tion happening to turn upon the illustrious commanders then in being, some person in the party, either out of complaisance to Scipio, or because he really wished to be informed, asked; "Where the Romans should find such another general, when he was gone?" upon which Scipio putting his hand upon the shoulder of Marius, who sat next him, said, "Here perhaps." So happy was the genius of both those great men, that the one while but a youth gave tokens of his future abilities, and the other from those beginnings could discover the long series of glory which was to follow.

This saying of Scipio's, we are told, raised the hopes of Marius like a divine oracle, and was the chief thing that animated him to apply himself to affairs of state. By the assistance of Cæcilius Metellus, on whose house he had an hereditary dependence, he was chosen a tribune of the people. In this office he proposed a law for regulating the manner of voting, which tended to lessen the authority of the patricians in matters of judicature. Cotta the consul therefore persuaded the senate to reject it, and to summon Marius to, give an account of his conduct. This decree being passed, Marius upon entering the senate showed none of the embarrassment of a young man advanced to office without having previously distinguished himself; but, assuming beforehand the elevation which his future actions were to give him, he threatened to send Cotta to prison, if he did not revoke the decree. Cotta turning to Metellus, and asking his opinion, Metellus rose up and voted with the consul. Upon which Marius called in a lictor, and ordered him to take Metellus into custody. Metellus appealed to the other tribunes: but as not one of them gave him any assistance, the senate yielded and repealed their decree. Marius, highly distinguished by this victory, went immediately from thesenate to the Forum, and got his law confirmed by the people.

From this time, he passed for a man of inflexible resolution; one not to be influenced by fear or respect of persons, and consequently one that would prove a bold

6 B.C.119.*

defender of the people's privileges against the senate. But this opinion was soon altered by his taking quite a different part. For a law having been proposed concerning the distribution of corn, he strenuously opposed the plebeians, and carried it against them. By which action he gained equal esteem from both parties, as a person incapable of serving either against the public advantage.

When his tribuneship was expired, he stood candidate for the office of chief ædile. For there are two offices of ædiles: the one called Curule,' from the chair with crooked feet, in which the magistrate sits while he despatches business; the other, of a degree much inferior, Plebeian. The more honourable ædiles are first chosen and then the people proceed on the same day to the election of the other. When Marius found he could not carry the first, he dropped his pretensions, and immediately applied for the second. But as this proceeding of his betrayed a disagreeable and importunate obstinacy, he miscarried in that also. Yet, though he was twice baffled in his application in one day (which never happened to any man except himself) he was not in the least discouraged, For not long afterward he stood for the prætorship, and was near being again rejected. He was indeed returned last of all, and was even then accused of bribery. What contributed most to the suspicion was, that a servant of Cassius Sabaco had been seen within the rails among the electors; for Sabaco was one of Marius' intimate friends. He was summoned therefore by the judges, and being interrogated upon the point replied, "That the heat having made him very thirsty, he had asked for cold water; upon which his servant brought him a cup, and withdrew as soon as he had drank." Sabaco was expelled the senate by the next censors, and it was thought he deserved that brand of infamy, as having been guilty either of falsehood, or of intemperance. Caius Herennius was also cited, as a witness against Marius; but he alleged, that it was not customary for Patrons (so the

He had, probably, caused one of his slaves to vote among the freemen. (L.) For the privileges of Patrons, alluded to below, see Life of Romulus, Vol. I. p. 61.*

Romans call protectors) to give evidence against their Clients, and that the law excused them from that obligation. The judges were going to admit the plea, when Marius himself opposed it, and told Herennius that, when he was first created a magistrate, he ceased to be his client. But this was not altogether true. For it is not every office, that frees clients and their posterity from the service due to their patrons, but only those magistracies to which the law assigns a curule chair. Marius however, during the first days of trial, found that matters ran against him, his judges being very unfavourable: at last the votes proved equal, and he was unexpectedly acquitted.

In his prætorship, he did nothing to raise him to distinction. But at the expiration of this office, the Farther Spain falling to his lot, he is said to have cleared it of robbers. That province was as yet uncivilised and savage in its manners, and the Spaniards thought there was nothing but what was highly honourable in robbery 3. Upon his return to Rome, he was desirous to have his share in the administration, but he had neither riches nor eloquence to recommend him; though these were the instruments, by which the great men of those times governed the people. His high spirit however, his indefatigable industry, and his plain manner of living, recommended him so effectually to the commonalty, that he gained offices and by offices power: so that he was thought worthy the alliance of the Caesars, and married Julia of that illustrious family. Cæsar, who afterward

raised himself to the head of Roman affairs, was her nephew; and, on account of his relation to Marius, showed himself extremely solicitous for his honour, as we have related in his Life 9.

Marius, along with his temperance, was possessed of great fortitude in enduring pain. Of this an extraordinary proof occurred, during a process in surgery. Having both his legs full of wens, and being vexed at

8 This is no uncommon feature among barbarians. Thucyd. i. 5.* 9 When at his aunt's funeral he produced the brilliant and highlyfinished images of Marius victorious over the Cimbri, which till then nobody under Sylla's government durst exhibit, and by this instance of hardi hood captivated the hearts of the Roman people.*

the deformity, he determined to put himself into the hands of a surgeon. He would not be bound however, but stretched out one of his legs to the knife; and, without motion or groan, bore the inexpressible agony of the operation in silence and with a settled countenance. But when the surgeon was going to begin with the other leg, he would not suffer him; saying, "6 I see the cure

is not worth the pain."

About this time Cæcilius Metellus the consul 10, being appointed to the chief command in the war against Jugurtha, took Marius with him into Africa as one of his lieutenants. Marius now finding an opportunity for great actions and glorious toils did not seek, like his collegues, to contribute to the reputation of Metellus, or to direct his views to his credit: but concluding that he was called to the lieutenancy not by Metellus, but by Fortune who had offered him a most reasonable opportunity and a most noble theatre for splendid achievements, he exerted all his powers. That war presenting many critical occasions, he neither declined the most difficult service, nor thought the most servile beneath him. Thus surpassing his equals in prudence and foresight, and rivalling the common soldiers in abstemiousness and labour, he entirely gained their affections. For it is no small consolation to any one, who is obliged to work, to see another voluntarily participate in his hardships; since it seems to take off the constraint. There is not indeed a more agreeable spectacle to a Roman soldier, than that of his general eating the same dry bread" which he eats, or lying on an ordinary bed, or

10 Q. Cæcilius Metellus was consul with M. Junius Silanus, B. C. 107. In this expedition, he acquired the surname of Numidicus.

6

11 Evos, which the English translator renders publicly,' and the French à la vue de tout le monde,' is never to be met with in any good Greek author in that sense. The text indeed plainly appears to be corrupted; for the word 9ɛapa, 'spectacle,' just before, entirely precludes the expression Ev ofei, publicly.' Bryan saw the corruption, and has proposed to read aveu of8, without meat or sauce;' but we would rather choose to read avofov, because the literal alteration will be the less. It certainly must be matter of great joy to the common soldier, to see his neraleat the same dry bread with him. Dacier, likewise, noticed the error, and proposed to read Eu o, dipped in vinegar.' Here, it must be owned, is the change of one letter only; but the sense does not seem to

ge

assisting his men in drawing a trench or throwing up a bulwark. For the soldier does not so much admire those officers, who let him share in their honours or their money, as those who will partake with him in labour and danger; and he is more attached to one who will assist him in his work, than to one who will indulge him in idleness.

By these steps Marius gained the hearts of the soldiers: his glory, his influence, his reputation spread through Africa, and extended even to Rome: the men under his command wrote to their friends at home, that the only means of putting an end to the war in those parts would be to elect Marius consul. This occasioned no small anxiety to Metellus, but what distressed him most was the affair of Turpilius. This man and his family had long been retainers to that of Metellus, and he attended him in that war in the character of master of the artificers 12; but being through his interest appointed governor of the large town of Vacca, his humanity to the inhabitants and the unsuspecting openness of his conduct gave them an opportunity of delivering up the place to Jugurtha 13. Turpilius, however, suffered no injury in his person; for the inhabitants, having pre vailed upon Jugurtha to spare him, dismissed him in safety. On this account, he was accused of having betrayed the place. Marius, who was one of the council of war, was not only himself severe against him, but stirred up most of the other judges; so that it was carried against Metellus' opinion, and much against his will he passed upon him sentence of death. A little while afterward, the accusation appeared a false one 1; and be so strong. The learned reader will choose which emendation he pleases. (L.)

14

Langhorne hardly does Dacier justice, in suppressing the authorities upon which he founds his conjecture: viz. that of Ruth ii. 14., and of Plautus (Rud. iv. 2. 32.)

Sed hic rex cum aceto pransurus est et sale, sine bono pulmento.* 12 An officer, like our Comptroller of the Board of Works. Among Gruter's inscriptions, several persons have the title of Præfectus Fabro

rum.'

13 They put the Roman garrison to the sword, sparing none but Turpilius.

14 No to however, at the time when Sallust wrote his History. See Bell. Jug. lxxi.*