caius marius-第4部分

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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'　fears；　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　the
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　valour；　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　valour；　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　Pessinus；　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；　great　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…beast…like　howling　and　cursing　joined　with　threats　and
lamentations　rising　from　the　vast　multitude；　and　echoed　among　the
neighbouring　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