unless

he recalled the decree, to throw him into prison. And on his turning

to Metellus, and asking his vote, and Metellus rising up to concur

with the consul, Marius, calling for the officer outside, commanded

him to take Metellus into custody. He appealed to the other

tribunes, but not one of them assisted him; 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 favor 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 vigorously and

successfully resisted it, making himself equally honored by both

parties, 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 with crooked feet on which they sat when they performed their

duty; the other and inferior, called aediles of the people. As soon

as they have chosen the former, they give their voices again for the

latter. Marius, finding he was likely to be put by for the greater,

immediately changed and stood for the less; but because he seemed too

forward and hot, he was disappointed of that also. And yet though he

was in one day twice frustrated of his desired preferment, (which

never happened to any before,) yet he was not at all discouraged, but

a little while after sought for the praetorship, and was nearly

suffering a repulse, and then, too, though he was returned last of

all, was nevertheless accused of bribery.

Cassius Sabaco's servant, who was observed within the rails among

those that voted, chiefly occasioned the suspicion, as Sabaco was an

intimate friend of Marius; but on being called to appear before the

judges, he alleged, that being thirsty by reason of the heat, he

called for cold water, and that his servant brought him a cup, and

as soon as he had drunk, departed; he was, however, excluded from the

senate by 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 pleaded that it was not customary for a patron, (the Roman word

for protector,) to witness against his clients, and that the law

excused them from that harsh duty; and both Marius and his parents

had always been clients to the family of the Herennii. And when the

judges would have accepted of this plea, Marius himself opposed it,

and told Herennius, that when he was first created magistrate he

ceased to be his client; which was not altogether true. For it is

not every office that frees clients and their posterity from the

observance due to their patrons, but only 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 favorable to him; yet, at last, their voices being equal,

contrary to all expectation, he was acquitted.

In his praetorship he did not get much honor, yet after it he

obtained the 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 piece of valor. In the city he had

neither riches nor eloquence to trust to, with which the leading men

of the time obtained power with the people, but his vehement

disposition, his indefatigable labors, and his plain way of living,

of themselves gained him esteem and influence; so that he made an

honorable match with Julia, of the distinguished family of the

Caesars, to whom that Caesar was nephew who was afterwards so 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 latter

he gave a decided instance in an operation of surgery. For having,

as it seems, both his legs full of great tumors, and disliking the

deformity, 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 the cutting, never either flinching or complaining; but

when the surgeon went to the other, he declined to have it done,

saying, "I see the cure is not worth the pain."

The consul Caecilius Metellus. being declared general in the war

against Jugurtha in Africa, took with him Marius for lieutenant;

where, eager himself to do great deeds and services that would get

him distinction, he did not, like others, consult Metellus's glory and

the serving his interest, and attributing his honor of lieutenancy

not to Metellus, but to fortune, which had presented him with a

proper opportunity and theater of great actions, he exerted his

utmost courage. That war, too, affording several difficulties, he

neither declined the greatest, nor disdained undertaking the least of

them; but surpassing his equals in counsel and conduct, and matching

the very common soldiers in labor and abstemiousness, he gained great

popularity with them; as indeed any voluntary partaking with people

in their labor is felt as an easing of that labor, as it seems to

take away the constraint and necessity of it. It is the most

obliging sight in the world to the 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 trench and raising a bulwark. For they do

not so much admire those that confer honors and riches upon them, as

those that partake of the same labor and danger with themselves; but

love them better that will vouchsafe to 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 brought to a conclusion, unless they chose Caius Marius

consul. All which was evidently unpleasing to Metellus; but what

more especially grieved him was the calamity of Turpillius. This

Turpillius had, from his ancestors, been a friend of Metellus, and

kept up constant hospitality with him; and was now serving in the

war, in command of the smiths and carpenters of the army. Having the

charge of a garrison in Vaga, a considerable city, and trusting too

much to the inhabitants, because he treated them civilly and kindly,

he unawares fell into the enemy's hands. They received Jugurtha into

the city; yet, nevertheless, at their request, Turpillius was

dismissed safe and without receiving any injury; whereupon he was

accused of betraying it to the enemy. Marius, being one of the

council of war, was not only violent against him himself, but also

incensed most of the others, so that Metellus was forced, much

against his will, to put him to death. Not long after the accusation

proved false, and when others were comforting Metellus, who took

heavily the loss of his friend, Marius, rather insulting and

arrogating it to himself, boasted in all companies that he had

involved Metellus in the guilt of putting his friend to death.

Henceforward they were at open variance; and it is reported that

Metellus once, when Marius was present, said, insultingly, "You, sir,

design to leave us to go home and stand for the consulship, and will

not be content to wait and be consul with this boy of mine?"

Metellus's son being a mere boy at the time. Yet for all this Marius

being very importunate to be gone, after several delays, he was

dismissed about twelve days before the election of consuls; and

performed that long journey 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 said the augur told him, that heaven promised him

some incredible good fortune, and such as was beyond all expectation.

Marius, not a little elated with this good omen, began his voyage,

and in four days, with a favorable wind, passed the sea; he was

welcomed with great joy by the people, and being brought into the

assembly by one of the tribunes, sued for the consulship, inveighing

in all ways against Metellus, and promising either to slay Jugurtha

or take him alive.

He was elected triumphantly, and at once proceeded to levy soldiers,

contrary both to law and custom, enlisting slaves and poor people;

whereas former commanders never accepted of such, but bestowed arms,

like other favors, as a matter of distinction, on persons who had the

proper qualification, a man's property being thus a sort of security

for his good behavior. These were not the only occasions of ill-will

against Marius; some haughty speeches, uttered with great arrogance

and contempt, gave great offense to the nobility; as, for example,

his saying that he had carried off the consulship as a spoil from the

effeminacy of the wealthy and high-born citizens, and telling the

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 of their

ancestors. Often speaking of the commanders that had been

unfortunate in Africa, naming Bestia, for example, and Albinus, men

of very good families, but unfit for war, and who had miscarried

through want of experience, he asked the people about him, if they

did not think that the ancestors of these nobles had much rather have

left a descendant like him, since they themselves grew famous not by

nobility, but by their valor and great actions? This he did not say

merely out of vanity and arrogance, or that he were willing, without

any advantage, to offend the nobility; but the people always

delighting in affronts and scurrilous contumelies against the senate,

making boldness of speech their measure of greatness of spirit,

continually encouraged him in it, and strengthened his inclination

not to spare persons of repute, so he might gratify the multitude.

As soon as he arrived again in Africa, Metellus, no longer able to

control his feelings of jealousy, and his indignation that now when

he had really finished the war, and nothing was left but to secure

the person of Jugurtha, Marius, grown great merely through his

ingratitude to 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 sort of retribution, as Sylla deprived him of the glory of

the action, as he had done Metellus. I shall state the circumstances

briefly here, as they are given at large in the life of Sylla.

Bocchus was king of the more distant barbarians, and was

father-in-law to Jugurtha, yet sent him little or no assistance in

his war, professing fears of his unfaithfulness, and really jealous

of his growing power; but after Jugurtha fled, and in his distress

came to him as his last hope, he received him as a suppliant, rather

because ashamed to do otherwise, than out of real kindness; and when

he had him in his power, he openly entreated Marius on his behalf,

and interceded for him with bold words, giving out that he would by

no means deliver him. Yet privately designing to betray him, he sent

for Lucius Sylla, quaestor to Marius, and who had on a previous

occasion befriended Bocchus in the war. When Sylla, relying on his

word, came to him, the African began to doubt and repent of his

purpose, and for several days was unresolved with himself, whether he

should deliver Jugurtha or retain Sylla; at length he fixed upon his

former treachery, and put Jugurtha alive into Sylla's possession.

Thus was the first occasion given of that fierce and implacable

hostility which so nearly ruined the whole Roman empire. For many

that envied Marius, attributed the success wholly to Sylla; and Sylla

himself got a 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 claim to share in his glory, and whose

enemies took care to promote the quarrel, ascribing the beginning and

chief business of the war to Metellus, and its conclusion to Sylla;

that so the people might give over admiring and esteeming Marius as

the worthiest person.

But these envyings and calumnies were soon dispersed and cleared away

from Marius, by the danger that threatened Italy from the west; when

the city, in great need of a good commander, sought about whom she

might set at the helm, to meet the tempest of so great a war, no one

would have anything to say to any members of noble or potent

families who offered themselves for the consulship, and Marius,

though then absent, was elected.

Jugurtha's apprehension was only just known, when the news of the

invasion of the Teutones and Cimbri began. The accounts at first

exceeded all credit, as to the number and strength of the approaching

army; but in the end, report proved much inferior to the truth, as

they were three hundred thousand effective fighting men, besides a

far greater number of women and children. They professed to be

seeking new countries to sustain these great multitudes, and cities

where they might settle and inhabit, in the same way as they had

heard the Celti before them had driven out the Tyrrhenians, and

possessed themselves of the best part of Italy. Having had no

commerce with the southern nations, and traveling over a wide extent

of country, no man knew what people they were, or whence they came,

that thus like a cloud burst over Gaul and Italy; yet by their gray

eyes and the largeness of their stature, they were conjectured to be

some of the German races dwelling by the northern sea; besides that,

the Germans call plunderers Cimbri.

There are some that say, that the country of the Celti, in its vast

size and extent, reaches from the furthest sea and the arctic regions

to the lake Maeotis eastward, and to that part of Scythia which is

near Pontus, and that there the nations mingle together; that they

did not swarm out of their country all at once, or on a sudden, but

advancing by force of arms, in the summer season, every year, in the

course of time they crossed the whole continent. And thus, though

each party had several appellations, yet the whole army was called by

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 passed

all along from the lake Maeotis to Asia, under the conduct of one

Lygdamis; and that the greater and more warlike part of them still

inhabit the remotest regions lying upon the outer ocean. These, they

say, live in a dark and woody country hardly penetrable by the

sunbeams, the trees are so close and thick, extending into the

interior as far as the Hercynian forest; and their position on the

earth is under that part of heaven, where the pole is so elevated,

that by the declination of the parallels, the zenith of the

inhabitants seems to be but little distant from it; and that their

days and nights being almost of an equal length, they divide their

year into one of each. This was Homer's occasion for the story of

Ulysses calling up the dead, and from this region the people,

anciently called Cimmerii, and afterwards, by an easy change, Cimbri,

came into Italy. All this, however, is rather conjecture than an

authentic history.

Their numbers, most writers agree, were not less, but rather greater

than was reported. They were of invincible strength and fierceness

in their wars, and hurried into battle with the violence of a

devouring flame; none could withstand them; all they assaulted became

their prey. Several of the greatest Roman commanders with their

whole armies, that advanced for the defense of Transalpine Gaul, were

ingloriously overthrown, and, indeed, by their faint resistance,

chiefly gave them the impulse of marching towards Rome. Having

vanquished all they had met, and found abundance of plunder, they

resolved to settle themselves nowhere till they should have razed the

city, and wasted all Italy. The Romans, being from all parts alarmed

with this news, sent for Marius to undertake the war, and nominated

him the second time consul, though the law did not permit any one

that was absent, or that had not waited a certain time after his

first consulship, to be again created. But the people rejected all

opposers; for they considered this was not the first time that the

law gave place to the common interest; nor the present occasion less

urgent than that when, contrary to law, they made Scipio consul, not

in fear for the destruction of their own city, but desiring the ruin

of that of the Carthaginians.

Thus it was decided; and Marius, bringing over his legions out of

Africa on the very first day of January, which the Romans count the

beginning of the year, received the consulship, and then, also,

entered in triumph, showing Jugurtha a prisoner to the people, a

sight they had despaired of ever beholding, nor could any, so long as

he lived, hope to reduce the enemy in Africa; so fertile in

expedients was he to adapt himself to every turn of fortune, and so

bold as well as subtle. When, however, he was led in triumph, it is

said that he fell distracted, and when he was afterwards thrown into

prison, where some tore off his clothes by force, and others, whilst

they struggled for his golden ear-ring, with it pulled off the tip of

his ear, and when he was, after this, cast naked into the dungeon, in

his amazement and confusion, with a ghastly laugh, he cried out, "O

Hercules! how cold your bath is!" Here for six days struggling with

hunger, and to the very last minute desirous of life, he was

overtaken by the just reward of his villainies. In this triumph was

brought, as is stated, of gold three thousand and seven pounds

weight, of silver bullion five thousand seven hundred and

seventy-five, of money in gold 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 exultation with his good fortune, in his

triumphal habit; but presently observing the senate offended at it,

went out, and returned in his ordinary purple-bordered robe.

On the expedition he carefully disciplined and trained his army

whilst on their way, giving them practice in long marches, and

running of every sort, and compelling every man to carry his own

baggage and prepare his own victuals; insomuch that thenceforward

laborious soldiers, who did their work silently without grumbling,

had the name of "Marius's mules." Some, however, think the proverb

had a different occasion; that when Scipio besieged Numantia, and was

careful to inspect not only their horses and arms, but their mules

and carriages too, and see how well equipped and in what readiness

each one's was, Marius brought forth his horse which he had fed

extremely well, and a mule in better case, stronger and gentler than

those of others; that the general was very well pleased, and often

afterwards mentioned Marius's beasts; and that hence the soldiers,

when speaking jestingly in the praise of a drudging, laborious

fellow, called him Marius's mule.

But to proceed; very great good fortune seemed to attend Marius, for

by the enemy in a manner changing their course, and falling first

upon Spain, he had time to exercise his soldiers, and confirm their

courage, and, which was most important, to show them what he himself

was. For that fierce manner of his in command, and inexorableness in

punishing, when his men became used not to do amiss or disobey, was

felt to be wholesome and advantageous, as well as just, and his

violent spirit, stern voice, and harsh aspect, which in a little

while grew familiar to them, they esteemed terrible not to

themselves, but only to their enemies. But his uprightness in

judging, more especially pleased the soldiers, one remarkable

instance of which is as follows. One Caius Lusius, his own nephew,

had a command under him in the army, a man not in other respects of

bad character, but shamefully licentious with 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 being brought

into his tent, when Lusius began to use violence with him, he drew

his sword and ran him through. This was done whilst Marius was

absent. When he returned, he appointed Trebonius a time for his

trial, where, whilst many accused him, and not any one appeared in

his defense, he himself boldly related the whole matter, and brought

witness of his previous conduct to Lusius, who had frequently offered

him considerable presents. Marius, admiring his conduct and much

pleased, commanded the garland, the usual Roman reward of valor, to

be brought, and himself crowned Trebonius with it, as having

performed an excellent action, at a time that very much wanted such

good examples.

This being told at Rome, proved no small help to Marius towards his

third consulship; to which also conduced the expectation of the

barbarians at the summer season, the people being unwilling to trust

their fortunes with any other general but him. However, their

arrival was not so early as was imagined, and the time of Marius's

consulship was again expired. The election coming on, and his

colleague being dead, he left 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 swayed the populace, and of whom Marius himself

was very observant, exerted his 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 apparent danger, he would avoid command.

And though it was not difficult to discover that he was merely

helping Marius in putting this presence upon the people, yet,

considering that the present juncture much required his skill, and

his good fortune too, they voted him the fourth time consul, and made

Catulus Lutatius his colleague, a man very much esteemed by the

nobility, and not unagreeable to the commons.

Marius, having notice of the enemy's approach, with all expedition

passed the Alps, and pitching his camp by the river Rhone, took care

first for plentiful supplies of victuals; lest at any time he should

be forced to fight at a disadvantage for want of necessaries. The

carriage of provision for the army from the sea, which was formerly

long and expensive, he made speedy and easy. For the mouth of the

Rhone, by the influx of the sea, being barred and almost filled up

with 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

great trench; and by turning the course of great part of the river,

brought it to a convenient point on the shore where the water was

deep enough to receive ships of considerable burden, and where there

was a calm and easy opening to the sea. And this still retains the

name it took from him.

The enemy dividing themselves into two parts, the Cimbri arranged to

go against Catulus higher up through the country of the Norici, and

to force that passage; the Teutones and Ambrones to march against

Marius by the sea-side through Liguria. The Cimbri were a

considerable time in doing their part. But the Teutones and Ambrones

with all expedition passing over the interjacent country, soon came

in sight, in numbers beyond belief, of a terrible aspect, and

uttering strange cries and shouts. Taking up a great part of the

plain with their camp, they challenged Marius to battle; he seemed to

take no notice of them, but kept his soldiers within their

fortifications, and sharply reprehended those that were too forward

and eager to show their courage, and who, out of passion, would needs

be fighting, calling them traitors to their country, and telling them

they were not now to think of the glory of triumphs and trophies, but

rather how they might repel such an impetuous tempest of war, and

save Italy.

Thus he discoursed privately with his officers and equals, but placed

the soldiers by turns upon the bulwarks to survey the enemy, and so

made them familiar with their shape and voice, which were indeed

altogether extravagant and barbarous, and he caused them to observe

their arms, and way of using them, so that in a little time what at

first appeared terrible to their apprehensions, by often viewing,

became familiar. For he very rationally supposed, that the

strangeness of things often makes them seem formidable when they are

not so; and that by our better acquaintance, even things which are

really terrible, lose much of their frightfulness. This daily

converse not only diminished some of the soldiers' fear, but their

indignation warmed and inflamed their courage, when they heard the

threats and insupportable insolence of their enemies; who not only

plundered and depopulated all the country round, but would even

contemptuously and confidently attack the ramparts.

Complaints of the soldiers now began to come to Marius's ears. "What

effeminacy does Marius see in us, that he should thus like women lock

us up from encountering our enemies? Come on, let us show ourselves

men, and ask him if he expects others to fight for Italy; and means

merely to employ us in servile offices, when he would dig trenches,

cleanse places of mud and dirt, and turn the course of rivers? It

was to do such works as these, it seems, that he gave us all our long

training; he will return home, and boast of these great performances

of his consulships to the people. Does the defeat of Carbo and

Caepio, who were vanquished by the enemy, affright him? Surely they

were much inferior to Marius both in glory and valor, and commanded a

much weaker army; at the worst, it is better to be in action, though

we suffer for it like them, than to sit idle spectators of the

destruction of our allies and companions." Marius, not a little

pleased to hear this, gently appeased them, pretending that he did

not distrust their valor, but that he took his measures as to the

time and place of victory from some certain oracles.

And, in fact, he used solemnly to carry about in a litter, a Syrian

woman, called Martha, a supposed prophetess, and to do sacrifice by

her directions. She had formerly been driven away by the senate, to

whom she addressed herself, offering to inform them about these

affairs, and to foretell future events; and after this betook herself

to the women, 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 for this 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, carried about in a litter. When she went to sacrifice, she

wore a purple robe lined and buckled up, and had in her hand a little

spear trimmed with ribbons and garlands. This theatrical show made

many question, whether Marius 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, does

really deserve admiration; that always before Marius's victories

there appeared two of them, and accompanied the army, which were

known by their brazen collars, (the soldiers having caught them and

put these about their necks, and so let them go, from which time they

in a manner knew and saluted the soldiers,) and whenever these

appeared in their marches, they used to rejoice at it, and thought

themselves sure of some success. Of the many other prodigies that

then were taken notice of, the greater part were but of the ordinary

stamp; it was, however, reported that at Ameria and Tuder, two cities

in Italy, there were seen at nights in the sky, flaming darts and

shields, now waved about, and then again clashing against one

another, all in accordance with the postures and motions soldiers use

in fighting; that at length one party retreating, and the other

pursuing, they all disappeared westward. Much about the same time

came Bataces, one of Cybele's priests, from Pesinus, and reported

how the goddess had declared to him out of her oracle, that the

Romans should obtain the victory. The senate giving credit to him,

and voting the goddess a temple to be built in hopes of the victory,

Aulus Pompeius, a tribune, prevented Bataces, when he would have gone

and told the people this same story, calling him impostor, and

ignominiously pulling him off the hustings; which action in the end

was the main thing that gained credit for the man's story, 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 his

camp; 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, where

the greatness of their number was especially made evident by the long

time they took in their march, for they were said to be six days

continually going on in passing Marius's fortifications; they marched

pretty near, and revilingly asked the Romans if they would send any

commands by them to their wives, for they would shortly be with them.

As soon as they were passed and had gone on a little distance ahead,

Marius began to move, and follow them at his leisure, always

encamping at some small distance from them; choosing also strong

positions, and carefully fortifying them, that he might quarter with

safety. Thus they marched till they came to the place called

Sextilius's Waters, from whence it was but a short way before being

amidst the Alps, and here Marius put himself in readiness for the

encounter.

He chose a place for his camp of considerable strength, but where

there was a scarcity of water; designing, it is said, by this means,

also, to put an edge on his soldiers' courage; and when several were

not a little distressed, and complained of thirst, pointing to a

river that 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, "do you 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 company of their boys and camp-followers, having

neither drink for themselves nor for their horses, went down to that

river; some taking axes and hatchets, and some, too, swords and darts

with their pitchers, resolving to have water though they fought for

it. These were first encountered by a small party of the enemies;

for most of them had just finished bathing, and were eating and

drinking, and several were still bathing, the country thereabouts

abounding in hot springs; so that the Romans partly fell upon them

whilst they were enjoying themselves, and occupied with the novel

sights and pleasantness of the place. Upon hearing the shouts,

greater numbers still joining in the fight, it was not a little

difficult for Marius to contain his soldiers, who were afraid of

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,) taking

the alarm, leaped up and hurried to arms.

These, though they had just been gorging themselves with food, and

were excited and disordered with drink, nevertheless did not advance

with an unruly step, or in mere senseless fury, nor were their shouts

mere inarticulate cries; but clashing their arms in concert, and

keeping time as they leapt and bounded onward, they continually

repeated their own name, "Ambrones!" either to encourage one another,

or to strike the greater terror into their enemies. Of all the

Italians in Marius's army, the Ligurians were the first that charged;

and when they caught the word of the enemy's confused shout, they,

too, returned the same, as it was an ancient name also in their

country, the Ligurians always using it when speaking of their

descent. This acclamation, bandied from one army to the other before

they joined, served to rouse and heighten their fury, while the men

on either side strove, with all possible vehemence, the one to

overshout the other.

The river disordered the Ambrones; before they could draw up all

their army on the other side of it, the Ligurians presently fell upon

the van, and began to charge them hand to hand. The Romans, too,

coming to their assistance, and from the higher ground pouring upon

the enemy, forcibly repelled them, and the most of them (one

thrusting another into the river) were there slain, and filled it

with their blood and dead bodies. Those that got safe over, not

daring to make head, were slain by the Romans, as they fled to their

camp and wagons; where the women meeting them with swords and

hatchets, and making a hideous outcry, set upon those that fled as

well as those that pursued, the one as traitors, the other as

enemies; and, mixing themselves with the combatants, with their bare

arms pulling away the Romans' shields, and laying hold on their

swords, endured the wounds and slashing of their bodies to the very

last, with undaunted resolution. Thus the battle seems to have

happened at that river rather by accident than by 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 entertainments, and (what is most welcome to soldiers after

successful fighting) quiet sleep, but they passed that night, above

all others, in fears and alarm. For their camp was without either

rampart or palisade, and there remained thousands upon thousands of

their enemies yet unconquered; to whom were joined as many of the

Ambrones as escaped. There were heard from these, all through the

night, wild bewailings, nothing like the sighs and groans of men, but

a sort of wild-beastlike howling and roaring, joined with threats

and lamentations rising from the vast multitude, and echoed among the

neighboring hills and hollow banks of the river. The whole plain was

filled with hideous noise, insomuch that the Romans were not a little

afraid, and Marius himself was apprehensive of a confused tumultuous

night engagement. But the enemy did not stir either this night or

the next day, but were employed in disposing and drawing themselves

up to the greatest advantage.

Of this occasion Marius made good use; for there were beyond the

enemies some wooded ascents and deep valleys thickly set with trees,

whither he sent Claudius Marcellus, secretly, with three thousand

regular soldiers, giving him orders to post them in ambush there, and

show themselves at the rear of the enemies, when the fight was begun.

The others, refreshed with victuals and sleep, as soon as it was day

he drew up before the camp, and commanded the horse to sally out into

the plain, at the sight of which the Teutones could not contain

themselves till the Romans should come down and fight them on equal

terms, but hastily arming themselves, charged in their fury up the

hill-side. Marius, sending officers to all parts, commanded his men

to stand still and keep their ground; when they came within reach, to

throw their javelins, then use their swords, and, joining their

shields, force them back; pointing out to them that the steepness of

the ground would render the enemy's blows inefficient, nor could

their shields be kept close together, the inequality of the ground

hindering the stability of their footing.

This counsel he gave them, and was the first that followed it; for he

was inferior to none in the use of his body, and far excelled all in

resolution. The Romans accordingly stood for their approach, and,

checking them in their advance upwards, forced them little by little

to 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 posture of

resistance, but they found their rear disordered. For Marcellus had

not let slip the opportunity; but as soon as the shout was raised

among the Romans on the hills, he, setting his men in motion, fell in

upon the enemy behind, at full speed, and with loud cries, and routed

those nearest him, and they, breaking the ranks of those that were

before them, filled the whole army with confusion. They made no long

resistance after they were thus broke in upon, but having lost all

order, fled.

The Romans, pursuing them, slew and took prisoners above one hundred

thousand, and possessing themselves of their spoil, tents, and

carriages, voted all that was not purloined to Marius's share, which,

though so magnificent a present, yet was generally thought less than

his conduct deserved in so great a danger. Other authors give a

different account, both about the division of the plunder and the

number of the slain. They say, however, that the inhabitants of

Massilia made fences round their vineyards with the bones, and that

the ground, enriched by the moisture of the putrefied bodies, (which

soaked in with the rain of the following winter,) yielded at the

season a prodigious crop, and fully justified Archilochus, who said,

that the fallows thus are fattened. It is an observation, also, that

extraordinary rains pretty generally fall after great battles;

whether it be that some divine power thus washes and cleanses the

polluted earth with showers from above, or that moist and heavy

evaporations, steaming forth from the blood and corruption, thicken

the air, which naturally is subject to alteration from the smallest

causes.

After the battle, Marius chose out from amongst the barbarians'

spoils and arms, those that were whole and handsome, and that would

make the greatest show in his triumph; the rest he heaped upon a

large pile, and offered a very splendid sacrifice. Whilst the army

stood round about with their arms and garlands, himself attired

(as the fashion is on such occasions) in the purple-bordered robe,

taking a lighted torch, and with both hands lifting it up towards

heaven, he was then going to put it to the pile, when some friends

were espied with all haste coming towards him on horseback. Upon

which every one remained in silence and expectation. They, upon

their coming up, leapt off and saluted Marius, bringing him the news

of his fifth consulship, and delivered him letters to that effect.

This gave the addition of no small joy to the solemnity; and while

the soldiers clashed their arms and shouted, the officers again

crowned Marius with a laurel-wreath, and he thus set fire to the

pile, and finished his sacrifice.

But whatever it be, which interferes to prevent the enjoyment of

prosperity ever being pure and sincere, and still diversifies human

affairs with the mixture of good and bad, whether fortune or divine

displeasure, or the necessity of the nature of things, within a few

days Marius received an account of his colleague, Catulus, which as a

cloud in serenity and calm, terrified Rome with the apprehension of

another imminent storm. Catulus, who marched against the Cimbri,

despairing of being able to defend the passes of the Alps, lest,

being compelled to 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 both sides the river, and made a bridge, that so he

might cross to the assistance of his men on the other side, if so be

the enemy, having forced their way through the mountain passes,

should storm the fortresses. The barbarians, however, came on with

such insolence and contempt of their enemies, that to show their

strength and courage, rather than 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, let themselves 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,

tearing down the neighboring hills; and brought trees pulled up by

the roots, and heaps of earth to the river, damming up its course;

and with great heavy materials which they rolled down the stream and

dashed against the bridge, they forced away the beams which supported

it; in consequence of which the greatest part of the Roman soldiers,

much affrighted, left the large camp and fled. Here Catulus showed

himself a generous and noble general, in preferring the glory of his

people before his own; for when he could not prevail with his

soldiers to stand to their colors, but saw how they all deserted

them, he commanded his own standard to be taken up, and running to

the foremost of those that fled, he led them forward, choosing rather

that the disgrace should fall upon himself than upon his country, and

that they should not seem to fly, but, following their captain, to

make a retreat. The barbarians assaulted and took the fortress on

the other side the Adige; where much admiring the few Romans there

left, who had shown extreme courage, and had fought worthily of their

country, they dismissed them upon terms, swearing them upon their

brazen bull, which was afterwards taken in the battle, and carried,

they say, to Catulus's house, as the chief trophy of victory.

Thus falling in upon the country destitute of defense, they wasted it

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 officers

of their share of the glory, or that to encourage the people in this

juncture, he would leave the honor due to his past victory on trust,

as it were, in the hands of the city and its future fortune;

deferring it now, to receive it afterwards with the greater splendor.

Having left such orders as the occasion required, he hastened to

Catulus, whose drooping spirits he much raised, and sent for his own

army from Gaul: and as soon as it came, passing the river Po, he

endeavored to keep the barbarians out of that part of Italy which

lies south of it.

They professed they were in expectation of the Teutones, and, saying

they wondered they were so long in coming, deferred the battle;

either that they were really ignorant of their defeat, or were

willing to seem so. For they certainly much maltreated those that

brought them such news, and, sending to Marius, required some part of

the country for themselves and their brethren, and cities fit for

them to inhabit. When Marius inquired of the ambassadors who their

brethren were, upon their saying, the Teutones, all that were present

began to laugh; and Marius scoffingly answered them, "Do not trouble

yourselves for your brethren, for we have already provided lands for

them, which they shall possess forever." The ambassadors,

understanding the mockery, broke into insults, and threatened that

the Cimbri would make him pay for this, and the Teutones, too, when

they came. "They are not far off," replied Marius, "and it will be

unkindly done of you to go away before greeting your brethren."

Saying so, he commanded the kings of the Teutones to be brought out.

as they were, in chains; for they were taken by the Sequani among the

Alps, before they could make their escape. This was no sooner made

known to the Cimbri, but they with all expedition came against

Marius, who then lay still and guarded his camp.

It is said, that against this battle, Marius first altered the

construction of the Roman javelins. For before, at the place where

the wood was joined to the iron, it was made fast with two iron pins;

but now Marius let one of them alone as it was, and pulling out the

other, put a weak wooden peg in its place, thus contriving, that when

it was driven into the enemy's shield, it should not stand right out,

but the wooden peg breaking, the iron should bend, and so the javelin

should hold fast by its crooked point, and drag. Boeorix, king of

the Cimbri, came with a small party of horse to the Roman camp, and

challenged Marius to appoint the time and place, where they might

meet and fight for the country. Marius answered, that the Romans

never consulted their enemies when to fight; however, he would

gratify the Cimbri so far; and so they fixed upon the third day

after, and for the place, the plain 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 against

each other. Catulus commanded twenty thousand three hundred, and

Marius thirty-two thousand, who were placed in the two wings, leaving

Catulus the center. Sylla, who was present at the fight, gives this

account; saying, also, that Marius drew up his army in this order,

because he expected that the armies would meet on the wings, since it

generally happens that in such extensive fronts the center falls

back, and thus he would have the whole victory to himself and his

soldiers, and Catulus would not be even engaged. They tell us, also,

that Catulus himself alleged this in vindication of his honor,

accusing, in various ways, the enviousness of Marius. The infantry

of the Cimbri marched quietly out of their fortifications, having

their flanks equal to their front; every side of the army taking up

thirty furlongs. Their horse, that were in number fifteen thousand,

made a very splendid appearance. They wore helmets, made to resemble

the heads 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 breastplates of iron, and

white glittering shields; and for their offensive arms, every one had

two darts, and when they came hand to hand, they used large and heavy

swords.

The cavalry did not fall directly upon the front of the Romans, but,

turning to the right, they endeavored to draw them on in that

direction by little and little, so as to get them between themselves

and their infantry, who were placed in the left wing. The Roman

commanders soon perceived the design, but could not contain the

soldiers; for one happening to shout out that the enemy fled, they

all rushed to pursue them, while the whole barbarian foot came on,

moving like a great ocean. Here Marius, having washed his hands, and

lifting them up towards heaven, vowed an hecatomb to the gods; and

Catulus, too, in the same posture, solemnly promised to consecrate a

temple to the "Fortune of that day." They say, too, that Marius,

having the victim showed to him as he was sacrificing, cried out with

a loud voice, "the victory is mine."

However, in the engagement, according to the accounts of Sylla and

his friends, Marius met with what might be called a mark of divine

displeasure. For a great dust being raised, which (as it might very

probably happen) almost covered both the armies, he, leading on his

forces to the pursuit, missed the enemy, and having passed by their

array, moved, for a good space, up and down the field; meanwhile the

enemy, by chance, engaged with Catulus, and the heat of the battle

was 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

shone in the faces of the Cimbri. For they, well able to endure cold,

and having been bred up, (as we observed before,) in cold and shady

countries, were overcome with the excessive heat; they sweated

extremely, and were much out of breath, being forced to hold their

shields before their 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 of the month now called August, and then

Sextilis. The dust, too, gave the Romans no small addition to their

courage, inasmuch as it hid the enemy. For afar off they could not

discover their number; but every one advancing to encounter those

that were nearest to them, they came to fight hand to hand, before

the sight of so vast a multitude had struck terror into them. They

were so much used to labor, and so 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 commendation of his soldiers.

Here the greatest part and most valiant of the enemies were cut in

pieces; for those that fought in the front, that they might not break

their ranks, were fast tied to one another, with long chains put

through their belts. But as they pursued those that fled to their

camp, they witnessed a most fearful tragedy; the women, standing in

black clothes on their wagons, slew all that fled, some their

husbands, some their brethren, others their fathers; and strangling

their little children with their own hands, threw them under the

wheels, and the feet of the cattle, and then killed themselves. They

tell of one who hung herself from the end of the pole of a wagon,

with her children tied dangling 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, that so pricking them on, by the starting and

springing of the beasts, they might be torn and trodden to pieces.

Yet for all they thus massacred themselves, above sixty thousand were

taken prisoners, and those that were slain were said to be twice as

many.

The ordinary plunder was taken by Marius's soldiers, but the other

spoils, as ensigns, trumpets, and the like, they say, were brought to

Catulus's camp; which he used for the best argument that the victory

was obtained by himself and his army. Some dissensions arising, as

was natural, among the soldiers, the deputies from Parma being then

present, were made judges of the controversy; whom Catulus's men

carried about among their slain enemies, and manifestly showed them

that they were slain by their javelins, which were known by the

inscriptions, having Catulus's name cut in the wood. Nevertheless,

the whole glory of the action was ascribed to Marius, on account of

his former victory, and under color of his present authority; the

populace more especially styling him the third founder of their city,

as having diverted a danger no less threatening than was that when

the Gauls sacked Rome; and every one, in their feasts and rejoicings

at home with their wives and children, made offerings and libations

in honor of "The Gods and Marius;" and would have had him solely have

the honor of both the triumphs. However, he did not do so, but

triumphed together with Catulus, being desirous to show his

moderation even in such great circumstances of good fortune, besides,

he was not a little afraid of the soldiers in Catulus's army, lest,

if he should wholly bereave their general of the honor, they should

endeavor to hinder him of his triumph.

Marius was now in his fifth consulship, and he sued for his sixth in

such a manner as never any man before him, had done, even for his

first; he courted the people's favor and ingratiated himself with the

multitude by every sort of complaisance; not only derogating from the

state and dignity of his office, but also belying his own character,

by attempting to seem popular and obliging, for which nature had

never designed him. His passion for distinction did, indeed, they

say, make him exceedingly timorous in any political matters, or in

confronting public assemblies; and that undaunted presence of mind he

always showed in battle against the enemy, forsook him when he was to

address the people; 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 the city to one thousand men of Camerinum

who had behaved valiantly in this war, and this seeming to be

illegally done, upon some one or other calling him to an account for

it, he answered, that the law spoke too softly to be heard in such a

noise of war; yet he himself appeared to be more disconcerted and

overcome by the clamor made in the assemblies. The need they had of

him in time of war procured him power and dignity; but in civil

affairs, when he despaired of getting the first place, he was forced

to betake himself to the favor of the people, never caring to be a

good man, so that he were but a great one.

He thus became very odious to all the nobility; and, above all, he

feared Metellus, who had been so ungratefully used by him, and whose

true virtue made him naturally an enemy to those that sought

influence with the people, not by the honorable course, but by

subservience and complaisance. Marius, therefore, endeavored to

banish him from the city, and for this purpose he contracted a close

alliance with Glaucia and Saturninus, a couple of daring fellows, who

had the great mass of the indigent and seditious multitude at their

control; and by 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 faithful authority, but, indeed, privately an

enemy to Marius,) he obtained his sixth consulship by distributing

vast sums of money among the tribes, and by this bribery kept out

Metellus, and had Valerius Flaccus given him as his instrument,

rather than his colleague, in the consulship. The people had never

before bestowed so many consulships on any one man, except on

Valerius Corvinus only, and he, too, they say, was forty-five years

between his first and last; but Marius, from his first, ran through

five more, with one current of good fortune.

In the last, especially, he contracted a great deal of hatred, by

committing several gross misdemeanors in compliance with the desires

of Saturninus; among which was the murder of Nonius, whom Saturninus

slew, because he stood in competition with him for the tribuneship.

And when, afterwards, Saturninus, on becoming tribune, brought

forward his law for the division of lands, with a clause enacting

that the senate should publicly swear to confirm whatever the people

should vote, and not to oppose them in anything, Marius, in the

senate, cunningly feigned to be against this provision, and said that

he would not take any such oath, nor would any man, he thought, who

was wise; for if there were no ill design in the law, still it would

be an affront to the senate, to be compelled to give their

approbation, and not to do it willingly and upon persuasion. This he

said, not that it was agreeable to his own sentiments, but that he

might entrap Metellus beyond any possibility of escape. For Marius,

in whose ideas virtue and capacity consisted largely in deceit, made

very little account of what he had openly professed to the senate;

and knowing that Metellus was one of a fixed resolution, and, as

Pindar has it, esteemed Truth the first principle of heroic virtue;

he hoped to ensnare him into a declaration before the senate, and on

his refusing, as he was sure to do, afterwards to take the oath, he

expected to bring him into such odium with the people, as should

never be wiped off. The design succeeded to his wish. As soon as

Metellus had declared that he would not swear to it, the senate

adjourned. A few days after, on Saturninus citing the senators to

make their appearance, and take the oath before the people, Marius

stepped forth, amidst a profound silence, every one being intent to

hear him, and bidding farewell to those fine speeches he had before

made in the senate, said, that his back was not so broad that he

should think himself bound, once for all, by any opinion once given

on so important a matter; he would willingly swear and submit to the

law, if so be it were one, a proviso which he added as a mere cover

for his effrontery. The people, in great joy at his taking the oath,

loudly clapped and applauded him, while the nobility stood by ashamed

and vexed at his inconstancy; but they submitted out of fear of the

people, and all in order took the oath, till it came to Metellus's

turn. But he, though his friends begged and entreated him to take

it, and not to plunge himself irrecoverably into the penalties which

Saturninus had provided for those that should refuse it, would not

flinch from his resolution, nor swear; but, according to his fixed

custom, being ready to suffer anything rather than do a base,

unworthy action, he left the forum, telling those that were with him,

that to do a wrong thing 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 place

Metellus 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 sedition upon his account, but with this calm reflection left

the city, "Either when the posture of affairs is mended and the

people repent, I shall be recalled, or if things remain in their

present condition, it will be best to be absent." But what great

favor and honor Metellus received in 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 connive at

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 tyranny and the subversion of the government. Standing

in some awe of the nobility, and, at the same time, eager to court

the commonalty, he was guilty of a most mean and dishonest action.

When some of the great men came to him at night to stir him up

against Saturninus, at the other door, unknown to them, he let him

in; then making the same presence of 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 instigated and exasperated them one against

another. At length when the senate and equestrian order concerted

measures together, and openly manifested their resentment, he did

bring his soldiers into the forum, and driving the 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, as it is termed, on the public faith.

He did his utmost to save their lives, but so wholly in vain, that

when they came down into the forum, they were all basely murdered.

Thus he had made himself equally odious both to the nobility and

commons, and when the time was come to create censors, though he was

the most obvious man, yet he did not petition for it; but fearing the

disgrace of being repulsed, permitted others, his inferiors, to be

elected, though he pleased himself by giving out, that he was not

willing to disoblige too many by undertaking a severe inspection into

their 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, and

was at length obliged to desist. The people unanimously voted for

it; and he, not able to endure the sight of Metellus's return, made a

voyage to Cappadocia and Galatia; giving out that he had to perform

the sacrifices, which he had vowed to Cybele; but actuated really by

other less apparent reasons. For, in fact, being a man altogether

ignorant of civil life and ordinary politics, he received all his

advancement from war; and supposing his power and glory would by

little and little decrease by his lying quietly out of action, he was

eager by every means to excite some new commotions, and hoped that by

setting at variance some of the kings, and by exasperating

Mithridates, especially, who was then apparently making preparations

for war, he himself should be chosen general against him, and so

furnish the city with new matter of triumph, and his own house with

the plunder of Pontus, and the riches of its king. Therefore, though

Mithridates entertained him with all imaginable attention and

respect, yet he was not at all wrought upon or softened by it, but

said, "O king, either endeavor to be stronger than the Romans, or

else quietly submit to their commands." With which he left

Mithridates astonished, as he indeed had often heard the fame of the

bold speaking of the Romans, but now for the first time experienced

it.

When Marius returned again to Rome, he built a house close by the

forum, either, as he himself gave out, that he was not willing his

clients should be tired with going far, or that he imagined distance

was the reason why more did not come. This, however, was not so; the

real reason was, that being inferior to others in agreeableness of

conversation and the arts of political life, like a mere tool and

implement of war, he was thrown aside in time of peace. Amongst all

those whose brightness eclipsed his glory, he was most incensed

against Sylla, who had owed his rise to the hatred which the nobility

bore Marius; and had made his disagreement with him the one principle

of his political life. When Bocchus, king of Numidia, who was styled

the associate of the Romans, dedicated some figures of Victory in the

capitol, and with them a representation in gold, of himself

delivering Jugurtha to Sylla, Marius upon this was almost distracted

with rage and ambition, as though Sylla had arrogated this honor to

himself, and endeavored forcibly to pull down these presents; Sylla,

on the other side, as vigorously resisted him; but the Social War

then on a sudden threatening the city, put a stop to this sedition,

when just ready to break out. For the most warlike and best-peopled

countries of all Italy formed a confederacy together against Rome,

and were within a little of subverting the empire; as they were

indeed strong, not only in their weapons and the valor of their

soldiers, but stood nearly upon equal terms with the Romans, as to

the skill and daring of their commanders.

As much glory and power as this war, so various in its events and so

uncertain as to its success, conferred upon Sylla, so much it took

away from Marius, who was thought tardy, unenterprising, and timid,

whether it were that his age was now quenching his former heat and

vigor, (for he was above sixty-five years old,) or that having, as he

himself said, some distemper that affected his muscles, and his body

being unfit for action, he did service above his strength. Yet, for

all this, he came off victor in a considerable battle, wherein he

slew six thousand of the enemies, and never once gave them any

advantage over him; and when he was surrounded by the works of the

enemy, he contained himself, and though insulted over, and

challenged, did not yield to the provocation. The story is told that

when Publius Silo, a man of the greatest repute and authority among

the enemies, said to him, "If you are indeed a great general, Marius,

leave your camp and fight a battle," he replied, "If you are one,

make me do so." And another time, when the enemy gave them a good

opportunity of a battle, and the Romans through fear durst not

charge, so that both parties retreated, he called an assembly of his

soldiers and said, "It is no small question whether I should call

the enemies, or you, the greater cowards, for neither did they dare

to face your backs, nor you to confront theirs." At length,

professing to be worn out with the infirmity of his body, he laid

down his command.

Afterwards, when the Italians were worsted, there were several

candidates suing, with the aid of the popular leaders, for the chief

command in the war with Mithridates. Sulpicius, tribune of the

people, a bold and confident man, contrary to everybody's

expectation, brought forward Marius, and proposed him as proconsul

and general in that war. The people were divided; some were on

Marius's side, others voted for Sylla, and jeeringly bade Marius go

to his baths at Baiae, to cure his body, worn out, as himself

confessed, with age and catarrhs. Marius had, indeed, there, about

Misenum, a villa more effeminately and luxuriously furnished than

seemed to become one that had seen service in so many and great wars

and expeditions. This same house Cornelia bought for seventy-five

thousand drachmas, and not long after Lucius Lucullus, for two

million five hundred thousand; so rapid and so great was the growth

of Roman sumptuosity. Yet, in spite of all this, out of a mere

boyish passion for distinction, affecting to shake off his age and

weakness, he went down daily to the Campus Martius, and exercising

himself with the youth, showed himself still nimble in his armor,

and expert in riding; though he was undoubtedly grown bulky in his

old age, and inclining to excessive fatness and corpulency.

Some people were pleased with this, and went continually to see him

competing and displaying himself in these exercises; but the better

sort that saw him, pitied the cupidity and ambition that made one who

had risen from utter poverty to extreme wealth, and out of nothing

into greatness, unwilling to admit any limit to his high fortune, or

to be content with being admired, and quietly enjoying what he had

already got: why, as if he still were indigent, should he at so

great an age leave his glory and his triumphs to go into Cappadocia

and the Euxine Sea, to fight Archelaus and Neoptolemus, Mithridates's

generals? Marius's pretenses 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 diseased,

became hopeless now that Marius found so opportune an instrument for

the public destruction as Sulpicius's insolence. This man professed,

in all other respects, to admire and imitate Saturninus; only he

found fault with him for backwardness and want of spirit in his

designs. He, therefore, to avoid this fault, got six hundred of the

equestrian order about him as his guard, whom he named anti-senators;

and with these confederates he set upon the consuls, whilst they were

at the assembly, and took the son of one of them, who fled from the

forum, and slew him. Sylla, being hotly pursued, took refuge in

Marius's house, which none could suspect, by that means escaping

those that sought him, who hastily passed by there, and, it is said,

was safely conveyed by Marius himself out at the other door, and came

to the camp. Yet Sylla, in his memoirs, positively denies that he

fled to Marius, saying he was carried thither to consult upon the

matters to 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 of

the 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-five

thousand full-armed men, led them towards Rome. First falling upon

the tribunes Marius had sent, they slew them; Marius having done as

much for several of Sylla's friends in Rome, and now offering their

freedom to the slaves on condition of their assistance in the war; of

whom, however, they say, there were but three who accepted his

proposal. For some small time he made head against Sylla's assault,

but was soon overpowered and fled; those that were with him, as soon

as he had escaped out of the city, were dispersed, and night coming

on, he hastened to a country-house of his, called Solonium. Hence he

sent his son to some neighboring farms of his father-in-law, Mucius,

to provide necessaries; he went himself to Ostia, where his friend

Numerius 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; and

the day breaking, was almost discovered by the enemy. For there came

thither a party of horse that suspected some such matter; but the

farm steward, foreseeing their approach, hid Marius in a cart full of

beans, then yoking in his team and driving toward the city, met

those that were in search of him. Marius, thus conveyed home to his

wife, took with him some necessaries, and came at night to the

sea-side; where, going on board a ship that was bound for Africa, he

went away thither. Marius, the father, when he had put to sea, with

a strong gale passing along the coast of Italy, was in no small

apprehension of one Geminius, a great man at Terracina, and his

enemy; and therefore bade the seamen hold off from that place. They

were, indeed, willing to gratify him, but the wind now blowing in

from the sea, and making the waves swell to a great height, they were

afraid the ship would not be able to weather out the storm, and

Marius, too, being indisposed and seasick, they made for land, and

not without some difficulty reached the shore near Circeium.

The storm now increasing and their victuals failing, they left their

ship and wandered up and down without any certain purpose, simply as

in great distresses people shun the present as the greatest evil, and

rely upon the hopes of uncertainties. For the land and sea were both

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 want of

necessaries. At length, though late, they lighted upon a few poor

shepherds, that had not anything to relieve them; but knowing

Marius, advised him to depart as soon as might be, for they had seen

a little beyond that place a party of horse that were gone in search

of him. Finding himself in a great straight, especially because

those that attended him 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 in a thick wood, where he passed the night in great

wretchedness. The next day, pinched with hunger, and willing to make

use of the little strength he had, before it were all exhausted, he

traveled by the seaside, encouraging his companions not to fall away

from him before the fulfillment of his final hopes, for which, in

reliance on some old predictions, he professed to be sustaining

himself. For when he was yet but very young, and lived in the

country, he caught in the skirt of his garment an eagle's nest, as it

was falling, in which were seven young ones, which his parents seeing

and much admiring, consulted the augurs about it, who told them that

he should become the greatest man in the world, and that the fates

had decreed he should seven times be possessed of the supreme power

and authority. Some are of opinion that this really happened to

Marius, as we have related it; others say, that those who then and

through the rest of his exile heard him tell these stories, and

believed him, have merely repeated a story that is altogether

fabulous; for an eagle never hatches more than 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, would often say, that he should attain a seventh

consulship.

When Marius and his company were now about twenty furlongs distant

from Minturnae, a city in Italy, they espied a troop, of horse making

up toward them with all speed, and by chance, also, at the same time,

two ships under sail. Accordingly, they ran every one with what

speed and strength they could to the sea, and plunging into it, swam

to the ships. Those that were with Granius, reaching one of them,

passed over to an island opposite, called Aenaria; Marius himself

whose body was heavy and unwieldy, was with great pains and

difficulty kept above the water by two servants, and put into the

other ship. The soldiers were by this time come to the seaside, and

from thence called out to the seamen to put to shore, or else to

throw out Marius, and then they might go whither they would. Marius

besought them with tears to 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 soldiers, that they would not give up Marius.

As soon as they had ridden off in a rage, the seamen, again changing

their resolution, came to land, and casting anchor at the mouth of

the river Liris, where it overflows and makes a great 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 from the sea will calm,

and that from the marshes rise. Marius, following their advice, did

so, and when the sea-men had set him on shore, he laid him down in an

adjacent field, suspecting nothing less than what was to befall him.

They, as soon as they had got into the ship, weighed anchor and

departed, as thinking it neither honorable to deliver Marius into the

hands of those that sought him, nor safe to protect him.

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 full of

water and mud, he came upon the hut of an old man that worked in the

fens, and falling at his feet besought him to assist and preserve one

who, if he escaped the present danger, would make him returns beyond

his expectation. The poor man, whether he had formerly known him, or

were then moved with his superior aspect, told him that if he wanted

only rest, his cottage would be convenient; but if he were flying

from anybody's search, he would hide him in a more retired place.

Marius desiring him to do so, he carried him into the fens and bade

him hide himself in an hollow place by the river side, where he 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 time he

was disturbed with a noise and tumult from the cottage, for Geminius

had sent several from Terracina in pursuit of him; some of whom,

happening to come that way, frightened and threatened the old man for

having entertained and hid an enemy of the Romans. Wherefore Marius,

arising and stripping himself, plunged into a puddle full of thick

muddy water; and even there he could not escape their search, but was

pulled out covered with mire, and carried away naked to Minturnae,

and delivered to the magistrates. For there had been orders sent

through all the towns, to make public search for Marius, and if they

found him to kill him; however, the magistrates thought convenient to

consider a little better of it first, and sent him prisoner to the

house of one Fannia.

This woman was supposed not very well affected towards him upon an

old account. One Tinnius had formerly married this Fannia; from whom

she afterwards being divorced, demanded her portion, which was

considerable, but her husband accused her of adultery; so the

controversy was brought before Marius in his sixth consulship. When

the cause was examined thoroughly, it appeared both that Fannia had

been incontinent, and that her husband knowing her to be so, had

married and lived a considerable time with her. So that Marius was

severe enough with both, commanding him to restore her portion, and

laying a fine of four copper coins upon her by way of disgrace. But

Fannia did not then behave like a woman that had been injured, but as

soon as she saw Marius, remembered nothing less than old affronts;

took care of him according to her ability, and comforted him. He

made her his returns and told her he did 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 a bold and encouraging look,

first stood still before him, then brayed aloud and pranced by him.

From which Marius drew his conclusion, and said, that the fates

designed him safety, rather by sea than land, because the ass

neglected his dry fodder, and turned from it to the water. Having

told Fannia this story, he bade the chamber door to be shut and went

to rest.

Meanwhile the magistrates and councilors of Minturnae consulted

together, and determined not to delay any longer, but immediately to

kill Marius; and when none of their citizens durst undertake the

business, a certain soldier, a Gaulish or Cimbrian horseman, (the

story is told both ways,) went in with his sword drawn to him. The

room itself was not very light, that part of it especially where he

then lay was dark, from whence Marius's eyes, they say, seemed to the

fellow to dart out flames at him, and a loud voice to say, out of the

dark, "Fellow, darest thou kill Caius Marius?" The barbarian

hereupon immediately fled, and leaving his sword in the place rushed

out of doors, crying only this, "I cannot kill Caius Marius." At

which they were all at first astonished, and presently began to feel

pity, and remorse, and anger at themselves for making so unjust and

ungrateful a decree against one who had preserved Italy, and whom it

was bad enough not to assist. "Let him go," said they, "where he

please to banishment, and find his fate somewhere else; we only

entreat pardon of the gods for thrusting Marius distressed and

deserted out of our city."

Impelled by thoughts of this kind, they went in a body into the room,

and taking him amongst them, conducted him towards the sea-side; on

his way to which, though everyone was very officious to him, and all

made what haste they could, yet a considerable time was likely to be

lost. For the grove of Marica, (as she is called,) which the people

hold sacred, and make it a point of religion not to let anything

that is once carried into it be taken out, lay just in their road to

the sea, and if they should go round about, they must needs come very

late thither. At length one of the old men cried out and said, there

was no place so sacred, but they might pass through it for Marius's

preservation; and thereupon, first of all, he himself, taking up some

of the baggage that was carried for his accommodation to the ship,

passed through the grove, all the rest immediately, with the same

readiness, accompanying him. And one Belaeus, (who afterwards had a

picture of these things drawn, and put it in a temple at the place of

embarkation,) having by this time provided him a ship, Marius went on

board, and, hoisting sail, was by fortune thrown upon the island

Aenaria, where meeting with Granius, and his other friends, he sailed

with them for Africa. But their water failing them in the way, they

were forced to put in near Eryx, in Sicily, where was a Roman

quaestor on the watch, who all but captured Marius himself on his

landing, and did kill sixteen of his retinue that went to fetch

water. Marius, with all expedition loosing thence, crossed the sea

to the isle of Meninx, where he first heard the news of his son's

escape with Cethegus, and of his going to implore the assistance of

Hiempsal, king of Numidia.

With this news, being somewhat comforted, he ventured to pass from

that isle towards Carthage. Sextilius, a Roman, was then governor in

Africa; one that had never received either any injury or any

kindness from Marius; but who from compassion, it was hoped, might

lend him some help. But he was scarce got ashore with a small

retinue, when an officer met him, and said, "Sextilius, the governor,

forbids you, Marius, to set foot in Africa; if you do, he says, he

will put the decree of the senate in execution, and treat you as an

enemy to the Romans." When Marius heard this, he wanted words to

express his grief and resentment, and for a good while held his

peace, looking sternly upon the messenger, who asked him what he

should say, or what answer he should return to the governor? Marius

answered him with a deep sigh: "Go tell him that you have seen Caius

Marius sitting in exile among the ruins of Carthage;" appositely

applying the example of the fortune of that city to the change of his

own condition.

In the interim, Hiempsal, king of Numidia, dubious of what he should

determine to do, treated young Marius and those that were with him

very honorably; but when they had a mind to depart, he still had some

presence or other to detain them, and it was manifest he made these

delays upon no good design. However, there happened an accident that

made well for their preservation. The hard fortune which attended

young Marius, who was of a comely aspect, touched one of the king's

concubines, and this pity of hers, was the beginning and occasion of

love for him. At first he declined the woman's solicitations, but

when he perceived that there was no other way of escaping, and that

her offers were more serious than for the gratification of

intemperate passion, he accepted her kindness, and she finding means

to convey them away, he escaped with his friends and fled to his

father. As soon as they had saluted each other, and were going by

the sea-side, they saw some scorpions fighting, which Marius took

for an ill omen, whereupon they immediately went on board a little

fisher-boat, and made toward Cercina, an island not far distant from

the continent. They had scarce put off from shore when they espied

some horse, sent after them by the king, with all speed making toward

that very place from which they were just retired. And Marius thus

escaped a danger, it might be said, as great as any he ever incurred.

At Rome news came that Sylla was engaged with Mithridates's generals

in Boeotia; the consuls, from factious opposition, were fallen to

downright fighting, wherein Octavius prevailing, drove Cinna out of

the city for attempting despotic government, and made Cornelius

Merula consul in his stead; while Cinna, raising forces in other

parts of Italy, carried the war against them. As soon as Marius

heard of this, he resolved, with all expedition, to put to sea again,

and taking with him from Africa some Mauritanian horse, and a few of

the refugees out of Italy, all together not above one thousand, he,

with this handful, began his voyage. Arriving at Telamon, in

Etruria, and coming ashore, he proclaimed freedom for the slaves; and

many of the countrymen, also, and shepherds thereabouts, who were

already freemen, at the hearing his name flocked to him to the

sea-side. He persuaded the youngest and strongest to join him, and

in a small time got together a competent force with which he filled

forty ships. Knowing Octavius to be a good man and willing to

execute his office with the greatest justice imaginable, and Cinna to

be suspected by Sylla, and in actual warfare against the established

government, he determined to join himself and his forces with the

latter. He, therefore, sent a message to him, to let him know that

he was ready to obey him as consul.

When Cinna had joyfully received his offer, naming him proconsul, and

sending him the fasces and other ensigns of authority, he said, that

grandeur did not become his present fortune; but wearing an ordinary

habit, and still letting his hair grow as it had done, from that very

day he first went into banishment, and being now above threescore and

ten years old, he came slowly on foot, designing to move people's

compassion; which did not prevent, however, his natural fierceness of

expression from still predominating, and his humiliation still let it

appear that he was not so much dejected as exasperated, by the change

of his condition. Having saluted Cinna and the soldiers, he

immediately prepared for action, and soon made a considerable

alteration in the posture of affairs. He first cut off the provision

ships, and plundering all the merchants, made himself master of the

supplies of corn; then bringing his navy to the seaport towns, he

took them, and at last, becoming master of Ostia by treachery, he

pillaged that town, and slew a multitude of the inhabitants, and,

blocking up the river, took from the enemy all hopes of supply by the

sea; then marched with his army toward the city, and posted himself

upon the hill called Janiculum.

The public interest did not receive so great damage from Octavius's

unskillfulness in his management of affairs, as from his omitting

needful measures, through too strict observance of the law. As when

several advised him to make the slaves free, he said that he would

not give slaves the privilege of the country from which he then, in

defense of the laws, was driving away Marius. When Metellus, son to

that Metellus who was general in the war in Africa, and afterwards

banished through Marius's means, came to Rome, being thought a much

better commander than Octavius, the soldiers, deserting the consul,

came to him and desired him to take the command of them and preserve

the city; that they, when they had got an experienced valiant

commander, should fight courageously, and come off conquerors. But

when Metellus, offended at it, commanded them angrily to return to

the consul, they revolted to the enemy. Metellus, too, seeing the

city in a desperate condition, left it; but a company of Chaldaeans,

sacrificers, and interpreters of the Sibyl's books, persuaded

Octavius that things would turn out happily, and kept him at Rome.

He was, indeed, of all the Romans the most upright and just, and

maintained the honor of the consulate, without cringing or

compliance, as strictly in accordance with ancient laws and usages,

as though they had been immutable mathematical truths; and yet fell,

I know not how, into some weaknesses, giving more observance to

fortune-tellers and diviners, than to men skilled in civil and

military affairs. He therefore, before Marius entered the city, was

pulled down from the rostra, and murdered by those that were sent

before by Marius; and it is reported there was a Chaldaean writing

found in his gown, when he was slain. And it seemed a thing very

unaccountable, that of two famous generals, Marius should be often

successful by the observing divinations, and Octavius ruined by the

same means.

When affairs were in this posture, the senate assembled, and sent a

deputation to Cinna and Marius, desiring them to come into the city

peaceably and spare the citizens. Cinna, as consul, received the

embassy, sitting in the curule chair, and returned a kind answer to

the messengers; Marius stood by him and said nothing, but gave

sufficient testimony by the gloominess of his countenance, and the

sternness of his looks, that he would in a short time fill the city

with blood. As soon as the council arose, they went toward the city,

where Cinna entered with his guards, but Marius stayed at the gates,

and, dissembling his rage, professed that he was then an exile and

banished his country by course of law; that if his presence were

necessary, they must, by a new decree, repeal the former act by which

he was banished; as though he were, indeed, a religious observer of

the laws, and as if he were returning to a city free from fear or

oppression. Hereupon the people were assembled, but before three or

four tribes had given their votes, throwing up his pretenses and his

legal scruples about his banishment, he came into the city with a

select guard of the slaves who had joined him, whom he called

Bardyaei. These proceeded to murder a number of citizens, as he gave

command, partly by word of mouth, partly by the signal of his nod.

At length Ancharius, a senator, and one that had been praetor, coming

to Marius, and not being resaluted by him, they with their drawn

swords slew him before Marius's face; and henceforth this was their

token, immediately to kill all those who met Marius and saluting him

were taken no notice of, nor answered with the like courtesy; so that

his very friends were not without dreadful apprehensions and horror,

whensoever they came to speak with him.

When they had now butchered a great number, Cinna grew more remiss

and cloyed with murders; but Marius's rage continued still fresh and

unsatisfied, and he daily sought for all that were any way suspected

by him. Now was every road and every town filled with those that

pursued and hunted them that fled and hid themselves; and it was

remarkable that there was no more confidence to be placed, as things

stood, either in hospitality or friendship; for there were found but

a very few that did not betray those that fled to them for shelter.

And thus the servants of Cornutus deserve the greater praise and

admiration, who, having concealed their master in the house, took the

body of one of the slain, cut off the head, put a gold ring on the

finger, and showed it to Marius's guards, and buried it with the same

solemnity as if it had been their own master. This trick was

perceived by nobody, and so Cornutus escaped, and was conveyed by his

domestics into Gaul.

Marcus Antonius, the orator, though he, too, found a true friend, had

ill-fortune. The man was but poor and a plebeian, and as he was

entertaining a man of the greatest rank in Rome, trying to provide

for him with the best he could, he sent his servant to get some wine

of neighboring vintner. The servant carefully tasting it and bidding

him draw better, the fellow asked him what was the matter, that he

did not buy new and ordinary wine as he used to do, but richer and of

a greater price; he, without any design, told him as his old friend

and acquaintance, that his master entertained Marcus Antonius, who

was concealed with him. The villainous vintner, as soon as the

servant was gone, went himself to Marius, then at supper, and being

brought into his presence, told him, he would deliver Antonius into

his hands. As soon as he heard it, it is said he gave a great shout,

and clapped his hands for joy, and had very nearly risen up and gone

to the place himself; but being detained by his friends, he sent

Annius, and some soldiers with him, and commanded him to bring

Antonius's head to him with all speed. When they came to the house,

Annius stayed at the door, and the soldiers went up stairs into the

chamber; where, seeing Antonius, they endeavored to shuffle off the

murder from one to another; for so great it seems were the graces and

charms of his oratory, that as soon as he began to speak and beg his

life, none of them durst touch or so much as look upon him; but

hanging down their heads, every one fell a weeping. When their stay

seemed something tedious, Annius came up himself and found Antonius

discoursing, and the soldiers astonished and quite softened by it,

and calling them cowards, went himself and cut off his head.

Catulus Lutatius, who was colleague with Marius, and his partner in

the triumph over the Cimbri, when Marius replied to those that

interceded for him and begged his life, merely with the words, "he

must die," shut himself up in a room, and making a great fire,

smothered himself. When maimed and headless carcasses were now

frequently thrown about and trampled upon in the streets, people were

not so much moved with compassion at the sight, as struck into a kind

of horror and consternation. The outrages of those that were called

Bardyaei, was the greatest grievance. These murdered the masters of

families in their own houses, abused their children, and ravished

their wives, and were uncontrollable in their rapine and murders,

till those of Cinna's and Sertorius's party, taking counsel together,

fell upon them in the camp and killed them every man.

In the interim, as if a change of wind was coming on, there came news

from all parts that Sylla, having put an end to the war with

Mithridates, and taken possession of the provinces, was returning

into Italy with a great army. This gave some small respite and

intermission to these unspeakable calamities. Marius and his friends

believing war to be close at hand, Marius was chosen consul the

seventh time, and appearing on the very calends of January, the

beginning of the year, threw one Sextus Lucinus, from the Tarpeian

precipice; an omen, as it seemed, portending the renewed misfortunes

both of their party and of the city. Marius, himself now worn out

with labor and sinking under the burden of anxieties, could not

sustain his spirits, which shook within him with the apprehension of

a new war and fresh encounters and dangers, the formidable character

of which he knew by his own experience. He was not now to hazard the

war with Octavius or Merula, commanding an inexperienced multitude or

seditious rabble; but Sylla himself was approaching, the same who had

formerly banished him, and since that, had driven Mithridates as far

as the Euxine Sea.

Perplexed with such thoughts as these, and calling to mind his

banishment, and the tedious wanderings and dangers he underwent, both

by sea and land, he fell into despondency, nocturnal frights, and

unquiet sleep, still fancying that he heard some one telling him,

that

-- the lion's lair

Is dangerous, though the lion be not there.

Above all things fearing to lie awake, he gave himself up to drinking

deep and besotting himself at night in a way most unsuitable to his

age; by all means provoking sleep, as a diversion to his thoughts.

At length, on the arrival of a messenger from the sea, he was seized

with new alarms, and so what with his fear for the future, and what

with the burden and satiety of the present, on some slight

predisposing cause, he fell into a pleurisy, as Posidonius the

philosopher relates, who says he visited and conversed with him when

he was sick, about some business relating to his embassy. Caius

Piso, an historian, tells us, that Marius, walking after supper with

his friends, fell into a conversation with them about his past life,

and after reckoning up the several changes of his condition, that

from the beginning had happened to him, said, that it did not become

a prudent man to trust himself any longer with fortune; and,

thereupon, taking leave of those that were with him, he kept his bed

seven days, and then died.

Some say his ambition betrayed itself openly in his sickness. and

that he ran into an extravagant frenzy, fancying himself to be

general in the war against Mithridates, throwing himself into such

postures and motions of his body as he had formerly used when he was

in battle, with frequent shouts and loud cries. With so strong and

invincible a desire of being employed in that business had he been

possessed through his pride and emulation. Though he had now lived

seventy years, and was the first man that ever was chosen seven times

consul, and had an establishment and riches sufficient for many

kings, he yet complained of his ill fortune, that he must now die

before he had attained what he desired. Plato, when he saw his death

approaching, thanked the guiding providence and fortune of his life,

first, that he was born a man and a Grecian, not a barbarian or a

brute, and next, that he happened to live in Socrates's age. And so,

indeed, they say Antipater of Tarsus, in like manner, at his death,

calling to mind the happiness that he had enjoyed, did not so much as

omit his prosperous voyage to Athens; thus recognizing every favor of

his indulgent fortune with the greatest acknowledgments, and

carefully saving all to the last in that safest of human treasure

chambers, the memory. Unmindful and thoughtless persons, on the

contrary, let all that occurs to them slip away from them as time

passes on. Retaining and preserving nothing, they lose the enjoyment

of their present prosperity by fancying something better to come;

whereas by fortune we may be prevented of this, but that cannot be

taken from us. Yet they reject their present success, as though it

did not concern them, and do nothing but dream of future

uncertainties; not indeed unnaturally; as till men have by reason and

education laid good foundation for external superstructures, in the

seeking after and gathering them they can never satisfy the unlimited

desires of their mind.

Thus died Marius on the seventeenth day of his seventh consulship, to

the great joy and content of Rome, which thereby was in good hopes to

be delivered from the calamity of a cruel tyranny; but in a small

time they found, that they had only changed their old and worn-out

master for another young and vigorous; so much cruelty and savageness

did his son Marius show in murdering the noblest and most approved

citizens. At first, being esteemed resolute and daring against his

enemies, he was named the son of Mars, but afterwards, his actions

betraying his contrary disposition, he was called the son of Venus.

At last, besieged by Sylla in Praeneste, where he endeavored in many

ways, but in vain, to save his life, when on the capture of the city

there was no hope of escape, he killed himself with his own hand.